This sample has been hanging around for over two years, possibly longer.
Several things are happening as I work on this sipdown challenge in earnest. My tea storage areas look neater, teas in pouches are being repackaged into tins as tins get emptied, and my box of samples and small amounts is not a rip roaring mess anymore. I decided today was a good day to finally relieve that box of one more sample, even though it isn’t in cupboard and therefore doesn’t count as a sipdown.
Because it was individually wrapped I got out a mug thinking I was doing a sachet, but remembered right before tearing it open (had to get scissors actually) that a lot of these were loose leaf, and this one was, too. Pulled out a steeper and made it for my lunch cuppa.
Considering the age, this has held up extremely well. I am not a bergamot lover with the exception of a few really well-loved blends, but this was pretty decent. I could still taste plenty of bergamot but it didn’t smack me in the face, and the green base still had presence. A few bits of broken leaf made it past the steeper so the last sip got tossed but overall it wasn’t terribly bitter and had enough flavor to pair well with food. If I were just sipping for pleasure with nothing to eat, I think I would prefer something like Anastasia White to satisfy any bergamot with light tea craving.
