Hugo Grey

Backlog from an old note:

Rebranded as Hugo Grey. Opening the back was a little overwhelming-bergamot bambed in my face. I opened it again a day later, and the peppery yunnan black base came through. Here are there notes:“grapefruit peel | applewood smoke | lemon zest” and that is more accurate in tems smell. In terms of taste, it’s doubtless Earl Grey, but with a scotch caramel body accented by cocoa, caraway, and pepper notes amidst a malty body. It could be a little drying like biscuit, but also pleasantly bitter sweet.

My only criticism is that the bergamot is a hair too strong. Otherwise, this tea does resemble some higher rated teas like Whispering Pines Earl Gold, which is impressive to say the least. This one is good western or gong fu. I’d love to see it in sachet form for the convenience of having an affordable high grade leaf.
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And to the now. It’s good in sachet form. The recent sachets have higher quality leaves than before. The bergamot bleeds through anything, so if you want easy cologne, just get a few bags and put them in your jacket pocket. The sachets used to be so much cheaper. I used to get it for 42 bucks for 100 sachets, but now it’s 48. Gottta love inflation

I still like this one. It’s great in a tumbler, and it actually cuts some of the harshness out of the way with more water.

Cold brewing it works super well too. The bergamot, malt, caraway and cocoa are very pronounced, and it doesn’t use it’s pithiness. Mind you, I use two teabags worth and use cold water straight to let it sit in my bamboo tumbler, getting strong quicker than leaving it in the fridge. I still easily reuse them, and gets more drying after a few hours instead of a few minutes.

The pithy and earthy qualities would divide some people and detract them. The bergamot is also overwhelming for some. Most of my student really like this one’s profile, but others think it tastes too woody or grassy. That can be avoided with shorter steeps, yet I like it’s got more roast and character than some Ceylons. I also am preferential to Chinese blacks, so I keep coming back to it. Personally, it’s my slightly higher end work/breakfast tea for sustaining, mild energy and grounding. I personally like this one more than the Chai so far, but I still go back to the Jasmine Bai Hao they sell despite that tea being more astringent.

I recommend this tea for people who like Earl Grey and earthier/chocolatier tea.

First tea of the day. This is a smooth earl grey. Like the website description, I am getting a grapefruit pith sort of taste from the bergamot. This tea doesn’t not have that angry earl grey bite, or astrigency. It is grapefruit pithy and what I assume is peatiness. I haven’t had a whole lot of scotch but it is smooth. The pithiness does dry the mouth after awhile but that doesn’t bother me too much.

Overall, a really nice tea. Probably something I would restock for my family of whiskey-scotch drinkers and earl grey drinkers for something nice in the morning. Don’t think it is something I would drink everyday though so probably I wouldn’t buy the 500g bulk size.