Bergamot Rose Laoshan Black

TTTTB 4/7

Glad I got a chance to try this because I’m always hearing great things about Laoshan Black blends. I was a little hesitant because of the rose but it was not too rosy. The bergamot was more in the front and very nice. I don’t think it would be one I order because I’m normally not in the mood to drink roses. I kept enough to try a small cup iced and it is lovely and I didn’t notice any rose this time just the crisp and bready. Someday I will place an order, I don’t feel I’ve matured enough on my tea journey to take the time and appreciate Verdant teas enough to merit an order.

The only reason I can write these reviews right now is because I already had them pulled up to review before Steepster started acting up and it is helping me be busy as I wait for the AC guy.

From the Teeny Tiny TTB.

Lovely, colorful dry leaf: little curly Laoshan black tea leaves, bergamot pieces, and dark pink rose petals. It was nice to have a tea that actually has bergamot and not any flavor or fragrance – my first time actually. The aroma is quite strong, as if it were shouting BERGAMOT (a positive thing). The dark gold liquor is full-bodied and flavorful: the bergamot balances well with the malt and chocolate from the Laoshan black. Truly, this was such a pleasure to drink. Laoshan black works amazingly in blends. It took my mind off whatever what I was doing it was so good. But I couldn’t taste any rose, otherwise the rating would be higher. If anything the rose petals seem to be there just for aesthetic appreciation.

I think I’d like this base in almost anything.

I’m also a big fan of roses, which are mixed in a controlled manner here. I’m less keen on the bergamot, but it’s smooth enough here not to be overburdening.. This tea feels like a strange cross between an indulging sunny afternoon with chocolate fudge malt and a cleansing spa day.

Recommended for lovers of Earl Grey, rose teas, and chocolate.

This one is from Terri Harplady by way of the HH teabox a while back. thank you! A rose earl grey sounds interesting! As Verdant suggests, two teaspoons. Plenty of big rose petals in the mix!

Steep #1 // just boiled // 2 min
The Laoshan makes this one like chocolate… which means rosey, bergamoty chocolate. Seems like an odd combination! It’s good but not great. The rose seems to overpower the tea. Not really much bergamot. But the Laoshan is so much like chocolate that it seems like chocolate was added to this tea. I like that Verdant uses roses that are the same as the roses in another rose blend I have. That makes the other tea seem more legit.

Steep #2 // just boiled // 3 min
This one seems like it has more bergamot. Still chocolatey. All three ingredients are nice, but together they don’t really make the most ideal combination. I’ve got a couple more teaspoons I’ll enjoy!