Citrus Blend

Tea of the morning…..

I am so lucky! I came home from a short vacation last week to a package of Earl Grey samples from Russel at the Millerton Shop. Too fun! There are two super samples I have never tried, and two smaller ones that I have not had for a while (it will be fun to revisit those, because I have noticed that my tastes have changed just a little bit over the course of my tea journey.) I have this, the Organic Earl Grey, and smaller samples of Tower of London and Viennese Earl Grey.

This one held the most interest as it has been on my list to try for some time. Since I love Diamond Jubilee, it only makes sense that this would also be a great choice for me.

As I drink this, I keep comparing it to the Goute Russe Douchka from Dammann Freres. All of the wonderful notes of citrus are there. Orange, grapefruit, bergamot. Nice leaf quality. I do think I have found a replacement as Dammann teas are not easy to come by in the States unless you want to pay a premium for them. I can get almost a pound of this for the cost of 100g of the other. This will do quite nicely! I am trying to place the base on this one, but really, it is overpowered by the citrus notes and just reads as a good one. It is very similar to Diamond Jubilee, too, although it lacks the beautiful silver tips. I must try it iced very soon. I will thoroughly enjoy drinking my way through this super sample! Thank you so much, Russel!

Usual teapot method.

Thanks to Jenn for sending this to me as a part of a super sweet get well tea package! I’m still trying to find an earl grey I like and this might be it…even if it isn’t really an earl grey. All the flavors play really nice with one another. The citrus isn’t overpowering at all. In fact I don’t notice it until the end. I might have to order some of this…this is not a good sign for my wallet Jenn. ;)

Thanks to Jenn for a sample of this… it’s okay but a little heavy on the grapefruit for me and I’m also not a big fan of bergamot. It’s a little on the tart side. Not sure I am dying to have more but will certainly finish the cup. If you like a citrusy sort of earl grey this might be good for you…

Citrus blend smells harsh and awkward in dry form, but I hoped that would change when brewed. Unfortunately, the brewed cup tastes bitter, unbalanced, and not at all citrus-y. If anything this is an embellished Earl Gray, without any of the refinement of a good Earl Gray.

It’s strong, which is always a positive in my book….or cup as it were. The citrus notes are an unpleasantly spicy assault on the tongue, and I cannot discern grapefruit or orange. I had it sweetened with raw sugar cubes and liquid stevia.

If anyone wants the rest of my sample, message me and I’ll send it to you, I won’t be drinking the rest. It’s fresh and only has one teaspoon missing.

This tea is so moody! Sometimes I like but sometimes the bitter tendencies creep up on me. My recent sampling of this tin was not as enjoyable as it sometimes is. It is so inconsistent how this turns out! I refer to blame “user error” which is common sense.

Only about a week until spring, but it doesn’t look like that here. I like citrus teas in winter, so I decided to try this. There is an aroma of orange, and lemon. The flavour is mostly grapefruit, with mild bergamot. A nice tea for wintery days.

Citrus is among my favorite tea additive “profiles,” but not sure about the grapefruit in this one, it tastes a bit too much grapefruit.

I’ve had this one a few times and its always been a bit too bitter for my tastes.
The first time I assumed I had brewed it too hot and too long so I dropped both the temp and time. While not as bad, its still too bitter for my liking.

I was hoping for a bit of a pick me up this morning. If this doesn’t improve as it continues to cool, I’ll just make a cup of Lady Gray instead.

Wish I wasn’t out of Caribe.

I like both black tea and citrus and I was very excited to try this tea. The dry leaves smell amazingly citrusy, and I couldn’t wait to try the tea.

I was let down quite a bit by the results. Cold brewed as iced tea the flavor is flat. There is almost no citrus present and the base tea is just plain boring.

I tried it hot several times and it was fine. Nothing particularly interesting or out of the ordinary, but just fine. A dull black tea with just the slightest hint of artificial citrus flavor.

Is it a good value for the money? Well, that’s a different question. I’m not sure I could find a better tea at the price I paid, but I’d rather spend more and get something I enjoy more.

Thanks for passing down the rest of this, Lala! I love the smell of the dry leaf. Wow! Is it ever citrusy. It’s mostly bergamot and grapefruit, with strong citrus peel notes. I cold brewed it while the bast got a little chaotic for me, the citrus made a nice touch, although not nearly as strong in flavour as expected. It’s one I wouldn’t buy but I’m glad I got to try it.