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__Morgana__ drank Earl Grey Blue Flower (TE16) by Upton Tea Imports

2036 tasting notes

The fourth and last of the Upton Earl Grey sampler samples. This one has more bergamot smell in the can than the others; it smells the most like an Earl Grey in its dry state. Steeped, the bergamot aroma lessens but is still obvious and easily identifiable.

The description seems to indicate that the flowers are just for decoration, so that must mean this is the Earl Greyest of the Earl Greys in the sample. No other flavors added.

Indeed, that is my impression of the taste. In this, there’s a very discernible bergamot aroma and flavor, moreso than in the other three samples. It’s not too strong, nor is it too mild for me. It’s just right, said Goldilocks. The bergamot is citrusy, not perfumey. It doesn’t do a number on my stomach.

I’d like to taste it next to the Harney & Son’s, but it seems to me to be in the running for my staple Earl Grey.

Preparation

Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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Ah, after reading this (and your other notes) I think that the Rosy Earl Grey might be too perfumey for you…hmmm…I dunno. I actually have this sample and shall try it in the next day or so. Then I can give you a slightly better idea of what’s what :)

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I got obsessed with tea in 2010 for a while, then other things intruded, then I cycled back to it. I seem to be continuing that in for a while, out for a while cycle. I have a short attention span, but no shortage of tea.

I’m a mom, writer, gamer, lawyer, reader, runner, traveler, and enjoyer of life, literature, art, music, thought and kindness, in no particular order. I write fantasy and science fiction under the name J. J. Roth.

Personal biases: I drink tea without additives. If a tea needs milk or sugar to improve its flavor, its unlikely I’ll rate it high. The exception is chai, which I drink with milk/sugar or substitute. Rooibos and honeybush were my gateway drugs, but as my tastes developed they became less appealing — I still enjoy nicely done blends. I do not mix well with tulsi or yerba mate, and savory teas are more often a miss than a hit with me. I used to hate hibiscus, but I’ve turned that corner. Licorice, not so much.

Since I find others’ rating legends helpful, I added my own. But I don’t really find myself hating most things I try.

I try to rate teas in relation to others of the same type, for example, Earl Greys against other Earl Greys. But if a tea rates very high with me, it’s a stand out against all other teas I’ve tried.

95-100 A once in a lifetime experience; the best there is

90-94 Excellent; first rate; top notch; really terrific; will definitely buy more

80-89 Very good; will likely buy more

70-79 Good; would enjoy again, might buy again

60-69 Okay; wouldn’t pass up if offered, but likely won’t buy again

Below 60 Meh, so-so, iffy, or ick. The lower the number, the closer to ick.

I don’t swap. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that I have way more tea than any one person needs and am not lacking for new things to try. Also, I have way too much going on already in daily life and the additional commitment to get packages to people adds to my already high stress level. (Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does.)

That said, I enjoy reading folks’ notes, talking about what I drink, and getting to “know” people virtually here on Steepster so I can get ideas of other things I might want to try if I can ever again justify buying more tea. I also like keeping track of what I drink and what I thought about it.

My current process for tea note generation is described in my note on this tea: https://steepster.com/teas/mariage-freres/6990-the-des-impressionnistes