Blossom Earl Grey

This was in the recent care package from ashmanra. I thought this was the British version of Earl Grey. It is not. This is bergamot and orange. The bergamot is lighter than that found in the US version of Earl Grey. The orange is lighter than that found in Orange Bliss. Together they are just right. It’s kind of like Lady Grey without the lemon. While this isn’t going to blow the socks off of you, it is another solid offering from Twinings.

Continuing my bagged tea day.
This is a sample from the wonderful Ashmanra in the awesome package she sent me just before Christmas.
I hear that there might be a discussion on if Twinings in America are different than European Twinings.
Well, I do not know if I have much to say either way on that, I simply have not had enough of either to know for sure.
But, the one thing I have noticed is the difference between the leaf in the European and the US.
When I opened the samples from Twinings US, a poof of powder would always fly out of the packet.
The European samples are certainly chopped leaf but not anywhere as fine as the US ones.
The US ones were literally a powder.
Now, on to this tea.
Odor is a bright, sugary orange bergamot.
Taste. Mmmm, I like this tea.
I love the juicy sweet orange bergamot flavor!
I am a bergamot lover and I despise when its weak in the tea.
This tea does not disappoint.

My daughter’s boyfriend sent a number of teas to me from Ireland, some of which are available here in the US, and some I am not so sure about! I have not seen this in stores here, but it may be available in larger cities.

The steeped tea smells like Twinings Earl Grey tea with a bit of jasmine added. It is actually orange blossom, but I am not familiar with that scent so I just compare this to what I know! The first sip, though, remedies any confusion about what is in this tea! Mixed with the bergamot, which is prominent but not overbearing, there is a delicious juicy orange taste. Nice blend, Twinings!

Boiling water, steeped four minutes, no additions.

This was my absolute favourite Earl Grey for a long time. I haven’t had it in an age, though, and so I decided it was time to revist another old friend.

Fortunately, it’s just as I remember. The same perfectly balanced notes of black tea and bergamot, complemented by a delicate floral edge contributred by the orange blossom oil. Even though I still find it perfectly pleasant, I’m struck by the realisation that my tastes have changed. While this is a nice, drinkable Earl Grey, it’s not exciting or complex. It doesn’t make me think, or really appreciate what I’m drinking. That’s fine — sometimes I just want a no-fuss tea that I can quaff unashamedly. It’s just that I know there’s more out there, and in consequence I find myself a tiny bit disappointed.

Still, this is a nice, perfectly palatable, everyday Earl Grey. For that reason alone, it still scores points with me.

got this one as a gift some time ago, decided now’s time to try. i figured, Twinings, Earl Grey and all, this is got to be good, right? opened the bag, it all smelled like regular Earl Grey, but when i poured boiling water to it… oooh, now that was a brilliant moment. all the nuances of the bergamot and the orange came forth in one smell, mixed in a perfect breath. i instantly knew this one’s gonna be a gooood day. :)