Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Premium Organic black tea with organic flavors. Each 14g teabag will make one 2-quart pitcher of DELICIOUS iced tea. Re-steep the teabag and you can get a full gallon out of each one.
Ingredients: Premium Organic Black Teas, Organic Flavors.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Question: does it make me a nerd if I found the picture for this Southern Boy Teas Earl Grey Black Iced Tea from 52Teas funny?
I still chuckle every time I look at it!
I only wish that I could be as happy about this tea. Unfortunately, this is one of my least favorite of the SBT (Southern Boy Teas) iced tea offerings from 52Teas. I don’t know what it is about the bergamot flavoring that 52Teas uses, but, it always seems to come off a bit like a fruity/citrus-y bubble gum taste rather than the bergamot that I adore.
When I say “fruity/citrus-y” … what I mean is … that there is a sweet, fruity element in addition to the citrus fruit flavor. And together, it tastes more sweet than tangy … and it just tastes a bit off to me.
I’ve managed to brew a full gallon of tea from this one tea pouch. I brewed the first half gallon cold brew style, filling my half-gallon glass pitcher full of freshly drawn, filtered water and adding the tea pouch, and allowing it to sit in the fridge overnight. The next evening, I hot brewed it in a quart of boiling water for five minutes, and then another quart of boiling water for six minutes.
Brewed this way, I found that the second half gallon (2 quarts) was far more to my liking than the first, because the bubble-gum-y fruity taste has mellowed a little bit in the second infusion. It’s still a bit “off” as far as that classic Earl Grey flavor that I’m looking for, but, I enjoyed it more than I enjoyed the first half gallon.
And I still enjoyed the first half gallon – don’t get me wrong. I just … prefer other companies Earl Grey offerings more than 52Teas Earl Grey blends. 52Teas does many flavors well – the first flavor that comes to mind is buttery flavors, and the second flavor that comes to mind is that sort of effervescent bubbly soda flavor that they use for their soda blends – but Earl Grey/bergamot flavors are not top on that list. This is alright … but given some of the delicious iced tea offerings that I’ve tasted from Southern Boy Teas, this Earl Grey Iced Tea just doesn’t stack up.
Strong Earl Grey Tea from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
Using a GBOP grade of black tea for this earl grey, and blending it with extra bergamot essence makes creates an infusion especially well suited for london fogs or for those seeking a strong bergamot flavor in their tea. Much stronger than the classic, malty notes, and a lively cup.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
If you’ve been reading my tea reviews for any length of time, you are probably well aware of my love for Earl Grey. I am WILD about Earl Grey as well as the many variations on this classic favorite, so, when I learned about this Strong Earl Grey Tea from Shanti Tea, you know I had to try it!
And I’m SO happy to be tasting this amazing Earl Grey. I have my favorite Earl Grey teas – and after having recently learned that one of my very favorites is no longer available – I think I may have just found one to replace that one. This is a remarkable Earl Grey tea!
The bergamot is indeed strong – this tea is very appropriately named! It tastes tart with a really delightful citrus tang to it, but, I’m happy to report that it doesn’t taste like perfume. There is a really skillful balance here. It offers a strong bergamot essence without tasting like the perfume-ish elements of bergamot. I taste the citrus here, not so much the flowery taste of the bergamot.
The black tea is rich and slightly malty, and offers a very pleasing backdrop for the bergamot. I think … if I were to change anything at all about this tea, it would be that I would like a slightly richer black tea base to support the bergamot – something more “filling” like perhaps a Fujian black. But, aside from that, I’m finding myself very pleased with what I’m tasting here.
This is a really REALLY good Earl Grey – if you’re a fan of Earl Grey like I am, I highly recommend trying this one.
Chocolate Earl Grey Tea from Tea For All Reasons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea For All Reasons
Tea Description:
If you are a fan of Earl Grey, why not try our newest blend, a dreamy, creamy Earl Grey taste with rich dark chocolate. I think we’ve found a winner!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Um … hello? Chocolate Earl Grey? YES PLEASE!
When I received my package from Tea For All Reasons, this was the first tea that I HAD to try. Why? >>Chocolate Earl Grey<< Need I say more?
OK, so I guess I do. This is a tea review. You didn’t come here to read me acting all giddy over chocolate plus Earl Grey.
Of all the many versions and varieties of Earl Grey tea that I’ve tried, I do think that Chocolate Earl Grey teas are my favorites. The sweet chocolate notes meld so beautifully with the tangy bergamot to create a chocolate covered citrus kind of taste … you know those yummy chocolate oranges? Yeah, kind of like that, only better because this is tea!
The black tea base provides a mild backdrop for the flavors of bergamot and chocolate. It’s not an overly aggressive base, it’s strong enough to be tasted but not so powerful that it overwhelms the notes of citrus and the dark chocolate notes.
The bergamot and chocolate are pretty well balanced here. These two flavors don’t seem to be competing with one another. They seem pretty evenly matched. The result is a sweet, creamy, rich, chocolate-y, citrus-y cuppa! I wouldn’t add milk to this … I think that the tea has such a nice balance as it is, and milk might disrupt that. I like it just the way it is – served hot and straight up! It’s perfection for this Earl Grey aficionado/chocoholic!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Citrus Earl Grey Caramels from Bad Girl Chocolates
About Bad Girl Chocolates:
Learn about Bad Girl Chocolates on their Facebook Page.
Product Description:
These little beauties are our latest creation – Citrus Earl Grey Tea Caramels. We made them for our newest friend Amoda Tea.
Bad Girl won’t be selling these delicious caramels ourselves, so the only way to get them is to hop on over to Amoda Tea and subscribe to their subscription tea service this month.
(Note: these were in the May Tea Tasting Box from Amoda Tea)
Taster’s Review:
As I mentioned in my Rooibos Chocolate Tisane from Forsman Tea company review, May’s tea tasting box from Amoda Tea is my favorite box that I’ve received from them thus far. But really, I’ve enjoyed just about every box I’ve gotten from them. It’s a lot of fun to receive the subscription box, too! To learn more about subscribing, click here.
One of the reasons why I enjoyed this box so much is that in addition to three really great teas/tisanes, there were four tasty caramels from Bad Girl Chocolates. These caramels were infused with the Citrus Earl Grey tea from Naked Teas Galore – which was featured in Amoda’s April Tea Tasting Box. And I have a sweet tooth, so, one of the easiest ways for a tea company to make me happy is to add sweets to the box when they ship something to me.
These caramels are smooth and creamy and caramel-y delicious. The Citrus Earl Grey tea notes are subtle at first, but as I continue to allow the flavors of the chewy caramel to develop on my palate, I notice more of the citrus-y, bergamot-y flavor, with notes of black tea in the background. The tea adds a nice depth of flavor to the caramel.
Absolutely YUMMY! Thank you, Amoda Tea, for this lovely Mother’s Day “gift” inclusion in my May box! I wouldn’t be sad if there were more in my June box, because I want more!
Earl Grey Matcha (Black Tea) from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Earl Grey Matcha is distinctive in its special combination of a hint of citrus fruitiness and smoky essence. This exceptional flavor is ideal for the well developed and adventurous palate that seeks a combination of variety and spice in any refreshment. This special flavor is ideal for many special occasions where people can treat themselves to a new fresh taste that is still uncommon yet unforgettable to the palate. Earl Grey Matcha stands in a special class of its own because of its essence of refinement.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As one who enjoys both Earl Grey and Matcha … this was a powdered tea that I just had to try. I opted for the black powdered tea leaf with this Earl Grey Matcha blend from Red Leaf Tea rather than the green tea, because even though I’ve enjoyed the various twists on the classic Grey that I’ve tasted – including the green tea Earl Grey blends that I’ve tried – I still prefer the flavor of the black tea with the bergamot.
I also chose the distinctive level of flavoring for this blend, and I am kind of wishing that I would have gone with the delicate level for this one. I mean, I like bergamot, I like it a lot! But the aroma – whew! I think that it goes just a tad TOO bergamot-y here with the distinctive level of flavoring. This is STRONG … and I think it’s too strong, veering on the side of perfume-y soap.
But since I hadn’t yet tasted it, only smelled it, I hoped for the best – crossing my fingers that the strong aroma did not translate to a soapy tasting black matcha drink. Unfortunately, all the hoping in the world didn’t help. Even the stronger flavor of the black tea powder versus the softer flavor of the green tea powder … the bergamot is just too … soap-like in this.
However, not willing to give up yet, I decided to try this as a latte and see if the milk would help mute the flavors out a wee bit! Success! This is good as a latte – in fact, it’s the only way I can really drink it! It’s especially good with vanilla flavored almond milk! (It’s also good when blended into a glass of honey flavored, Greek Kefir!)
I really don’t know that there will be a “next time” for me in buying this Earl Grey Matcha – but if I were to buy it again, I would be mindful to choose the delicate level of flavoring. This DOES have promise, but the distinctive level of flavoring – which has been so reliable for me with most of the flavored matcha teas that I’ve purchased in the past from Red Leaf Tea has let me down today. That said, I’ve had enough tasty Red Leaf Tea Matcha offerings that I won’t let one bad one spoil it for me. Time to move on to another!