I’m not sure why I get Earl Grey teas. Usually, the strong smell of citrus puts me off. I think during this trip to Churchill’s, however, I was in the middle of Star Trek, and I wanted to fully experience Picard’s contemplative musings. But I need to get through all my Cincinnati samples before we go back, so here we are.
I’m still getting used to the idea of not liking the smell of a tea and loving the flavor. The leaves smelled strongly of musty oranges in a way that reminded me of Florida, and not in a good way. That smell all but disappeared upon brewing, and the citrus morphed into a very light lemony taste with a floral overtone (lavender?). I’m swearing I’m tasting a little olive oil in here, but maybe I’ve just lost my mind.
Unlike most blends I’ve been drinking lately, the tea shines through nicely. It’s a light, only slightly bitter black tea with very little astringency. It’s almost as delicate as a darjeeling, but it brews darker and has a bit of an extra punch.
It will never be my favorite, but it’s worth keeping a bit around for guests.
Flavors: Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon, Olive Oil
