Originally Posted by
TMOliver
I've never understood the allure of Earl Grey. For me, the orange peel (?) and bergamot mask the flavor of the tea. Heretical though it may be, I use a 16 ounce ceramic mug (pre-warmed) with a "sipper" lid, a heaping teaspoon of loose tea (a variety of Black teas or Irish Breakfast) in the bottom with a heaping teaspoon of "Turbinado" sugar, "Not quite" boiling water, and steeped long enough for the tea leaves to settle. No milk, but from October through April, I have fresh Meyer lemons "in bulk" from my daughter's trees, so I often drop in a slice.
In the off season, both preserved in sugar and North African style in salt, Meyer lemons form an almost un-matched luxury.
I agree about the Meyer lemons. I have killed every tree I have planted so you are lucky to have them.
But Earl Grey is just a heavenly combination of flavors and there is something intoxicating about bergamot. I do tea bags and love the organza ones from Tea Forte. I love the smell of coffee but not the taste so tea is my caffeine delivery system.