Rooibos Earl Grey (BA19)

Not bad for a rooibos earl. Strong on the bergamot. Very fresh and lemony. I really want to smell a real bergamot one day so I have a better feel for what realistic bergamot is like. Anyway, rooibos behaves in here. Good hot cup before bed. :)

Holy floral bergamot, Batman! This is one strongly flavored tea.

I can’t remember why I grabbed this initially – I think perhaps it was to assuage a guy I once knew that loves Earl Grey, and wanted more decaf options, so I grabbed him this sample. Regardless, he’s out of the picture and this tea is what fell on me tonight, and so… I’m drinking it.

It smells VERY strongly of bergamot in the bag, and even more so as it steeps. This is very definitely a strong tea. Plus, an EIGHT minute steep? Okay, if you say so.. and it’s strong. Faintly floral, very bergamot, and a hint of rooibos.

I think if I was gaga for strong Earl Greys and wanted a nighttime fix, I’d drink this. Is it for me? Not really.

1 or 2/5…maybe 1.5/5. I didn’t puke or retch or anything, but there’s no way I’d voluntarily drink this again.

Harsh on the bergamot, and in an off-putting Pine-Sol industrial citrus (more chemical lemon than bergamot) bathroom cleaner way, ugh. Maybe steeping for less time will help—it calls for 8 minutes!—but I dunno, it didn’t seem like it was a leaf thing so much as a bad chemical flavoring thing. Now I appreciate American Tea Room’s version much more.

A good Earl Grey; even though it’s a rooibos, it holds up well with milk and sugar. I let mine steep about 10-15 minutes, and it was still well-rounded. Not the strongest bergamot aroma or flavor I’ve ever come across, but quite good.

Love it. I hate the caffeine haunting every decision to consume Earl Grey, but this usual blend has all the bergamot you could ask for, and I love the mild sweetness of the rooibos underneath. Milk and sugar are welcome but not required.

Regulars know I love Earl Grey. My usual mug has a Ceylon base to offer some bite to my lemony delight. I also love a good Earl Green when I can get it. I despise wimpy bergamot teas IF they call themselves Earl Grey (H&S I mean you) I also get offended if you change anything and still call it Earl Grey.

This one. This one smells so gloriously of bergamot when dry. Beautiful, beautiful bergamot. Once steeped it has some rooibos scent. It does say Rooibos in the name, so I am cool with it.

The taste is so Earl Grey that for a moment I forget it is not my usual cup. I taste no rooibos until the aftertaste. Even then it is covered in glorious bergamot. It is strong and sweet. To those who adore it, this is not overpowering, fake, or soapy tasting.

Earl Grey friends this one I could drink on a regular evening basis. So Good! If I weren’t afraid of upsetting the ratings police, this would get a very high score. Oh, what the heck, get over it.

Edit forgot to say thanks to CelebriTEA for sharing this one.