Harney & Sons Ambessa The Earl of Harlem Tea, 20 Tea Sachets, 1.4 Ounce

I love Harney & Sons, Earl Grey tea, and Marcus Samuelsson, so I was so excited to try Ambessa: The Earl of Harlem! I read other reviews and prepared myself for a rich and smoky experience. The product arrived and right away I was pleased with the colorful tin, which looks so nice on my shelf and stands out next to my other tea tins. When I opened the tin, however, I got very worried. I did not like the smell. It was TOO smoky, and I thought I could detect notes of tobacco amid the more familiar floral/fruity Earl Grey. I brewed the kettle and prepared myself for disappointment.Well, I couldn't have been more wrong! The smell that was so strong when I opened the tin diffused in my mug and became the light, smoky, barely-fruity aroma that other reviewers here have described. I like my Earl Grey with some sweetness, so I added a few drops of Trader Joe's Liquid Stevia and a splash of cream to my cup before tasting.All I can say is...WOW! The flavor of this tea is just incredible, and not what you would expect from the smell of the dry tea. It's like The Right Honorable Earl Grey went to a speakeasy jazz club (and made a few friends).For fans of traditional Earl Grey the flavor is familiar enough to satisfy your expectations, but the deep smokiness transforms that familiar flavor into something exotic. Other reviewers have described it as a smoky earl grey, and that's not wrong but it doesn't go far enough. There's a lot more than just the flavor of smoke -- this tea has a very complex flavor: smoky, floral, fruity, oaky, and even a bit "spicy" (not as in hotness, but as in there are spices in this tea I can't quite describe because I don't think I've tasted them before). Earl of Harlem definitely kicks it up a notch! You can definitely recognize it as an Earl Grey but at the same time it's its own thing and strongly distinct from any other Earl Grey out there. So if you're a bit adventurous but still appreciate tradition, this tea is for you.

I have been drinking this daily for years after first trying it at Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster in Harlem. I really enjoy the smoky flavor. It is truly a unique offering. I hope Harney and Sons makes it available for purchase again soon, as my morning routine will be incomplete without it!

What an outstanding tea . I love it . Where has this tea been all my life ? I encourage everyone who loves tea try this . This chef has done an outstanding job with this tea . So good .

I bought this expecting an amazing earl grey tea comparable to the others teas Harney and Sons offers however I had my expectations too high and was disappointed by this tea. Please don't be misunderstood, the tea is great but has a mild burnt flavor to it. But overall it is just not as good as any of the other earl grey teas.

This is a great tea for drinking or cooking. It has a very nice smoky flavor. I added it to a salad dressing and enjoyed it as a beverage

Excellent blend and aromatic

I love the combo of bergamot and smoke. It really is a lovely tea

It is quite different from any other black tea I've experienced. Excellent!!!!!!