Tea of the Week for July 26, 2021!
I grew up in Orange County, California, and back when I still young, there were still some orange groves around. I know that most – if not all – are gone now to make way for city “improvements” (if you want to call it that). I recall when I was young – how lovely it would be to drive by an orange grove with the window down when the trees were in bloom as well as when they were ready for harvest. The fragrance of orange (or orange blossoms, in the case of the trees in bloom) filled the air.
Grey Grove was crafted in recognition of those lovely, citrus-filled memories. This blend starts out with a unique blend of black teas: Assam, Ceylon, Fujian & Laoshan black teas – these teas were carefully chosen to create a full & well-rounded black base. Strong but not too astringent – because the citrus fruits (particularly bergamot) can be quite astringent on their own so I wanted something that would be robust & malty without being too dry. To this blend of black teas, I added some top quality, cold-pressed, organic bergamot oil & dried citrus fruit wedges: orange, lime & lemon. Then I added just a hint of marshmallow essence to soften the edge of these bright citrus fruits. Think of it as a ‘touch of cloud’ to soften the bright sunshine in a citrus grove.
The result is a cuppa that is quite unlike anything I’ve tasted, but yet so familiar. I taste the Earl Grey there, but it is a softened version of Earl Grey. I taste the bright citrus notes of lemon & lime as well as the sweetness of orange. I taste the subtle kiss of marshmallow. It’s quite lovely, very citrusy, tangy-tart & beautifully sweet.
It’s also VEGAN, gluten-free, allergen-friendly & all natural!
ingredients: black teas & orange blossoms
organic ingredients: black teas, bergamot, oranges, lemons, limes & natural flavors