I discovered Mighty Leaf tea in general, and Mighty Leaf's Orange Dulce black tea in particular, during a particular grueling year of traveling for work, when I spent more time in hotels than in my own home. A number of the hotels on the West coast carried Mighty Leaf teas. The brand has since become a favorite, particularly now that it has migrated into the more upscale grocery stores on the East coast.
Orange Dulce is a tea that is a tea you're either going to love or hate. I happen to love it. But, if you don't like Earl Grey or its lighter cousin Lady Grey, don't bother even trying Orange Dulce.
Orange Dulce is a blend of Ceylon and China black teas, flavored with bergamot, orange, vanilla and jasmine blossoms. The aroma is wonderful. It's soothing and refreshing, like a warm orange scone.
In both flavor and armoa, the orange is the strongest note, with bergamot playing close second. The vanilla acts as a mellowing agent, soothing the flavor from sharp citrus into something more gentle. The orange-vanilla notes linger longest as you taste it. That all being said, this is not an orange herbal tea. It still tastes like tea undernearth, although very subtly.
It is essential to watch the brewing time closely. Brewed for too long, it becomes a hot, tea-flavored creamsicle, which is more off-putting than it sounds. Orange Dulce should be brewed closer to the 3 or 4 minute mark than not.
This tea also doesn't ice well. The flavor mix needs warmth to work. Icing it turns it cloying.
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