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I am pretty much addicted to this stuff now.
I have to admit that I didn’t like this tea at first. It was heavily perfumed and smelled very, very, sweet – I was taken aback. Add to this the fact that the label was in Japanese and I had no idea what I was supposed to be smelling or drinking. However, having shoved it to the back of my cupboard for a few months, I decided to pull it out and try again. There is much to be appreciated in this tea, though I have to guess at the make up of the blend. The aroma is complex, at first floral but underpinned by fruit. A very tropical scent. The tropical fruits come across more strongly in the taste of the tea itself, which balances the sweetness with the soft tannins of the base tea.

This is really lovely, as TWG always is. I like to consider this tea a ‘green tea’ version of the usual black chai masala. It’s spicy and yet tempered with a sophisticated sense of restraint that makes the blend smooth and not as punchy; I think its name is very apt. Great to wake up to if you don’t like teas that kick you between the teeth.

It’s not…. unpleasant. It definitely isn’t. That being said, it’s partly because the tea is so weak I can’t taste anything. I like the liquorice aftertaste, but other than that, it tastes like water. I think I’d enjoy it if I could taste it though.

Not quite as strong as i would like it, unfortunately. Still decent though, and doesn’t really oversteep so I can leave it in the cup/thermos.

I was actually hoping this would be a weaker version of M&S’ extra strong teabags because my system can’t take it. However this was pretty similar to their Gold blend, actually. It’s smooth, but just not my cup of tea (har..har… okay I’m sorry). I’ve had a friend tell me she liked it, but I personally prefer their extra strong teabags for the malty taste. I do wish they’d sell these in smaller packs, I had to give most of it away because I couldn’t possibly finish 80 bags.

It’s not terribly complex, but absolutely lovely nonetheless. Both flavors are well balanced. The dry leaf smells very sweet, but it mellows out once steeped.

It’s been over a year since I first started out with this tea. Since then I’ve tried various other Earl Greys, but this one tops the list. There’s something about the bergamot in this one that isn’t as sharp as the others, and there’s a sparkling note it that I can’t put my finger on. Finished my canister a while back, and I find myself missing it dearly. Saving up for a new one! This tea is going to be a permanent presence in my cupboard once I find the space for it!

The dry smell is extremely sweet, but once the leaves have been steeped it mellows out a little. Absolutely lovely though. Smells exactly like their strawberry jam.

Love how strong each bag is. Also love the flexibility of the steep time. Tastes a bit funny though, reminds me a little of cardboard and dried grass.

Ooookay I have cold steeped it and the tartness isn’t so sharp or strong this time. Still tastes like fruit-scented soap though