Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Citrus Grey Fairtrade Fine Tea

£1.40 for 50 tea bags. This is a variation of Earl Grey, rather like the softer Lady Grey, in which some bergamot is replaced by citric notes from orange or other zests. While the name Earl Grey has not been trademarked (so tea companies are free to call their blends by the name Earl Grey), the softer Lady Grey variety, which was devised by Twinnings in 1994 for the Nordic market, is trade marked, so softer, citric variations of Earl Grey need to be called by names other than Lady Grey. Such as here, with the name Citrus Grey.

This has pleasant citric notes - a little buzz of lemon and orange. The bergamot is almost not there. The tea is a robust, tannic black tea, which comes through fairly boldly, giving a solid base to the fruity zest. I'm not convinced the robust tea and the lively fruit zest quite marry - there is something of a hollow space between them, which a bit more bergamot would fill quite nicely.

Score: 7/10

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