102 Tasting Notes
Like most breakfast blends this is very enjoyable but probably not destined to be my favorite tea ever. It is, however, a tea that I could very easily see myself drinking every morning and being perfectly happy with life. I’ll be enjoying this tea quite a bit through the winter months this year. I’m so glad I picked it up when I was in Aberdeen.
This is just a delicious tea! I wish I didn’t have to go halfway around the world to get more. I bought a modest amount of this tea on a whim when I went in for a simple breakfast blend while visiting Scotland on holiday and mentioned that I already had about 10 kinds of Earl Grey, my favorite blend. The seller asked if I’d tried a Blue Lady yet and I said no…. and that’s all she wrote – I’m in love! Anyone who I know that travels to Aberdeen will be asked to bring me back more of this tea! (At least it’s light for the luggage…)
It’s slightly more floral than an average Earl Grey, with some lovely light notes that really opens up the flavor. At the same time, you can instantly recognize it’s an Earl Grey.
I fully admit that I may have over-brewed this tea a bit, which explains why I find it so bitter, but it should not be as bitter as I’m getting because I didn’t over-brew it by THAT much. I find it smoky and bitter, and those two flavors just overwhelm my palate. So…. Not my favorite. I prefer gunpowder for a everyday green tea.
My first taste of this I totally didn’t like, but then the flavors settled down a bit and I enjoyed the subtile, warming flavors. But by the end of the cup I was back to just not enjoying the flavor again. I got smokey and vegetal flavors. I think the best I can really say is I didn’t dislike this tea, but I don’t think I’ll be buying it again.
I really enjoyed this tea. The aroma is comforting and makes me smile whenever I go to take a sip. The flavor isn’t overwhelming with chestnut, so it tastes more like a mildly flavored black tea with a hint of caramel. I would think for most people’s taste it could use just a touch of sugar to match the flavor with the smell. Very enjoyable – I think I shall order myself some!
Preparation
Sadly I think I’ve just encountered the first Zingerman’s product that I didn’t absolutely love. To be fair, I don’t have the right equipment for this tea — you have to use so much of the tea for each 8oz of water that I literally don’t have an infuser big enough to prepare as directed. Thus, unsurprisingly, the tea is watery and doesn’t taste like anything. Too bad, because I generally enjoy Zingerman’s products and am sure this would be good, but I’m not going to buy new equipment just for this!
