Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Sarabeth’s
Tea Description:
Earl Grey is one of the most famous black teas in the world. This light tea was made fashionable by Earl Grey, the British Prime Minister after a visit to China in 1830.
Learn more about Sarabeth’s teas here.
Taster’s Review:
As TeaEqualsBliss mentioned in her review of this tea, this Earl Grey Tea from Sarabeth’s is a more softly flavored Earl Grey tea. In fact, had I not known I was opening a tin of Earl Grey Tea this morning, I would not have guessed – at least, not from the aroma! – that I was about to brew a cup of bergamot flavored tea. The fragrance is very indistinct. It smells nice … but when I smell an Earl Grey tea, I want that powerful bouquet, and I just didn’t get that when I opened this tin.
The tea brews to a coppery color, lighter than I’d expect from a black tea, and the aroma wafting up out of my teacup is that of black tea and bergamot: gentle earthiness with whispers of citrus-y fruit and perhaps even a hint of flower. Just as the dry tea didn’t offer a strong fragrance, neither does the brewed liquid.
The flavor, however, is enjoyable. It is a very softly flavored Earl Grey tea. The bergamot is very subtle. It tastes citrus-y. Whereas most Earl Grey teas have a powerful punch of flavor, this tastes like someone might have slipped a drop of bergamot juice into my black tea. They might have squeezed the fruit over my cup, allowing only a drop of the juice to splash into my tea.
While I personally prefer a stronger bergamot note to a cup of Earl Grey tea, what I appreciate about this particular variety of Earl Grey is that the bergamot doesn’t taste “off” like bergamot can sometimes taste. Yes, it is a delicate note here, but, it doesn’t have that weird perfume-y or soapy taste. It’s just a delicately flavored tea … and I guess what I’m trying to say is that I prefer a delicate, good tasting bergamot to a strongly flavored bad tasting bergamot.
Not my favorite Earl Grey tea – but not bad either. I found that doubling up on the tea bags does enhance the flavor a little. I also found that I prefer this one iced. It makes a very refreshing iced tea.
