Queen Victoria's Earl Grey by Tealicious

Teaware: 16oz infuser mug
Measured dry: 2 tsp
Water Temperature: Boiling
Steeping Time: 4 minutes
Additives: 1 tablespoon of raw sugar

This is the last of the three fall preview teas the company sent to me, and like its siblings it won't be featured on the website until October.

I don't have a list of its ingredients, but judging by the dry mix it appears to be a black blend with citrus rind, blue cornflowers, rose petals, and probably bergamot oil. That comes through in the aroma, as citrus and floral nearly burst from the package. 

The smell changes once it's been steeped, and the infused aroma focuses more on the black teas. While undeniably an Earl Grey, it has a mild flavor that belies the medium astringency. There's a surprisingly intense dry-mouth feeling, which I would normally associate with a more pungent tea. It's not until that sensation settles in that the floral notes make themselves known in the aftertaste.

A dash of milk helped reduce the astringency and added a nice balance to the flavor. The floral notes stepped further into the background, and the Earl Grey flavor profile took center stage.

I did attempt a re-steep, and was surprised at how true to form it remained. The astringency has been drastically reduced, but otherwise there's very little difference between the first and second steeps, so next time I make it I will be sure to re-steep.

Prominent Notes: The black teas and bergamot 

Aftertaste: Floral notes

Overall: A very mild Earl Grey with hints of floral