Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Tea Description:
The origin of Fo Shou tea cultivar is a mystery. Many people say it was obtained by engrafting tea tree with Fo Shou (bergamot) tree. The engrafting theory of Fo Shou oolong has never been proved. But the characteristics of this tea do remind a drinker of fragrance of Fo Shou fruits.
This product was made with traditional oxidation method and traditional light charcoal roast. Charcoal roast can induce richer flavor of a oolong. Today with greener style dominating the market, charcoal roast workers have mostly aged and retired. Real charcoal roast Fo Shou is very hard to find.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was excited to try this Charcoal Roast Bergamot Oolong from Life in Teacup, as I had previously tried and quite enjoyed the Superior Grade bergamot Oolong and I wondered how it would differ. I have since learned that these teas are not actually scented with bergamot, but instead the tea leaves come from the Fo Shou trees and carry qualities that are reminiscent of bergamot.
That makes sense to me, especially having tasted the Superior Grade and now this Charcoal Roast. In both tastings, I notice that a significant bergamot flavor was lacking, more of a distant hint of bergamot essence rather than a more obvious flavor.
In the first few infusions, the charcoal flavor greets me at about mid sip, and it is quite pleasant. It isn’t a strong, overwhelming flavor but enough to bring a nutty character to the cup. Sweet with barely-there hints of smoke.
In later infusions, I found that the charcoal flavor emerged to become a more significant flavor. It brought a beautiful roasted flavor to the cup. Hints of wood-burning smoke in the distance. Nutty and sweet, with a delicious savory quality that arrives mid-cup. And yes, I can also taste those bergamot-like tones and they add just a touch of brightness to this cup.
A really lovely tea!
Lady Grey Tea from Tealicious Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tealicious Tea Company
Tea Description:
Our Lady Grey tea is an afternoon tea classic. It offers a delightful taste with our French lavender flowers, gently blended with bergamot and blue cornflowers.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
There are several different variations of “Lady Grey” teas, most (including this one) are Earl Grey teas blended with lavender. Nothing wrong with that, because I LOVE lavender, and I love Earl Grey.
I was a little worried, though, when I first opened the package and saw that there weren’t very many lavender blossoms in the blend. There were a few, but I could smell the lavender more than I could see it. I worried that maybe there really wouldn’t be enough lavender in this to satisfy me.
But, after I brewed the tea, the aroma of lavender filled the kitchen! YES! It smelled so amazing.
And this tea TASTES amazing too! It is perfectly blended. The black tea is robust and flavorful, and provides a solid background of flavor. It tastes very rich and smooth, and it doesn’t attempt to overpower the bergamot and lavender notes.
I like a lot of bergamot flavor in my Earl Grey, but, I do recognize that too much bergamot can come off as kind of soapy tasting, and I don’t like to drink soap. And with the addition of lavender, which can also come off as tasting soap-ish, it is important to capture the right balance of flavor between these two ingredients so that both can be tasted without tasting like it had been blended in a soap factory.
And Tealicious Tea Company did just that, and they did it with flourish! This tastes remarkable! The bergamot is the strongest note, with the lavender coming in softly, sweetly and offering just the right feminine touch to make this a very memorable Lady Grey tea.
Another big WIN for Tealicious Tea Company!
Royal Wedding Commemorative Tea from Capital Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & White Teas
Where to Buy: Capital Teas
Tea Description:
A commemorative union of our bold Cream Earl Grey Black and our light and refreshing Cream Earl Grey White, enhanced with the essence of roses.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
One year ago today, there was a wedding that captured the attention of millions around the world. This tea was created to commemorate that occasion, and what a lovely tea it is!
Because the tea base is a blend of both black and white teas, I opted for a fairly low brewing temperature (175°F) and a brewing time of 4 minutes in my Breville one-touch. The results is a tea that is rich and creamy in flavor, where I can taste both types of tea as well as the tangy bergamot, the touches of cream and even the hint of rose.
The black tea flavor is much softer than one might expect from a black tea … a consequence from not only the lower brewing temperature, but also from the addition of white tea leaves in the blend. The black tea doesn’t taste bold or strong, exactly, but the black tea does offer a certain richness to the blend that is quite nice.
The white tea is a less distinguishable flavor than the black tea, which is to be expected as white tea tends to be a more delicate tasting tea to begin with. What I notice more than the fresh flavor of the Pai Mu Tan is the lightness in flavor its presence offers as well as a soft, creamy texture that is quite “white tea like.”
Each sip is enchanted with a sweet, vanilla cream taste that when brought together with the other components of this tea end up tasting a bit like delicious vanilla caramel. YUM!
The bergamot is a mellow yet tangy citrus flavor that has hints of flower within its bright, sunny flavor. These floral notes are further highlighted by the addition of roses to the blend. The rose is sweet and pleasant, giving the cup a distinct feminine overtone – an enjoyable contrast to the somewhat masculine undertone of the bergamot.
What a beautiful tribute to the wedding that captured the imagination of so many, and gave little girls hope that anyone – no matter their status in life – could one day marry their prince.
Kensington Palace Afternoon Tea from Tealicious Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tealicious Tea Company
Tea Description:
Our Kensington Palace Afternoon Tea is a blend of our high quality Ceylon tea mixed with fresh jasmine blossoms, natural bergamot and blue cornflowers. A perfect tea to entertain with.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
How lovely! The first time I tried this tea – a few days ago – I had wrongly compared it to the incredible Earl Grey Excelsior (also from Tealicious Tea Company) which was a little unfair … yes, the Earl Grey Excelsior is amazing but, these are two different teas and should be treated that way.
Now that I’ve have a few days time since my last tasting, I recognize this tea for the delight that it is. The bergamot flavoring here is a softer bergamot. Still quite noticeable, but, not as vibrant as you would find in a standard Earl Grey, but then, this isn’t a standard Earl Grey but an excellent spin-off from that classic.
What makes this Kensington Palace Afternoon Tea so unique to me is the addition of the jasmine blossoms which adds just a hint of floral taste to the cup, not enough to make it taste overtly flowery but just enough to make my taste buds perk up and say “hey … what was that? Take another taste so I can explore that flavor more.” The addition of jasmine not only brings its own lovely floral notes to the party but also highlights some of the natural floral tones of the bergamot.
The black tea here is a smooth, delicious Ceylon tea which gives it an overall mellower flavor, which makes it a perfect choice for the cup, as both the tangy bergamot and jasmine flavors are milder flavors as well. This tea is a wonderful afternoon tea. This is the kind of tea that would be ideal to serve at a luncheon or a afternoon tea party.
Another lovely tea from Tealicious Tea Company … so far, I’ve loved everything I’ve tried from them!
Earl of Grey from The Tea Spot
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tea Spot
Tea Description:
This unique blend takes traditional Earl Grey to the next level by combining the expected bergamot flavoring on full leaf black tea then adding the perfect proportions of other citruses, vanilla, licorice root, and mallow flowers. The result is a captivating aroma and a deep liquor with a well-balanced, smooth, bright, and slightly creamy flavor profile. This tea is for those who like to veer from tradition, explore new ground, and a must for those with fond memories of the orange-creamsicles of childhood. It pairs perfectly with strong cheeses or creme brulee.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
What an interesting take on the traditional Earl Grey.
I took my first couple of sips without having read the above description of this tea, and so I had not realized that there was more to this tea than bergamot and black tea. This is not the usual Earl Grey!
But I’m always eager to try new twists on the classic Earl Grey. And this tea definitely qualifies as a twist on the classic! The bergamot tones have been softened significantly by the addition of other citrus flavors, vanilla, and licorice root. These additions curb the sometimes sharp notes of the bergamot, and instead offer a smoother, rounder taste.
The black tea provides a nice background, it is a moderately strong black tea that doesn’t attempt to overpower the other flavors. It is content to sit in the background and do its thing. The citrus notes are tangy, the vanilla adds a nice creamy sweetness, and the licorice root adds a little something. It doesn’t really taste licorice-y, but the licorice notes are there. They just seem to meld so seamlessly with the flavor of the bergamot that its difficult to discern where the bergamot ends and the licorice begins … if that makes sense. These two seem very well suited to one another.
The end result is a sweet, very well-rounded, full-bodied Earl Grey experience that I’m enjoying very much. This is definitely the Earl Grey for those who find that bergamot can be too overwhelming for them. I’d also recommend it to those who are quite fond of Earl Grey but want something a little different from the usual.