The dry tea smells strongly of bergamot. There's no hint of other flavors, citrus or otherwise, that other brands sometimes add.

Adding water really doesn't change much. I smell bergamot and a weak hint of dry leaves. The flavor's more balanced than I would have expected, though. The underlying black tea is mellow, with a mild bitterness and some astringency. The malt hides behind the bergamot, but it's there if you look for it. I've guessed that the base tea for most of Bigelow's flavors is their English Teatime blend and this tea reinforces that. The base tea is pleasant, but one-dimensional. Flavoring the tea, in this case with bergamot, adds enough depth to make the tea enjoyable.

When I want Earl Grey, I like Bigelow and I find the flavor relaxing. Perhaps oddly, I tend to be disappointed by more expensive Earl Greys because the bergamot competes with the tea's own flavors. I don't have that problem with Bigelow. I enjoy the combination of flavors without feeling like I'm wasting money on tea that I can't taste.

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