Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Zhi Tea
Product Description:
Cousin to the famous Earl, we welcome the illustrious Violet Femme. Resplendent. Elegant. Complex. Mysterious.Not so simple and definitely refined, Violet Femme takes her cues from the well-balanced Earl Grey and goes a step further with a splash of creamy vanilla and luxurious lavender. The resulting cup is evocative, aromatic, and smooth.
Violet Femme is great cool, too, so try her over ice for a refreshing summer treat.
Tasters Review:
Violet Femme from Zhi Tea…oh how you’ve surprised me! You, see, I’m not much of a Girlie-Girl and I haven’t been overly fond of Lavendar in my teas as a general rule of thumb. But THIS, however, was a very nice and lovely surprise. It’s nicely done. It’s pretty but sassy! It has the right amount of Assam but a good pairing amount of floral flavors along side with it! The vanilla makes it creamy and evens out the floral notes so that it isn’t bitter. The Bergamot gives it that bit of citrus and likeness to Earl Grey and I like that. This is a real winner. Very nicely done!
Earl Grey Black Tea from Uniq Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Uniq Teas
Tea Description:
Uniq Teas Earl Grey loose leaf tea is a fine blend of black tea with the zesty and fragrant aroma of top quality Bergamot oil. A classic black tea loved across the world. Uniq Teas Earl Grey delivers a timeless and classic tea with its rich, full-bodied black tea taste and exotic citrus flavor. For a refined exquisite taste and memorable aroma, Uniq Teas Earl Grey Tea infuses the citrus punch of the bergamot fruit. A refreshing and bright cup of tea for anytime of your day.
Taster’s Review:
It’s Earl Grey time! As most of you are probably aware by now, Earl Grey is one of my very favorite black tea flavors of all time. And this Earl Grey Black Tea from Uniq Teas is an excellent Earl Grey selection. The black tea base is smooth and rich tasting, and the bergamot is good and strong.
And since it seems like at least once a week I’m here all giddy over some Earl Grey tea, it might lead one to think that I love ALL Earl Grey teas that I try. But that isn’t true. I’ve tried more than a few that have not been up to par. More often than not, the culprit for a bad Earl Grey is in the bergamot flavoring. A good quality bergamot oil is essential for a good Earl Grey tea, and I’m tasting a really superb quality bergamot here with this Earl Grey from Uniq Teas.
And it’s also … just a wee bit different from some Earl Grey teas that I’ve tried, too. This bergamot tastes just a little bit sweeter than the typical bergamot, which tends to be somewhat tangy. This still has that classic tangy bergamot taste, but, there is a smoother, sweeter tone to this as well. No … this isn’t an Earl Grey creme, either! This is just … a really nice, refreshing take on Earl Grey!
And the black tea has a robust character to it, but isn’t overwhelming. It melds really nicely with the bergamot to create a delightful partnership of flavors that is both rich and flavorful. A really lovely Earl Grey tea!
Oh … and if you’re still wondering … YES! Uniq Teas does still do customized blends! You might recall that the SororiTea Sisters team did our own blends (and you can buy those blends as well as other blends created by Uniq Teas too!) A custom blend would make an incredible gift for the tea lover in your life … even if that tea lover is you!
Earl Grey Assam Black Tea from Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
The extremely popular and refreshing blend of citrus bergamot over a rich Assam black tea base. This Earl Grey provides a rich and smooth finish to a famous tradition. Best served hot with milk and sugar.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s customized subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
I was really excited to receive this month’s package from Simple Loose Leaf! I have been looking forward to trying their Earl Grey Assam Black Tea since I placed my subscription order. I love Earl Grey, and usually Earl Grey teas are made with Ceylon leaves. I’ve tried a couple of Earl Grey teas that were crafted with Assam tea, but, I am always interested to try others.
And I’m really enjoying this Earl Grey.
The bergamot aroma was strong and distinct when I opened the pouch. The scent from the brewed liquid is a little softer than the fragrance I experienced from the dry leaf, but, it is still wonderfully aromatic.
And the flavor … sublime! The bergamot is strong without tasting perfume-y. It has a bright, energetic citrus note that is tangy and sharp. Hints of floral tones sort of weave their way in and out throughout the sip.
The Assam tea is a substantial base – it tastes strong and sturdy! There are notes of malt, but I’m finding this Assam to be more “wine-like” than malty. And I like the way the wine notes complement the bergamot. They marry very nicely in this cup.
Since the last time I reviewed a tea from Simple Loose Leaf, the company has implemented some changes. Or perhaps, I should say that they’ve added some additional services on to the unique customized subscription program. They now have a Tea Collection subscription service, where you can choose from six different tea collections, like Earl’s Collection, Fruit Lover’s Collection or Pure Green Collection. And with these subscriptions, you simply choose which collection is most appealing to you, and they’ll send you a pre-selected monthly tea.
In addition, they have Tea Clubs that you can sign up for, and choose from a monthly payment plan or a pre-paid plan. And they also offer tea samples and tea by the ounce now … these are two suggestions that I made in my previous review, and I’m glad to see that they have considered my advice! (Yes, I’m taking credit for it! ha!)
This is a very good Earl Grey tea – if you love Earl Grey like I do, this is one you should try!
Organic Earl Grey Black Tea from Kally Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tea Description:
We’ve created this special blend of organic black teas, and bergamot. This blend differs from our other Earl Grey #1 offering. A much mellower blend of ingredients but with the same characteristic Earl Grey flavoring we all love.
Wonderful hot or iced!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
From the moment I opened the pouch of this Organic Earl Grey Black Tea from Kally Tea … there was no mistaking that this was an Earl Grey tea! The bergamot aroma is strong with this one. I also noticed the bergamot is *different* with this Earl Grey selection as well, offering more of a floral bergamot than I’ve noticed in other recent Earl Grey tea experiences.
The brewed tea has a slightly softer fragrance than the dry leaf, but it is still very definitely bergamot: bold, citrus-y with notes of flower.
This is a very flavorful Earl Grey! The black tea is robust and rich, with a nicely round, smooth flavor. A deliciously full-flavored black tea base! The bergamot is a tart, citrus-y taste with a distinct flowery note. This is a more floral bergamot. Perhaps I am noticing more of the floral tones in this bergamot because it’s an organic flavoring? Or perhaps it’s a combination of the organic flavoring plus the organic tea and how these two ingredients play with one another.
It’s a sharp note, but – thankfully! – not quite what I’d call perfume-y or soap-like. There’s nothing wrong with a sharp bergamot tone … in fact, some of the best Earl Grey teas that I’ve tasted have a sharpness to them. And this has distinct floral tones but it maintains an enjoyable taste. For the record, soap-like and/or perfume-y tastes are not enjoyable. On the contrary, it’s what I’d call off-putting. This tea, on the other hand, is not at all off-putting. In fact, it’s really quite wonderful … just the right amount of sharp floral tones and snappy sweet-tart citrus-y notes to offer an appealing contrast for the palate.
I’ve been really pleased with Kally Tea’s organic line! These are some very flavorful teas … certainly worth exploring.
Top Earl Black Tea from J-Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: J-Tea
Tea Description:
The Top Earl is the fusion of two distinct elements. A high grade, tippy Assam black tea is scented with an ultra pure oil of bergamot to create our favorite earl grey tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
You can also try some of J-Tea’s teas at Medley Tea House Café
Taster’s Review:
The other day, I went to afternoon tea with my oldest daughter. I had heard about a place called Medley Tea House Café, and she and I were both anxious to try a new place for afternoon tea. Well, lunch was lovely, the food was delicious! But the most memorable thing for me – aside from my wonderful tea-time companion! – was the Earl Grey tea that I drank! I liked the “Top Earl” so much that I bought an ounce to take home with me.
After looking at the Tea Menu at Medley I learned that their Top Earl Black Tea came from a local company called J-Tea. This is an outstanding Earl Grey. If you’ve read very many of my reviews, you’re probably well aware of my love affair with the Earl. I’m always on the lookout for a stunning Earl Grey and this one is definitely STUNNING!
The black tea base is an Assam tea, and I love the difference a rich, malty Assam makes here. The background notes are full flavored and satisfying. Smooth with a sweet, caramel-y undertone, this is an Earl Grey that not only tastes great for an afternoon tea, but, it is robust and bold enough to serve as your first cup of the day too. It is somewhat astringent but not bitter (but don’t oversteep it!)
The bergamot is strongly flavored and is a good match for the strength of the Assam. The Assam tea is strong but the bergamot is on at an even pace with the Assam. Two strong flavors … but they don’t attempt to compete with each other, instead they just work beautifully together. The bergamot tastes tangy and bright and citrus-y. Just like bergamot should. It doesn’t taste like a man’s cologne.
A really outstanding Earl Grey tea, this Top Earl … this one definitely is in my top five … although I’m not sure yet which one it would displace! If you love Earl Grey like I do – you must try this one!