Brian K Miville

I decided to try this tea and bought the gift pack that came with a full leaf seeping basket/tong (I have become a huge fan of full leaf now!) I had to chuckle at the other reviewer who wrote that the smell is reminiscent of bubble gum because that is EXACTLY what I thought to. And indeed when steeped (5 minutes) it takes on a very lovely seasonal flavor! It is hard to peg exactly what I taste, but it is reminiscent of allspice clove-like flavor. It makes for an earthy falvor that gets me in the mood for Thanksgiving or Christmas ham dinners!

When I placed an order for some bulk Blackberry Sage I decided ti try some sip-by-sip samplers of which this was one of them. It was my first experience to Earl Grey tea, and boy was I wowed! I love it so much I turned around and ordered a bulk bag a couple days after my first sip of it! I have only tried it hot and steep it 5 minutes (to make decaf I steep in a little bit of hot water for 60 seconds, dump and then steep for the 5 minutes). I usually drop 3 grams (i.e. 3 packets) of sweetener for a 14 or 15 oz mug since I like my tea on the sweet side. It has a wonderful but not overpowering citrus tang to it. So far this has become my favorite tea!

This was one of a few tea’s I bought in the sample travelers tin when I first discovered The Republic of Tea. It made me fall in love with them and their tea at first sip! Even my mother, self proclaimed as “not a tea person” tasted this and was wowed! The blackberry adds just the right hint without being too strong, and the sage adds a nice earthy flavor to balance the fruit. I have not tried this iced, only hot. I steep 5 minutes (to make decaf I steep in a tiny bit of hot water for 60 seconds, dump, then steep a full cup for the 5 minutes). This is using the full leaf, another thing I have come to love. I typically like my hot tea on the sweet side going with 3 grams of sugar (i.e. 3 sugar packets) to my tea cup of about 14 or 15 oz. For me this is the money zone!