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__Morgana__ drank Mount Gray by Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea

2036 tasting notes

It feels like forever since I’ve had something that called itself an Earl Grey. I am surprised I missed it as much as I do. I wouldn’t count Earl Greys as among my favorite teas. I’m not sure they’re even in the top ten, though I do enjoy them a lot when I’m in the right mood.

Also, I haven’t really met an Andrews and Dunham tea that I didn’t like.

I thought that might change when I cracked open the tin because the dry tea smells heavily and only of bergamot. Strongly citrus. It even has an edge of perfume to it. When I do have Earl Grey, I like the ones that are bergamot-citrus, usually a lot more than the ones that are than bergamot-perfume.

After steeping, the perfume aspect goes away, fortunately. The aroma mellows substantially, to a light lemon-orange scent over tea with a mocha note. The tea is dark amber and clear.

This is a lovely Earl Grey. My favorite always and forever will be Samovar’s followed by ATR’s Earl Grey Shanghai which is no longer available. While I prefer the Yunnan base of the Samovar and ATR, this is a very mellow blend. The bergamot is definitely central, but not sharp or overpowering, and it integrates well with the base. I’m not sure what the base is, just that it isn’t Yunnan. It doesn’t have the color of Ceylon after steeping. Assam, perhaps?

In any case, I like it a lot. I’m bumping ATR’s rating just so I can rate this high.

I am a little worried about Andrews & Dunham, though. The last thing I see on their Facebook page is from September.

Anyone have any news?

Flavors: Bergamot, Citrus, Lemon, Mocha, Orange, Perfume

Preparation

Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 17 OZ / 500 ML

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I got obsessed with tea in 2010 for a while, then other things intruded, then I cycled back to it. I seem to be continuing that in for a while, out for a while cycle. I have a short attention span, but no shortage of tea.

I’m a mom, writer, gamer, lawyer, reader, runner, traveler, and enjoyer of life, literature, art, music, thought and kindness, in no particular order. I write fantasy and science fiction under the name J. J. Roth.

Personal biases: I drink tea without additives. If a tea needs milk or sugar to improve its flavor, its unlikely I’ll rate it high. The exception is chai, which I drink with milk/sugar or substitute. Rooibos and honeybush were my gateway drugs, but as my tastes developed they became less appealing — I still enjoy nicely done blends. I do not mix well with tulsi or yerba mate, and savory teas are more often a miss than a hit with me. I used to hate hibiscus, but I’ve turned that corner. Licorice, not so much.

Since I find others’ rating legends helpful, I added my own. But I don’t really find myself hating most things I try.

I try to rate teas in relation to others of the same type, for example, Earl Greys against other Earl Greys. But if a tea rates very high with me, it’s a stand out against all other teas I’ve tried.

95-100 A once in a lifetime experience; the best there is

90-94 Excellent; first rate; top notch; really terrific; will definitely buy more

80-89 Very good; will likely buy more

70-79 Good; would enjoy again, might buy again

60-69 Okay; wouldn’t pass up if offered, but likely won’t buy again

Below 60 Meh, so-so, iffy, or ick. The lower the number, the closer to ick.

I don’t swap. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that I have way more tea than any one person needs and am not lacking for new things to try. Also, I have way too much going on already in daily life and the additional commitment to get packages to people adds to my already high stress level. (Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does.)

That said, I enjoy reading folks’ notes, talking about what I drink, and getting to “know” people virtually here on Steepster so I can get ideas of other things I might want to try if I can ever again justify buying more tea. I also like keeping track of what I drink and what I thought about it.

My current process for tea note generation is described in my note on this tea: https://steepster.com/teas/mariage-freres/6990-the-des-impressionnistes