Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
This special edition tea has been created in celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee (1952-2012) and her accession to the throne 60 years ago.
The tea is a bespoke blend which includes the Queen’s favourite, earl grey tea, plus black teas, lemony bergamot and grapefruit essences.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve wanted to try this tea since it was released last year … and thanks to an online friend sending me a couple of sachets of this tea, I’m finally able to do just that!
I’m really liking this. I am not usually a big fan of Harney’s bagged teas, but, this one is nice, which leads me to believe that the loose leaf will be even better.
The flavors of bergamot and grapefruit mingle together very nicely to create a bright, citrus-y tone that is on the tart side, but I don’t find the tartness here to be off-putting the way I might normally … somehow it just works with the rich flavor of black tea to create a taste that is very satisfying. It tastes very deep and complex, with earthy notes and hints of malt and floral notes that accent the fruit tones nicely. And in return, the sunny citrus notes lighten up the tea just enough to keep the palate from feeling inundated. The many facets of this tea come together in a really lovely way.
And what is actually impressing me the most here is that I am enjoying it as much as I do, and it is a bagged tea. And as I said above, I can only imagine how much more I will love the loose leaf. I will have to remember to add some of the loose leaf in my cart the next time I’m shopping with Harney & Sons!
Earl Grey #1 from Kally Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tea Description:
This is a traditional favorite in most western cultures. Our #1 blend is created with high grown Sri Lanka Ceylon tea, along with citrus bergamot fruit flavoring oils, not artificial flavorings. These flavorings do not mask the taste and characteristics of the tea itself. We here at Kally Tea felt this blend deserves a #1 behind it as the taste is traditional Earl Grey, but yet has a very distinct characteristic that other Earl Greys do not match. As our product line expands, we will present to you other blends that are of equal quality, but will have different traits. So please enjoy this first offering; Earl Grey #1!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve said it on numerous occasions, and I’ll say it again: I love Earl Grey!
There have been many stories told about how Earl Grey tea came to be, I really don’t care about the legends and tall tales behind it, I’m just glad that it did happen, that somehow someone out there decided to combine the essence of bergamot and black tea together to create this marvelous drink. There are few teas out there that make me happier than a good cup of Earl Grey!
What does surprise me is how different they can all be. It seems like every tea company out there has an Earl Grey … but they aren’t all the same. So, it amazes me (and kind of irritates me, if I’m being honest) when I hear of someone claiming they don’t like Earl Grey. I want to ask them “How many Earl Grey teas have you tried?” “Which Earl Greys have you tried?” Because it’s such a generalized statement to proclaim that someone dislikes Earl Grey.
I mean, yes, there are some pretty grody Earl Grey teas out there (Yes, I was a valley girl), but for every bad Earl Grey tea that there is, there are at least two or three good ones, and at least one or two AMAZING ones. This Earl Grey #1 from Kally Teas falls somewhere in between the good and amazing. It isn’t the best Earl Grey that I’ve had, but it is definitely a good one, and perhaps even a bit better than just good!
This is really CLASSIC Earl Grey. It is bergamot and black tea. The bergamot is good and strong and has a vibrant flavor and aroma. It is distinctly bergamot. It doesn’t have a fake, perfume-y kind of taste to it. It tastes like tangy citrus fruit with notes of flower.
The black tea is a strong tea – a Ceylon, which I typically think of as mild, but here it plays a stronger role than I anticipated! It has a fair amount of astringency that starts off soft and gradually builds, and then begins to taper off as the tea cools off. I suspect if served iced, this would have only a mild amount of astringency. Served hot, it has some, but, I don’t find it bothersome, in fact, I think it enhances the bergamot flavor.
Overall, a very good cup of Earl Grey – this is one I’d be happy to have on hand for that time when I just NEED some Earl Grey! And I have those moments often!
Green Earl Grey Tea from Revolution Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Revolution Tea
Tea Description:
Made from Organic Chinese Sencha, this blend will forever change the way you perceive green tea. An exciting, original flavor, featuring notes of Italian Bergamot, Green Earl Grey is a hearty, refreshing pick-me-up with all the health benefits of green tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My first couple of sips of this tea, I was a little unsure. I was afraid that maybe I hadn’t steeped it long enough. It tasted very weak. But, after a few moments (I’d say around three minutes) of allowing the cup to cool, the flavors really began to emerge.
Generally speaking, I tend to be somewhat skeptical when it comes to non-black Earl Grey teas. There’s something about the unique flavor of bergamot that just goes so well with the flavor of black tea and it doesn’t seem to pair as well with green teas. But, I’m liking this. It has a pleasing citrus note that accents the sweet, fresh taste of the green tea.
There is a well-defined floral note as well, perhaps even more distinguished here with this Green Earl Grey than with a typical black Earl Grey. I don’t know if this is due to the fact that the green tea has a slight floral note of its own, or if the natural flowery notes of the bergamot are able to express themselves more freely with the lighter flavor of the green tea … or perhaps a combination of the two. Either way, it’s quite lovely, sweet and exotic, without tasting soapy.
This is definitely a different approach to Earl Grey. It is lighter and crisper, but with that familiar bergamot zing! I like it, although I can’t say that I prefer it over the classic Earl Grey. However, for times when I want something bright and zesty, this would certainly fill the bill.
Earl Grey from Foxfire Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Foxfire Teas
Tea Description:
A special blend of this popular black tea; marvelous citrus aroma with a nice body | ORGANIC-FAIR TRADE
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh happy day! I just love Earl Grey!
I generally love most Earl Grey teas that I’ve tried. There have been a few rare exceptions. But I’ve definitely enjoyed more than I’ve disliked, and quite often, I find one that makes me really happy. Like this one!
The bergamot is really smooth. This is like the smooth-talking Mr. Grey. While many Earl Grey teas can have a sort of sharpness to them, this one does not. From the very first moment that the sip touches the palate, it is nothing but smooth. It is so smooth, it is almost reminiscent of an Earl Grey Creme … but without the vanilla and/or cream flavoring. It is definitely bergamot all the way, and while the bergamot is definitely tangy (as it usually is) it just doens’t taste sharp. There are no soapy notes, nothing that tastes like it’s even close to verging on perfume. Just smooth, sweet yet tangy fruit tones from the bergamot with very few of the floral tones that often accompany it.
The black tea is so rich and full-flavored. It is smooth to match the smooth quality of the bergamot. It is a delicious and robust tea, but it isn’t overwhelmingly bold – it does not need to overpower the bergamot. In fact, I find the two components to be very well matched, and they work together quite well to create a very harmonious flavor.
If you like Earl Grey, you should do yourself a favor and try this one. It’s excellence in a teacup!
Earl Grey Creme from Della Terra Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Della Terra Teas
Tea Description:
If you love Earl Grey you will adore our Earl Grey Creme. It has the classic Earl Grey flavoring matched with a delicious creme.
Ingredients: Black tea, bergamot orange oil, cream flavor
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As most of you know and have read numerous times, I love Earl Grey. I also enjoy Earl Grey Creme blends. I especially love their aroma, and I might even prefer the aroma of an Earl Grey Creme to an Earl Grey without the cream. The soft, creamy notes together with the sharp bergamot creates a very euphoric fragrance.
But, when it comes down to flavor, I usually prefer Earl Grey without the cream. However, when they’re crafted just right, an Earl Grey Creme can be just as magical. Sometimes tea artists can go a little overboard on either flavoring and offset the balance that’s needed for this blend, so it can be even more difficult to find a really good Earl Grey Creme than to find a really good Earl Grey.
Fortunately for this taster… this is an Earl Grey Creme that has been well-crafted. There is a very pleasing balance between the bergamot and the cream flavor. The soft – almost fluffy! – vanilla notes of the cream flavor are in step with the bergamot. The bergamot has a pleasant citrus-y, tangy taste, and the sharpness of the bergamot has been curbed by the cream. The result is a very flavorful brew that’s a little bit citrus-y and tart, and a little bit sweet and very delicious.
And the black tea base is not to be overlooked here. It does play more of a background note, but, it really fills in the backdrop very well. It is good and solid. It isn’t an aggressive black tea. It allows these flavors to take center stage, but there is enough of a pleasant black tea taste to satisfy this taster.
An excellent Earl Grey Creme. I’m very pleased with this.