The dry tea is quite broken and smells almost like Froot Loops. Unlike most Earl Greys, though, the aroma of the tea is discernible beneath the bergamot.

The brewed tea smells mostly of malt and bergamot. The tea tastes more bitter and astringent than I expected. Based on Ahmad's other teas, I was expecting the blend to be mostly Ceylon, but there's definitely something, probably Assam, with more bite to it. This is definitely one of the best Earl Greys that I've had. Most Earl Greys have enough citrus to overwhelm any flavors of the tea, but this one is balanced quite well. The finish alternates between the bergamot and malt, giving kind of a rich lemonade sensation.

This tea is much heavier on the bitterness and astringency than I originally expected. This allows the sweetness of the bergamot to come through, but the overall tea is definitely more bitter than many other Earl Greys. I expect those that enjoy typical English Breakfast teas will find this tea equally enjoyable.

I bought this tea at a Middle Eastern grocery and paid $9 for a half-kilogram. Ahmad's US website sells a pound (454g) for $15, though, which is still more than reasonable.

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