Advent Day #10

Tea #10 - “Countess Grey”

This tea has a very citrusy nose, specifically orange which falls in line with Fortnum & Mason describing it as an “orange pekoe.” I preferred the smell to the taste. Yet again, a “flavouring” of both orange and bergamot were added. I wish I better understood what the Brits mean by this term, as in the United States this generally means something manmade to taste like something found in nature, and I almost always prefer the original, natural version. This black tea was true to description and dark in the cup, and when I first sipped it, I noticed what can only be called a citrus zing! I would not turn this tea down if it was the only one offered, but it would not be a pantry staple in my home. 5/10

Follow up: I had the pleasure of having tea with Lauri at the new Queen's Library tearoom in Richmond (we had visited the old one twice before they moved, and we love the owners!) on December 18, and this tea was served. I enjoyed it more being freshly brewed loose leaf with a brown sugar cube, but it is still not my favorite.