Every so often a real classic is created. Earl Grey has been one for a long time. Once that classic is generally standardized deviating from the recipe is rarely done. While some have experimented with Earl Grey over the sixteen or so decades of its existence, it’s this particular take which has me pining for more.

With an easygoing black tea and lots of very large coconut shavings you know what you’re getting when you steep this tea. The dry aroma is almost completely of bergamot with faint hints of coconut sweetness.

Once brewed this tea produces a deep auburn liquor. The aroma is more subdued which helps the coconut come through a but more. Light hints of caramel pop out as well. This tea has a bit of pucker but relativeley low astringency considering.

I recommend this blend for any fan of Earl Grey teas.

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The loose material which makes up this tea is primarily of green rooibos. When you peek closer though you’ll note lots of thin red slivers of strawberry. Very tins, but abundant. The aroma is quite heavily of strawberry.

The concoction brews a nice amber liquor with a strong but sweet strawberry aroma. The aroma is actually more pungent once brewed than prior to it.

The flavor is predominently strawberry, but not as sweet as the brewed aroma hints at. Adding some honey or sweetener is a good option to look to if you desire a sweeter brew.

There’s not much tail or finish on this tea. There’s virtually no astringency and there’s no drying of the mouth. So while the aroma is as apetizing as can be, the flavor and texture seem to be lacking a bit.

I recommend this tea for fans of strawberry flavored stuff as well as those who enjoy fruit teas and tasty caffeine free treats. You might want to add some sweetener of some kind, be it honey, agave nectar or sugar/substitute.

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The loose material for this tea is pretty basic. You have an Indian black tea, with occasion safflower and some pomegranate arils thrown in. The aroma is notably sweet.

One brewed, the liquor turns to a slightly dark amber hue. The aroma from the spent leaves and liquor are brisker and less sweet than that of the dry leaves.

The flavor is much less astringent than I expected. While there is a slight dryness that persists on the outer edges of the tongue there’s a lingering sweetness through the tail. Unexpectedly there’s no real tartness such as you would get with an actual pomegranate, but I think it would have destroyed this tea.

As is, I think this tea is wonderful. I would recommend it to fans of fruit teas and of lighter Indian or Sri Lankan black teas.

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Visually the dry leaves are clearly a Sencha. The deep green color and the rolling style indicate this before anything else. The peppermint and spearmint leaves almost make it look like there are little Tencha flakes mixed in or that the Sencha leaves have been seriously mangled.

The dry aroma is sweet but minty, almost like a stick of mint chewing gum. It’s fresh and piquant. The sweetness I would guess comes only partly from the vanilla, and somewhat from the spearmint.

The brewed concoction presents a golden liquor where the aroma is mostly of spearmint though a hit of vegetal freshness also emerges.

Once on the palate the brew is excitingly fresh. Its mint mixture produces just the right amount of palate activity to draw a long tailing finish without overwhelming your tastebuds. The vanilla does seem to soften the brisk excitement caused by the mint as well.

There’s no drying of the palate or real astringency here. There is however a twinge of vegetal bite while the brew swirls in the mouth. However, it lasts just long enough to be replaced by the minty infusion.

I would recommend this to to fans of Senchas, flavored teas and mint teas. Fans of fresh Muscatel Darjeelings may also find this brew enjoyable.

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Marigold petals and apricot pieces added to a splended black tea make for a nice looking assortment in the pouch this tea came in. The dry aroma is sweet and very creamy.

This tea brews a beautiful yellow-caramel liquor which effuses a subdued fruity and creamy aroma. I think I was expecting something stronger, but this was nice.

From the brew comes a light flavor profile containing the lightest of floral notes and fruit tones. You can clearly taste the apricot and the marigold petals comes through rather nicely in the finish and hold through the tail.

Brewed properly this blend has very little astringency and only the slightest hints of bitterness on the tongue.

If you like cheesecake, apricots, peaches and/or lighter Chinese black tea this brew could be for you. Also, try this with milk for a latte style as recommended by Frank from 52teas. You won’t regret it. It turns out very nicely.

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