There’s a lot I don’t know about the history of tea– and even with what I do learn, the more I know, the more I realize there is to learn. All that to say– I have no idea if there actually *is* an Earl of Grey, but when I drink an earl grey tea, I have this very distinct impression of a stuffy-looking Earl in olde England, sipping his tea, twirling his mustache and saying things like “pip pip” and “old chap”.
This tea from Balcony has taken the traditional “pip pip” English grey and given it a delightful Mediterranean twist (I’m envisioning the same dude from before, maybe just with the addition of dark swoopy hair and a tan) with orange zest and calendula to bring some brightness to the normal floral notes of an earl grey.
Though bagged, the leaves are prominent and the steep is strong. I’ve happily found with much I’ve tried from Balcony that this is the case– while I might normally double-bag brew when I’m not using loose leaves, this one doesn’t require it at all.
A delightful twist on a traditional earl grey, and I suspect in the summer this one might make a great iced tea lemonade. Pip pip, indeed!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Black Tea
Where to Buy: Balcony Tea
Description
Black Tea – Finest Ceylon black tea to set off this blend perfectly. Orange Blossom – Deliciously fragrant with delicate floral honeyed aroma. Calendula Petals – A beautiful splash of sunshine yellow. Bergamot Flavour – The best quality Bergamot, a distinctively zesty citrus fruit of which the oil is used to flavour this tea, is grown in the Mediterranean.
Making a perfect cup:
Brew in freshly boiled water for 3 minutes and serve with or without milk.
Enjoy!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
