Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ocean of Tea
Tea Description:
Perhaps the most famous blend of black tea in the western world, Earl Grey Tea remains a cherished favorite. This is our favorite of the Earl Greys. Made from the finest black tea blended with just the right amount of oil of bergamot, this show-stopper will renew your love of Earl Grey and have you craving a second cup.
Wonderfully smooth, slightly tangy and extremely well balanced. The aroma is amazing and you will love the smell of a freshly opened bag!
This team is passionately named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey and Prime Minister of Great Britain. Legend says that the recipe for this tea is said to have been given to Grey by a grateful Chinese man whose son had just been rescued by one of the Earl’s men.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Earl Grey! Yay!
And this Earl Grey Premium from Ocean of Tea is one mighty fine Earl Grey! First, I must address the aroma, right? Because that’s always the first excitement that I get when I open a package of Earl Grey is that delightful fragrance of bergamot!
Well, actually, the first real excitement I get is seeing the words “Earl Grey” on a package. I love Earl Grey and the prospect of sipping on a cup of this tea often elicits a squeal of joy from me!
The scent of bergamot is strong and pleasant, and the brewed tea doesn’t lose the potency. That distinctive bergamot fragrance remains strong! This can be a good … or a bad thing … depending upon the quality of the bergamot used to flavor the tea. Sometimes too much bergamot proves to be a curse and ends up leaving the tea tasting more like a cup of warm perfume rather than a cup of delicious tea. Fortunately, that’s not the case here. The bergamot IS strong but it is a high-quality bergamot. What I taste is not perfume-ish or soapy, I taste the bright, uplifting flavor of the tangy-sweet Italian citrus fruit.
This is a remarkably smooth and well-rounded tea. The black tea base is a flavorful, satisfying tea. It’s full-flavored and robust, and it is the perfect base for the bergamot. The base stands strong alongside the powerful flavor of bergamot, which is tangy and a little sweet. This bergamot is juicy, tasting very much like the Italian orange, and there is not quite so much of the floral aspect of the bergamot here. Hints of flower peek though here and there but it is a very subtle note. This bergamot is all about the fruit!
Not too long ago, one of my favorite Earl Grey teas had been discontinued by the company selling it, and this Earl Grey Premium from Ocean of Tea might just be the right tea to replace it. This is one of the very best Earl Grey teas I’ve yet to taste. It belongs in my top five … and probably my top three! Yes, it’s that good!
Duchess’ First Love Black Tea Blend from Tay Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tay Tea
Tea Description:
This is reminiscent of a creamy earl grey, but has the added bonus of sweet caramel and honeyed rooibos notes. The black tea lends backbone to the blend and the hazelnut creme caramel keeps you sipping. Even when the cup is empty the flavours keep lingering.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about subscribing to Amoda’s Monthly Tea Tasting Box here.
Taster’s Review:
Usually when I get my box from Amoda, I grab the tea that appeals to me most and try that one before I sample the others. But this time, I decided to save the one was certain to love for last. And I’m glad I did. This Duchess’ First Love Black Tea Blend from Tay Tea is an exciting blend!
When I opened the packet of tea, I was enchanted by the scent. Maybe enchanted isn’t the right word. I felt my mouth water when I experienced the aroma of this tea. It smells … SCRUMPTIOUS! The vanilla notes are almost palpable – they are so strong and delicious smelling and it’s as though I can taste and feel them as I smell them.
And YUM! This is one of the tastiest Earl Grey Creme teas I’ve tasted. The bergamot is sweet and tangy, and the sometimes sharp notes of the Italian orange has been softened by luscious, creamy vanilla tones.
I’m not sure if the addition of the rooibos in this blend is what makes the difference in this tea, turning it from a good Earl Grey Creme to an exceptional one. But, I am pretty sure that the rooibos has something to do with it. I taste a honey-esque sweetness that enhances the vanilla in a really beautiful way. I don’t taste a lot of contribution of flavor from the rooibos, but I do taste that honeyed note, with a slight nutty intonation.
The bergamot is not the strongest bergamot I’ve tasted in an Earl Grey tea, but that’s to be expected with an Earl Grey Creme. The creaminess softens the flavor of the bergamot so that it’s not as sharp. And I’m also getting a distinct “caramel-y” note to this cup as well, and it’s quite an indulgent flavor. Notes of sweet hazelnut accentuate the caramel notes in a really delicious way. This tastes like something you’d serve for dessert!
The flavors here are seamless. The black tea has a deep, rich flavor. I would classify this as a medium bodied tea, but not really because of the black tea base, because it is a full, well-rounded tea. The rooibos lightens the cup up just a tad, but, I think that it works because the vanilla doesn’t feel so heavy. It is a very synergistic cup of tea, with every component complimenting the others to get the best out of each flavor profile.
Of the three teas that I tried this month from Tay Tea, this one is by far my favorite. A definite must try from this company, especially if you’re an Earl Grey fan!
Grey Black Tea from Labrang Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Labrang Tea Traders (Although I bought my tin at Chuck’s Produce!)
Tea Description:
Our version of an old classic. Premium leaves infused with Bergamot essence to produce a dark brewing citrusy tea. Fair Trade and Organic.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I discovered this Grey Black Tea from Labrang Tea Traders the other day while shopping at my favorite produce store: Chuck’s Produce. I do not usually trust a grocery store when it comes to tea, but there are a couple of exceptions to that rule of mine, and one of them is Chuck’s. This is a store that prides itself on having only the best and freshest foods and it’s a pride that shows itself every time I shop there.
But you didn’t tune in to our blog today to read about my love of Chuck’s Produce, did you? You wanted to learn more about tea!
When I saw this tea on the shelves at Chucks, I recognized it as a brand of tea that I’ve not yet tried, and I’m always eager to try a tea that’s new to me. And it’s an Earl Grey, so, you know I’m happy about that. The tins are eye-catching, thin and cylindrical. There is the familiar markings of a certified organic and fair trade product. It’s a local company, and I like that. So far, this tea is looking good. I’m hopeful that it tastes as good as it looks.
The aroma is strong, just like I expect from an Earl Grey. A robust bergamot fragrance – citrus and that familiar floral note of bergamot – together with notes of earthiness from the black tea.
The tea brews up fragrant with notes of bergamot goodness and the liquid is a dark coppery color. Nice! The flavor is bright and acidic with notes of tangy bergamot orange, but the flavor of the tea smooths out the more acidic notes. The result is a tea that is rich, smooth, and flavorful. This is more tart than it is sweet, but, even though my palate tends to be very sensitive to tart flavors, somehow, the tart and tangy flavor of bergamot never seems to disturb my palate – just the opposite. I LOVE bergamot!
The black tea has a bold flavor with notes of malt. I love the richness of this tea, it has a full-flavored, well-rounded taste, and it isn’t overly astringent. The tea would stand up well to the additions of milk and honey, if you like to add those to your Earl Grey tea. As for me, I like my bergamot served neat and clean with no additions.
I’m very happy with this Grey Black Tea from Labrang Tea Traders. I might have to look into the other teas offered by this company! This one is a winner.
Saint Isaac’s Blend Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
A premium blend of Ceylon and China teas, with the flavor of grapefruit, bergamot, and other citrus fruit. Popular in Europe, this Russian-style blend is recommended for an interesting departure from traditional Earl Grey.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am revisiting a tea that I’ve previously reviewed this evening, mostly because it’s been ages since that previous review published, and when I sat down with this Saint Isaac’s Blend Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports, I felt like writing about it. It’s one of my favorites from Upton.
And really, there’s nothing wrong with revisiting a tea, is there? One of the first lessons I learned when I began my tea journey many years ago (more years than you need to know!) I learned that every tea tastes different to every palate, and I think that it should follow that every tea would offer potential to be at least a little different each time you taste it.
This tea has a very pleasant black tea base that is strong and solid, like a robust drapery of flavor. It is rich with hints of smoke – and I like that the smoke here is delicate. I’ve tasted at least a couple of “smoky” Earl Grey blends, and of those that I’ve tried and come to memory, I will say that this one offers the softest smoky taste. There is a slight “malty” note to this as well as a chocolate-y type of flavor from the black tea. I notice less astringency with this cup than I seemed to indicate on my previous tasting note.
As the tea cools slightly, the citrus notes of the tea begin to POP. The grapefruit, in particular, is noteworthy. The bergamot seems a little less apparent than the grapefruit. Imagine, if you would, two friends at the party: one friend is sort of out there and really capturing everyone’s attention. The other friend is right by the party animal’s side, not making as much noise but is still within the focus of everyone at the party. With this tea, the grapefruit is the party animal, while the bergamot is the party animal’s best friend.
A really enjoyable tea – as I said before, it’s one of my favorites from Upton Tea Imports – because it’s an unusual tea with a captivating complexity. Definitely one you should try!
Assam Earl Grey Black Tea from Tea People
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea People
Tea Description:
In the early 1800s cheap tea was flavoured with bergamot by unscrupulous tea merchants and sold as expensive tea. Little did they know then that they were giving birth to one of the most popular flavoured teas of Britain. Not to worry, there is nothing remotely cheap about our Earl grey. We bring you the finest blends of Assam tea with the best of Italian bergamot to transport you straight into your own little Earldom. Earl Grey with the Queen anyone?
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yay! Earl Grey! I do a mental happy dance every time I encounter a new-to-me Earl Grey tea. And given as happy as I have been with the teas that I’ve tried thus far from Tea People, I was very excited to try this Assam Earl Grey Black Tea from them.
When I opened the pouch, I could smell the strong, distinct aroma of bergamot. The bergamot fragrance here is strong, but, not quite as strong as some other Earl Grey teas I’ve had … If I had a scale on which I judged the bergamot levels, with five being the strongest I’ve ever experienced and 1 being next to no noticeable bergamot scent, I’d rate this one a three. A medium amount of bergamot bouquet.
And I think that is right about where the bergamot flavor rates here too. Maybe a wee bit higher… closer to 3 1/2. It’s not an overpowering bergamot essence. It’s tangy and bright, with some hints of citrus-y sweetness. I do like the way the bergamot melds with the notes of the Assam … I think that Assam is one of the best black tea base choices for bergamot because the two complement each other very well.
The real star here is the malty, rich Assam tea. It is a bold, robust tasting tea with lots of pleasing malty notes. I’m only guessing here, but, I think it’s a pretty safe guess that the people at the Tea People company used this Assam as the base for this tea. This tastes as smooth and rounded as I remember that tea tasting, although I’m experiencing fewer of those “wine-like” qualities here, perhaps the presence of the bergamot melds with those wine-y fruit notes? I don’t know.
What I do know is that this cup vanished before I knew it … which is a pretty good indicator that the tea is the good stuff. If I finish a cup well before I finish writing the review – that tells me that I just had a really good cup of tea that I couldn’t put down long enough to type out a few words. It also tells me that it’s time for another cup of tea!
And not only does Tea People offer some of the best teas I’ve tasted lately, but they also are currently hosting an indiegogo campaign to raise funds to assist the tea garden workers of Darjeeling and their families. What a great cause! Please consider contributing, time is running out!