Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Justea
Tea Description:
Our Kathryne Earl Grey tea is whole leaf Kenyan black tea leaves cold-pressed with organic Mediterranean bergamot oil.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Justea’s fundraising effort to support Kenyan farmers here.
Taster’s Review:
I was very excited to try this Kathryne Kenyan Earl Grey Black Tea from Justea. I know you’ve heard me say it before: I love Earl Grey … and I’m always excited to try variations on the traditional blend … even with the variation has to do with the black tea base. In this case, a rich black tea from Kenya is flavored with my beloved bergamot.
The dry leaf aroma is superb. STRONG bergamot … and that’s just the way I like it! Here’s hoping it tastes as good as it smells!
My very first impression was that with this Earl Grey … I am noticing more of the bitterness from the bergamot. That’s not a bad thing (although generally when people say “bitter” people think of it as a bad thing), because bergamot is a bitter tasting fruit. After the first couple of sips, the bitterness subsides and I notice the tangy citrus notes.
The black tea base is smooth and well-rounded, and I like the way it works with the bergamot. This is the first time (at least to my recollection) that I’ve tried an Earl Grey made with a Kenyan black tea … and I’m very impressed with what I’m tasting … this is definitely one of the finest Earl Grey offerings that I’ve tried.
The bergamot is one of the best bergamot representations that I’ve tasted in any Earl Grey tea … I like that I tasted the bitterness. I like that I now taste the tart citrus. I like that there are underlying notes of juicy sweetness from the fruit. I like that I don’t taste anything remotely similar to perfume here. I like the way the black tea and the fruit are balanced. THIS is the way Earl Grey should taste!
Kathryne Kenyan Earl Grey tea is a stellar Earl Grey … I’d recommend this to all those who are Earl Grey enthusiasts! This one should be on your “I’ve GOTTA try that” list!
Baroness Grey Black Tea from Tea For All Reasons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea for All Reasons
Tea Description:
Legend has it that one Baroness Grey, who lived sometime in the 16th or 17th century, was married to a man who was a Ship’s Captain in the Royal Navy. As the story goes, his ship never returned from a trading voyage to China. Refusing to believe that her husband would never return, the Baroness would walk to the port lands every morning to greet each ship hoping for news of her husband. Sadly, she continued this practice until the day she died. In honor of this loyal Baroness Grey, our Earl Grey blend, with the traditional bergamot and the addition of lemon represent the bitter tears shed over her beloved.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I was excited to try this Baroness Grey Black Tea from Tea For All Reasons. I love me some bergamot! This blend combines the great taste of a traditional Earl Grey tea together with additional notes of lemon and hints of rose … and I’m loving every sip.
The bergamot is not quite as strong as you might experience in a straightforward Earl Grey. The additional lemon adds sweetness … believe it or not! It’s as if someone liquefied a dollop of sweet, creamy lemon curd and added to a cup of Earl Grey black tea.
I don’t get a lot of tart from the lemon notes, just a sweet, smooth flavor that rounds out the tangy bergamot notes. I was expecting more of a tart or even a bitter note from the lemon … but, I am not getting that as much as I expected. There is some tartness here, certainly, but, what I’m noticing is the sweeter side of lemon here, and I like it. The combination of bergamot and lemon is very nice … they go together very well.
At the finish and into the aftertaste is where I start to notice the lemon’s impact on the tea. The flavor becomes slightly more tarty, and those tart notes tickle the palate in the aftertaste.
The black tea base is a robust, well-rounded black tea. It’s not overly strong, but there is an invigorating astringency to this that leaves the palate feeling clean. The floral notes of rose is very soft and subtle and really, barely noticeable unless you slurp to aerate the sip.
Overall, this is a very pleasant take on the classic Earl Grey. I really enjoyed this cuppa, and I’d recommend this to those who enjoy a gentle bergamot flavor in their Earl Grey style teas.
Raspberry Earl Grey Black Tea from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
One of our most popular Earl Grey variations, with pleasantly fruity berry notes mingled with an underlying bergamot profile, you’ll find it impossible to put this cup down. The aromas are so enticing, you’ll have at least 3 cups before you finally decide it’s time to get back to work… or you might just take the day off to spend with your new tea-love.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The dry leaf aroma of this Raspberry Earl Grey Black Tea from Shanti Tea is lovely! Strong notes of raspberry and bergamot, with hints of the black tea in the background. It smells like something I’d want to bathe in!
And … the flavor is YUM! You know me, I love Earl Grey and the many variations of the classic bergamot tea, so I was confident that I’d enjoy this Raspberry Earl Grey. I’ve actually tried a few Raspberry Earl Grey teas from other companies … but I think that this one might be the best one I’ve tried thus far.
Why? Because the raspberry notes are so distinct without overpowering the citrus-y bergamot … and the bergamot is strong without overwhelming the black tea notes. There is a really nice balance of flavors here, and I’m enjoying that a lot. With some of the Raspberry flavored Earl Grey teas that I’ve tried in the past … the raspberry seems a little “out of place” or even sometimes a little indistinguishable … but here, the raspberry fits right in. It is a little sweet and a little tart and has a fresh, juicy taste.
The black tea base is smooth yet invigorating. It has a pleasing, rich flavor that melds wonderfully with the flavors of tangy bergamot and sweet-tart raspberry. Delicious hot or iced (it’s SUPER refreshing served iced!)
The Earl of Harlem Ambessa Tea from Harney & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
This new take on an old classic adds an air of mystery to the traditional Earl Grey. Citrusy layers, bergamot and floral aromas mingle with lingering smoky base notes for a rich and fragrant finish.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Of the four teas in the new Ambessa Tea Line from Harney & Sons, you know that the one I had to try was this: The Earl of Harlem! I do love Earl Grey, and I was excited to try chef Marcus Samuelsson’s interpretation of one of my favorite teas, especially after reading a comment from one of our readers who suggested that this one be the next from the Ambessa Tea line that I try.
It should come as no big surprise to my readers that the one big drawback to this new line of teas is that they are only available in sachet form. I am not a big fan of Harney & Sons teas in sachet form, as I have noticed a difference in taste between the teas packaged in sachets versus the same tea in loose leaf form (most notably – the Hot Cinnamon Spice).
That complaint aside, I am really enjoying this Earl of Harlem tea! The description above describes the base of this tea as a smoky tea base, and while it does have a smoky profile, I appreciate that it is not an overwhelming smoky note. It’s a softer smoky taste that doesn’t compete with the citrus-y bergamot.
I like that the bergamot is strong here, but not overdone. It has a pleasant tangy, fruity note to it, with hints of floral tones in the background … without tasting perfume-ish. The smoky tones of the black tea base give this a more masculine character, and I get the “Earl of Harlem” connection – or at least, I get an interpretation of it – as it evokes thoughts of a smoky jazz club in the 20’s and 30’s in Harlem.
The tea has a very smooth, compelling flavor. The black tea is rich, earthy, and possesses a gentle, smoky tone. The bergamot is has a tart, zesty flavor with a hint of exotic sweetness. Whispers of floral tones drift off in the background. A really delightful spin on my beloved Earl Grey – Chef Samuelsson does my suave gentleman proud with this tea.
Blue and Grey Tea from Tea For All Reasons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea for All Reasons
Tea Description:
A creamy Earl Grey highlighted with smooth, fruity blueberry notes, making this a must-have for all you Earl Grey lovers!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Before reading the description of this tea, I thought that it might be just another Earl Grey Cream, but, NO! This Blue and Grey Tea from Tea For All Reasons is a Blueberry Earl Grey Cream tea! And it is so dee-lish!
This is really, really good. As those of you who have read my reviews for any length of time are probably already aware, I’ve tried many different Earl Grey teas, including many different twists on the traditional, straightforward bergamot flavored black tea. But I can’t recall having tried a Blueberry flavored Earl Grey Cream tea – and after tasting this – I have to wonder … WHY NOT?
This is really a brilliant spin on the classic Earl Grey tea. There is a really tasty balance of flavors here. I taste the bergamot: it tastes tangy and sharp and it lies just beneath a sweet, creamy note of vanilla creme, which softens the sharpness just a little bit – not too much! – just enough to add a silky, sweet taste to the cup that melds beautifully with the flavor of tart, juicy blueberry. These three flavors coalesce to form a serendipitous cup of deliciousness.
And let’s not forget about the black tea base … because, really, that’s what it’s all about, right? It’s all about the tea! And while the black tea base here is on the mild side, I like that I taste it and it isn’t hidden behind these other flavors. No, it’s not a strong, powerful flavor of black tea … but, I don’t want it to be in this blend, because then it would overpower the delicate balance that has been achieved between the bergamot, vanilla and blueberry.
Those who are looking for an strong bergamot flavor won’t find it here. And granted, I do love me some bergamot! But, I really love the way these three flavors present themselves in this tea … I don’t think I’d want to adjust the volume on the bergamot. Don’t add milk to this one – it will overpower it all, and really, with the creamy notes of vanilla … you don’t need dairy! A half a pinch of sugar will help plump up the blueberry flavor, if you want more definition there … otherwise, I’d say that this tea is quite delightful just the way it is!
This is an Earl Grey for those who are looking for something just a wee bit different!