Why yes, Fusion Tea apparently does have black tea. It just isn’t on their website yet. The ingredients on this one are listed as premium black tea and bergamot. The aroma is very different than any EG I have had before. The scent reminds me of fruit candy (grapes and oranges?) or maybe fruit punch. One of the guys at work said it smelled like one of the Hubba Bubba bubble gums he used to chew. I followed the instructions but did shorten the steep time to 3 minutes.
The bergamot aroma is accompanied by the fruity wine-like scent of the black tea. The sip is very balanced There are equal parts tea and bergamot. I find that sense of balance is what I like most about Fusion Teas. The taste of the bergamot is fruity – maybe peach and orange. Again, not like any Earl Grey I have had before. There is some dry mouth astringency in the cup. The leaf itself is good sized broken pieces, and definitely not fannings.
The 2nd cup tastes like a more traditional Earl Grey.
I think the key to enjoying this tea is to get all the preconceived notions out of your head. It is a unique take on a classic. With that understanding this is a complex yet finely balanced cup. A longer review can be found at http://theeverdayteablog.blogspot.com/2012/03/fusion-teas-premium-earl-grey.html
Sample provided by Fusion Tea Room (www.fusiontearoom.com)
