I wanted something simple this afternoon, and this fit the bill pretty perfectly. I used 1 tsp of leaf for my cup, and gave it 4 minutes in boiling water. I added a splash of milk, because that’s what I do. Dry, it has the unmistakable scent of Earl Grey – slightly bitter citrus-floral. It’s a scent I find oddly calming, even though I’m not a particular fan of bergamot generally.
Once brewed, it’s a fairly tame beast. The bergamot is very light and really not much more than a background flavour, and the citrus-inflected sweetness of the ceylon base takes precedence. Of the trio of teas I received, this is the only one that’s not CTC, which I guess makes sense for an Earl Grey.
This isn’t a tea that’s particularly out of the ordinary, and it’s not the best Earl Grey I’ve ever tried, but it’s straightforward and easy to drink, and sometimes that’s really all I want. A middle-of-the-road kind of affair.