Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Bergamot, Ceylon Black Tea, Chinese Black Tea, Flavor, Indian Black Tea, Mandarin, Orange Flavoring
Flavors
Bergamot, Malt, Orange, Citrus, Citrus Fruits, Fruity, Orange Zest, Brown Toast, Floral, Tea, Tannin, Honey, Smooth, Sweet, Mandarin
Sold in
Bulk, Loose Leaf, Sachet
Caffeine
Medium
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Teatotaler
Average preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 45 sec 11 oz / 315 ml

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72 Tasting Notes View all

  • “I had a sample tin of this two years ago, in that Russian Blends sample sets, and back then I rather liked this one. But I finished the sample and didn’t pay any further attention to it. Untill...” Read full tasting note
    80
  • “I think I will try another of these Kusmi teas. They have been the victims of changing tastebuds, because there are several Kusmi teas that I used to love (or at least enjoy), and now they are not...” Read full tasting note
    71
  • “Thank you Will Work For Tea for this Sample! I know for sure that God is watching over me! I am a dumb woman who almost got herself killed tonight! After the monsoon thunder and lightning storm...” Read full tasting note
    84
  • “Thank you for this one, Will Work For Tea! This is the kind of Earl Grey I could drink plenty of. It’s not in your face but it still definitely has the flavor of bergamot. There’s additional orange...” Read full tasting note

From Kusmi Tea

BERGAMOT, ORANGE AND MANDARIN-FLAVOURED BLACK TEA

A Russian classic, Troika was the name given in pre-Revolutionary Russia to a team of three horses pulling a carriage. Here, Troika means a combination of three royal citrus fruits: bergamot, orange and mandarin, in a blend of black teas from China, India and Ceylon.

About Kusmi Tea View company

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72 Tasting Notes

80
358 tasting notes

Today is the first day that I’ve noticed it really feeling like fall outside. There was a chill in the air this morning and a couple of leaves blowing around. It will be nice to be able to water my flowers outside without it being a 100 degrees, but I will miss summer.

I’ve enjoyed all of the Kusmi teas that I’ve tried so far, and was looking forward to trying this one also. The dry leaves smelled like sweet mandarin oranges, and reminded me of the canned ones that I used to eat all the time when I was little. The flavor is strong and malty with bergamot. There is a little bitterness, but not terrible. The aftertaste is of sweet orange, and with a little milk and sweetener it tastes like oranges and cream. This one is very sweet on it’s own, and it’s a perfect cup with breakfast with the fresh orange flavor. Thank you to Nicole for this sample!

-Dry blend has medium black tea leaves and twigs.
-Dry leaves smell like sweet mandarin oranges. Tea liquor aroma is of bergamot and fresh orange.
-Tea liquor is a clear medium orange brown color.
-Strong malty and bergamot flavor with a hint of bitterness. Lightly sweet orange aftertaste.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Very good tea. Malty flavor with a sweet orange note.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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96
790 tasting notes

The first sip is pretty heavy bergamot but then the orange comes in at the end and mellows it. Smells amazing. I don’t get the bitterness other reviews mention so maybe I lucked out on steeping time or something. There is a mild bit of astringency/dryness to it, but that’s all I notice in this cup.

The flavors diminish somewhat as the cup cools, but I’d like to try this one iced.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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812 tasting notes

my Kusmi order arrived!
the russian tasting set and a large tin of caramel.
(my boyfriend is gonna love the russian ones i just know it)
so here i am drinking tea at 11pm!

today is the last day of my holiday vacation.
whimper.

Courtney

What’s a Russian Tasting set!?

Shmiracles

oh! well… that’s my sloppy short hand is all. it’s described as “ASSORTMENT OF FIVE RUSSIAN BLENDS IN MINI TINS”.

Courtney

Ohh haha I got really excited for a moment – well still excited. I may have to check that out :)

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82
911 tasting notes

This tea was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting a lighter, sweetish, almost dessert-like, mild EG. But this is rich, heavy and pretty decadent. I did add a tiny bit of sugar but honestly, I don’t think it needed it because there wasn’t any bitterness or ick that I could taste trying to come through the sugar, though it is possible that the sugar did bring out the orange flavors a hair.

This isn’t overwhelmingly citrus. Instead, it is a heavy, silky, smooth tea with a light fruity sweetness surrounding the tea flavor on all sides. Knowing that it is bergamot, orange and mandarin, it’s noticeably citrus (though a dark, heavy citrus) but not knowing what it is makes the flavor a little difficult to identify past “something fruity”. Because the bergamot doesn’t overwhelm, my brain doesn’t really slot this in with EGs.

Now, I did brew this tea at potentially a too-hot temp – my Zojirushi was set at 208° so I put the water into the cup for a moment before putting in the infuser – so it is possible that at a lower water temp the citrus will come out a bit more. However, since that isn’t something I need to enjoy this tea, I’m not concerned. Probably my biggest sorta-issue with this tea is how rich it feels. It’s almost a little overwhelming since I wasn’t prepared for it but it definitely grew on me. Something so heavy might not be the best thing for first thing in the morning, though – my stomach needs to wake up a bit.

Preparation
4 min, 0 sec
teaplz

This sounds super-interesting, Auggers, even though I’m not into the EG thing. The rich and heavy thing is making this pop for me.

Auggy

I don’t see it as all that EG-y. I’d probably go more for just a light citrus flavored tea since it is so mild and not bergamot heavy. So I think you’d be safde on that front. And I was really surprised at how heavy it was! I don’t know yet if that is a Kusmi thing or just a Troika thing but I have a few more Kusmi teas to try so I guess I’ll find out!

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82
558 tasting notes

The liquor of this tea is a bright amber, almost copper color. Quite nice to see on this stormy day.

The aroma reminds me of bergamot with a slight caramel hint to it.

In taste Troika is much more lemon than bergamot to my tongue. When I slurp it it I taste a bit of honey mixed with the lemon flavor and a nice, mildly sweet black tea. I’m enjoying this blend, I like how mellow and not so in your face the flavors are. Which is strange, as I usually like in your face, but the mild citrus is enough for me to really enjoy this tea.

Many thanks to Lori for sending a sample of this my way :)

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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68
330 tasting notes

I was reading fairy tales this morning (Jorinde and Joringle, and Hans the Hedgehog) and then topped it off with watching a Russian animated tale called Hedgehog in the Fog, which is completely adorable animation-wise. You can find a subtitled version on Youtube if you wish.

After all that, I wanted a Russian tea to drink, even if I don’t have a samovar to bubble at me all day. I picked out Troika, which is lovely and citrusy. Not sure if it’s terribly Russian really though. I mean, how many orange trees grow on the Steppes? If I were living in the Steppes or in a deep Russian forest, I think I would want something smokey and somewhat spicy.

But in a suburb of America, reading fairy tales, it makes for a nice cup of tea. The citrus flavors are mild, and taste good made into a latte with sugar and half & half.

I still want a samovar though…

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 30 sec
inguna

Hedgehog in the Fog is one of the best animations ever.

Skulleigh

It’s so charming!

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82
476 tasting notes

After making a huge stovetop pot of traditional chai (using President’s Choice) for everyone in my family, I decided I needed to follow it up with something a little bit more mellow.

I opened this tin to find that I’ve only about a teaspoon and a half left, and was a little surprised at how sad this made me. Not to mention, I haven’t a clue what to do with the tin after save covering it with white tape or something so that I may reuse it for another tea.

As I took my first sip, I realized how much I would miss this tea. I believe I got it from AmazonV’s art contest? I think I’ll have to go and buy more. It’s not a love relationship, but it’s like a Lady Grey. And it’s very nice to relax with. Light and cheery and citrusy. It’s a little drying, but I keep sipping it.

Edit: Decided to throw the last half a teaspoon of fanning dust in with the second steep of this, to give it a little boost and to allow me to decupboard it.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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67
259 tasting notes

Troika is a nice, modest Earl Grey. I had hopes that this trio of flavors would send me off on an old-fashioned Russian reverie and into the land of a 19th century novel where the samovar is always heated.

My impression of Kusmi teas is that they are excellent and subtle; they are geared towards a sophisticated and worldly palate. The cultivated mondaine might drink this at 4 o’clock. I prefer a bolder, brasher Earl Grey. I like to be stunned by flavor. With my tea I am like a 1980’s lady who reeks of opium perfume and wears gowns by Bob Mackie.

Troika is for the elegant, refined palate. I would call it a very scholarly interpretation of an Earl Grey. It held up very well to a second infusion.

JacquelineM

You wrote: With my tea I am like a 1980’s lady who reeks of opium perfume and wears gowns by Bob Mackie.

I think this is the most wonderful metaphor I’ve ever encountered!!! :)

teaplz

Doulton, I have to say, your reviews are absolutely amazing. Love the way you evoke images through your tea drinking!

LENA

Great review! I loved it!

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53
788 tasting notes

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 heaping tsp
Water: 500ml filtered 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: citrus, smoke
Steeped Tea Smell: earl grey
Flavor: smooth bergamot black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: citrus, smoke
Liquor: translucent orange brown

I bought this when I visited the Kusmi store in NYC, it’s a tiny tin part of the Russian sampler. It’s smooth, not bitter, and enjoyable but it doesn’t grab me and demand I keep it stocked.

I think the Kusmi teas, like the french teas, are subtle flavors and I prefer bold.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/kusmi-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea-troika.html

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 0 sec
Andreastt

Hmmm you say that you only can taste the bergamot. I can taste mandarin as the dominating citrus, orange as a more subtle flavour and bergamot as a smell.

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612 tasting notes

For Kusmis, I think as a general rule of thumb I’m going to overleaf somewhat (a big heaping teaspoon per 6oz cup) and steep a full 4 minutes unless that specifically seems like a bad idea. I did it with this one after the delicate nature of the first and it helped a bit.

I love bergamot and this has some Indian tea in it; I can sense it and it almost pings my “comfort nostalgia tea blend” radar, but not quite—maybe because it’s not bergamot-y enough, or brisk enough, or whatever. It’s sort of in between those types of teas I love (and many Steepsters don’t seem to!) and something a little exotic in its subtlety. It has that subtle fragrance all of the Kusmis Nicole sent (thank you Nicole!) seem to have, a little unique and quite lovely, dare I say feminine but not clobber-you-over-the-head perfume-y. It wouldn’t replace my Earls but it’s nice. It feels more appropriate later in the day than Earls often do to me for some reason (I tend to think of them as a mid-morning tea), something that’d be good if I’m eating a sweet snack right before or after dinner (hazelnut butter toast in today’s case, yum) and want to be reminded of that Earl-y essence when it feels too late for that full-throttle (I know that’s purely a psychological thing that might just be me and my weirdness!).

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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