Earl Grey Irtolehtitee

The Calabrian bergamot oil makes a huge difference — it's fragrant without turning soapy like most bagged versions. I brew a pot every morning now and the loose leaves give a much smoother cup than I expected.

The bergamot is the real deal here — you can tell it's actual Calabrian oil and not some artificial flavoring, because it smells like citrus zest the second you open the tin. Steeped it for about four minutes and got a smooth cup with zero bitterness, which is rare for a black tea.

I was worried the bergamot would taste artificial, but this actually smells like fresh citrus peel when you open the tin. The organic black tea base is smooth enough that I can drink it without milk, which I didn't expect.