Friday Afternoon presents a bergamot-scented rooibos with the obvious title of "Red Earl Grey". I've had other permutations of the bergamot/rooibos pairing. Some skimped on the citrus so much that the result was more like citrus rooibos. This, however, had a scent that I couldn't discern from a normal morning cup o' Earl. It was all bergamot, and nary a nut-sweet rooibos to be found in the aroma. I was also pleased to see the rooibos pieces were the mid-to-long-cut variety - the "whole leaf" equivalent for rooibos grading, promising a fuller infusion.

Brewing instructions weren't present on the Friday site, but rooibos wasn't a hard customer to cup. Generally, an even infusion of six minutes in boiled water did the trick. I went with that using 1 tsp. in 8oz.

The liquor infused to a light copper with a nut-sweet nose trailed by a faint bergamot bite. Some shifting of priorities must've occurred during my six-minute wait. Rooibos was making its presence known. The flavor said differently. Of all the faux-Earls I've tried, this is the closest to the real thing out there. The initial taste was a citrus-sour sock to the tongue, followed by a smooth middle. Aftertaste was relegated for rooibos to impart a sweet finish. A very deceptive h-"Earl"-bal infusion.

— To purchase Friday Afternoon Red Earl Grey, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Geoff Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Geoff's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Geoff.

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