Ah, Lady Grey: the Earl’s stalwart, silky wife. It was with this vixen that I first fell in love, I’ll have you know. It wasn’t a loose leaf; it was some big brand boxed tea in bags, but it occurred to me that wow, tea was BECOMING MY THING.
So thank you, Lady Grey. You were my first love and I will always be indebted to you.
This particular Lady comes from PrestoGeorge, a HUUUUUGE tea and coffee shop in Pittsburgh, PA. It’s so grand one might call it an emporium. They have ENORMOUS glass jars of tea that you can pop open and sniff. Customers and staff are constantly popping around, grabbing tea off the massive shelves and replacing it. The turnover, chaos, and lovely smells make it almost a magical Harry Potter type of experience. (To be fair, if you went on a weekday, the experience would probably be calmer. Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District on a nice, warm Saturday is always crowded.)
Prestogeorge’s take on Lady Grey is, true to form, a more delicate Earl Grey. Lady Greys are typically more flowery and has less bergamot and more lemon/orange.
This Lady carries off her title with aplomb. The mouthfeel (ew, gross word) is EXTREMELY silky. This is some QUALITY stuff. The base tea is rich, a little bit malty and maybe a smidge woodsy. It feels like the Lady has put on a nice dress and is taking a stroll around the flowers and the grounds with her husband’s hunting beagles. It’s the last of late summer. They’ve wandered a bit afar, but she knows that the beagles will lead her home. She’ll let their noses lead the way back to her Earl’s arms.
If you’re interested in acquiring this tea for yourself, you can shop online and have it shipped to you. If, however, you’re anywhere near Pittsburgh, you should go check this place out in person. It’s enchanting.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Prestogeorge Coffee & Tea
Description
Whole Leaf black tea, blue mallow blossoms and begamot and citrus flavors. The bergamot flavor is more delicate than the Earl Grey Tea. Also a hint of citrus flavor is added to Lady Grey. Enjoyed the world over.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Currant Conversation Oolong Tea from Plum Deluxe. . . .
This rich, tasty blend whisks together vanilla, currant, and a deep oolong to form a soothing steep. The berry notes hold hands with the earthy oolong; the vanilla wraps around everything to keep the enterprise running smoothly.
The ingredients also include rose hips, which I didn’t detect at the outset. I also didn’t pick up on the “love” and “gratitude” that are supposedly in here. To me, this doesn’t taste so much like love as it does ACCOMPLISHMENT and DECADENCE.
This creamy and fancy blend tastes like something a VERY rich widow would sip while looking out over her veranda. Her gilded armoires hold her furs; her wine glasses are always crystal, never glass; and her heels click on the marble every time she walks.
Has she had plastic surgery? She’ll never tell. But she looks AMAZING.
Maybe it’s the tea.
It’s probably the tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Description
Looking for a conversation starter? We’ve got one right here with our signature vanilla black currant oolong tea. It’s elegance in a cup, a wonderful balance of woodsy vanilla and tart fruit.
This blend relies on its simplicity. The base is a fresh, earthy, and grounding Formosa oolong tea from Taiwan. Our favorite vanilla extract helps bring out the layers of floral notes in the oolong, while rose hips and black currant add wonderful highlights of sweet-tart fruitiness. It’s invigorating and calming at the same time. We can’t decide if we like it more hot or iced, so you’ll have to try both.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cranberry Mango from Socra Tea
I just realized that “Socra Tea” sounds like “Socrates”, which is why an old Greek statue is this company’s logo. I’ve had SEVERAL cups of tea from them, and THIS NEVER OCCURRED TO ME UNTIL JUST NOW. Clever. Perhaps a little TOO clever.
Anyway, this morning I hit the gym hard, and needed something refreshing afterward, so I decided to hit up Cranberry Mango green, iced.
And oh yum. The sweetness of the mango is balanced out by the tartness of the cranberry. The green base is perky, a teensy bit vegetal but mostly just spring-y.
This would be the perfect thing if you were babysitting some kids at a park on a summer morning. You’d be like, “Ahhhhhh… Easy on the slide, kids… Yum… Guys, stop hitting each other… Tasty… STOP STANDING ON THE SWINGS. SIT. BUNS ON THE SEAT.”
As you can see, I am a tea connoisseur as well as an A+ babysitter. I can do it all. And so can you, with this delicious treat.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Socra Tea
Description
Tart and tangy cranberries meet the rich sweetness of ripe mangos. Sweet, invigorating and exceptional! Green teas from China and Ceylon, mango and cranberry pieces, and natural flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Full Moon Chai from Plum Dexlue. . . .
I often find chai a little bit too aggressive. It’s SO. MANY. SPICES. It’s sometimes bitter, or overbearing with the cinnamon. Many people seem to agree, since mixing milk into chai is the typical approach.
Plum Deluxe wondered: What if chai were combined with… cream? Naturally? Without you having to add sugar or milk in yourself?
As a dessert tea aficionado and someone who travels around a bit, let me tell you, I am ALWAYS on board with such a notion. I don’t always just HAVE milk on me. Sometimes I want to throw some loose leaf in a travel container and GO. I want that sweetness, but not that effort.
This is a good solution to a problem you may have not considered. I’m really happy that this happened. Give it a whirl!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Description
Full Moon Chai was one of our original blends, now back with even more creative energy. We’ve taken our classic, signature masala chai and added a splash of vanilla butternut extract. This simple twist adds a depth, warmth, and vibrancy to your traditional chai, and also gives the flavor a hint of sweetness and creaminess without having to add lots of sugar or milk (though we do like this blend prepared as a traditional masala chai or chai latte).
It makes a great pairing for those indoor days where you need something warm and comforting. It’s also a lovely companion for those moments when you need a high-caffeine blend to give you focus and momentum, and it’s even good for a delicious chai cocktail or three!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Passion Fruit Na Pali from Hawaiian Islands Tea Company. . . .
Hello from the ISLANDS, friends! It’s me! Sipping delicious passionfruit tea from under a flowering palm! Attractive, tattooed men are fanning me! I’m going to ride a dolphin later!
Oh wait, I’m in Pennsylvania, and it’s raining.
Sad but true: I’ve been sitting on this sample for, like, a month. I haven’t reviewed it because the word “Hawaii” makes me sad. One of my best friends moved to Hawaii half a decade ago and basically disappeared from my life altogether. I miss them so much that, like, seeing a reference to Lilo and Stitch feels like a laceration to my spirit.
But hey — YOU don’t have a weird thing about Hawaii! It didn’t steal any of YOUR pals! You probably like Hawaii (on principle — who can afford to fly there?).
And oh gosh, this tea really is tasty. No joke. It’s juicy and ripe and fruity and has a very robust black base. Wow. It genuinely is one of those beefy beach boys showing up with a platter of fruit. Thanks, Mr. Muscles, for this lovely dish. SAVORY.
This tea is so delicious it’s ALMOST making me forgive the entire state.
Almost.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Hawaiian Islands Tea Company
Description
Anyone who’s traveled to the Na Pali coast of Kauai understands the majesty of the mountains standing against the pounding of the sea. It is this boldness that inspired the name of our bold and practically perfect passion fruit tea.Made with classic Camellia Sinensis tea leaves and natural flavoring. Rich in polyphenols (antioxidant), our Passion Fruit Tea has lasting flavor, even after prolonged storage.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!