Earl Grey Grand Classic

I don’t know what a longan fruit smells or tastes like, but I’m guessing it’s very similar to lychee because the dry leaf smells like lychee with an undernote of spicy, whooshy citrus. Post-brewing the top note of the smell is still sweetly lychee with a stronger undercurrent of bergamot.

The taste is not quite lychee, almost muscat and with a smooth note of bergamot underneath. Sometimes there’s a hint of bitterness at the end of the sip. Other times it feels smooth and silky. There’s a little spicy tingle in the aftertaste – I’m not sure if it is from the tea or the bergamot. The description says ‘smokey’ but I don’t really get much of that (unless you count the spicy bit). It’s more of a hint of darkness/richness that would pair well with a smoky tea but, in this, pairs with almost-lychee.

Ultimately, probably a little too fruity/unique for it to be a regular sipper but enjoyable.

Ahh, it seems that this became more balanced since the first time I tried it. It’s definitely still a smoky tea, but the fruity, mildly sweet longan notes are much clearer now, a full flavor instead of an undertone. The sweet-smoke, incense quality has gone from almost overwhelming, to pleasantly enveloping.

Longan fruit is like lychee, only less bright and juicy and more darkly, smoothly sweet. Perhaps more complex? The bergamot and longan meld together here, making the longan even deeper, and less lychee-like than it is naturally.

Although I did enjoy its sharp assertiveness from the start, that level of smokiness was too strong for an everyday cup. Now, like this, it’s a viable daily Earl Grey (which is great since I’m low on my current daily EG). It’ll be quite a unique daily EG though; this is definitely a strong and exotic Earl!

I’ve been wanting to try this for a while and I finally ordered it! I’m so glad I did. Its meant to be a recreation of the original earl grey tea. It is quite different to your typical earl grey but still has that very earl grey-ish quality but just a little more exotic.

I love the smokiness of this tea which balances perfectly with the longan fruit. Its a very relaxing tea.

Earl Grey is my “must-have” morning tea. I usually drink Twinings Earl Grey, but if I could afford it I would drink Lupicia’s Earl Grey Grand Classic every morning. Once you’ve tried the Grand Classic, other Earl Greys seem somewhat bland in comparison.

I didn’t find it to be smokey, but then again as a regular Lapsang Souchong drinker most other teas don’t really taste smokey to me.

I certainly couldn’t drink it all day long, as the fruity notes of the Grand Classic seem to accumulate on the palate over a number of cups, but I prefer more robust teas later in the day anyway.

I love this tea! I am not to partial to smokey teas but this one has a medium smokey base and the Chinese logan fruit blends very nicely with the Bergamont flavour. During the summer, i love making this tea into a tea spritzer or soda. It’s an interesting taste but also very good! I recommend this tea for Earl Grey lovers as well as smokey tea people! If you’re neither i still urge you to try it!