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80/100

Basic Earl Grey

Black Tea by Green Raven Tea & Coffee

Brisk, medium-full bodied blend of small and broken leaf organic black teas from Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Yunnan indirectly scented with organic bergamot peel extract. This approach to Earl Grey attempts to bring in a full bergamot aroma to the dry fragrance but maintain the flavors and aromas of fine black teas with a lighter “Breakfast Tea” flavor touched with just a bit of lingering citrus (rather than perfume) notes in the nose.

A bit more straightforward than the Artisan Earl Grey – which aims to shift dramatically in flavor and express the bergamot in aroma, taste, and tactile impression as a dance between citrus and tea flavor – this Earl Grey aims at a balance between the blanket flavors presented simultaneously. The tea base showcases distinct characteristic origin flavors of toasty hardwood and cocoa, ripe squash and rose, and the muscat grape notes Yunnan, Nilgiri, and second flush Darjeeling black teas are known for. A slight, balanced bitter and slick acidity lies quietly advertising the bergamot peel influence in concert with the lingering but relatively mellow astringency.

While not nearly as full-bodied or astringent as Assam based Breakfast teas, at longer steeps or higher concentrations this can still support a very small amount of milk and a touch of sweetener. The blend was actually crafted with a mind to the addition of a few drops of honey, which accentuates a little more of the floral characteristics.