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This is a “does the job” earl grey. Although I haven’t tried many earl greys so am not well versed in the range of eg possibilities, I can say it holds to the expected caffeinated standard. This morning I have tempered my eg with a bit of raspberry flavored ceylon. It most certainly takes the robust kick out of the tea equation, and yet makes up for it in the delightful blend of bergamont and raspberry flavor. No competing here, just a gentle meeting of the minds with a little cream and sugar chiming in. It’s very easy to wash over the flavors with too much half and half, so add your cream gingerly to the conversation with every intention not to talk over anyone else.

As an amateur tea blender, I like to think about what qualities are important to me with the teas I’m blending. Ceylon is on the lighter side, so if I want my blend to have strength I won’t use equal parts, and instead offset at 2 to 1 parts. The result is a nice earl grey with a smidge of raspberry flavor. The raspberry flavoring is strong, so it doesn’t get buried by the earl grey. My caution is in blending too many flavors where the tea doesn’t know what it wants to be. Well, now my beautiful bone china mug has been emptied of it’s coppery liquid content, signaling a return to work.

Edit add: now that 5 minutes has passed and the flavors linger – I miss the zingy lift that I get with the more robust breakfast blend. For those of the same fold who like to go deep, to go fully caffeinated, and with trusty sword and shield first thing in the morning – I would recommend against this blend. Stick to your friends, stick to your neighbors, and by all means stick to your tried and true tea family of trusted soldiers when the sun’s rays emerge from the east.