Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh & White Tea
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Aged Pu Erh tea has some similarities to green tea but yet still has a taste all its own for tea lovers to enjoy. This aged tea is combined with bergamot oil to create a new take on the traditional Earl Grey tea. Pu Erh Earl Grey uses only the finest aged Chinese tea along with bergamot and a touch of peony to balance out the flavor. The result is a strong cup of tea with amazing citrus tones and a hint of floral accent. Pu Erh tea has a distinct strong flavor that tea lovers will recognize instantly and the Earl Grey blend is one that will take this aged tea and make it a favorite of everyone.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
For those of you who have read very many of my reviews on different types of Earl Grey tea, you’re probably well aware that I’m carrying on an unabashed, passionate love affair with the Earl. So when I am given a new Earl Grey to try, I get very excited.
But, I can say that this was one Earl Grey that I was not excited to try. I was even a little nervous to try it. I love Earl Grey, but, I’ve had my ups and downs with Pu-erh. And while I am slowly coming to terms with the rather assertive nature of Pu-erh, and even gaining some appreciation for the tea, it’s taken quite a while for this to occur, and I wasn’t too sure I was ready to try my beloved Earl Grey as a Pu-erh.
I did not steep according to the instructions on the website, which suggest a boiling temperature for 5 – 7 minutes. Instead, I got out my gaiwan, eyeballed a measurement of the tea in the bottom of my gaiwan, added hot water (190°F) and put on the cover. I did a quick rinse, and then allowed the first infusion to steep for 45 seconds, and the second for one minute, and these two infusions were combined in one cup.
The Pu-erh is a shou Pu-erh, which means it has been fully ripened. It is strong and earthy. But, fortunately, the bergamot is also strong, and the bright, tangy character of the citrus fruit shines through. Also in this blend is a sprinkling of white tea, which surprised me when I first opened the pouch, as I didn’t expect to see Silver Needles in the package. I don’t know that I can taste much of the Silver Needles’ contribution to the cup, but, I can’t say that the tea would taste the same without this component.
And I have to say that despite my misgivings about the idea of a Pu-Erh Earl Grey, this is quite good. Delicious even! It earned a It’s not going to earn its way into my list of favorite Earl Grey teas, but, it certainly has earned a spot on my list of preferred Pu-Erh Teas.
I like this!
Rosy Earl Grey from Teas Etc
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & Green Teas
Where to Buy: Teas Etc
Tea Description:
This inspiring blend of Jasmine green tea, Earl Grey black tea and rose petals has become one of our most popular.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The dry leaf looks absolutely beautiful and smells incredible. Lots of red rose petals throughout, and the aroma is an engaging combination of roses, bergamot and jasmine.
And it tastes as good as it looks and smells, too. I’ve tried this a couple times now, the first time, I brewed it without realizing that there was also jasmine green tea blended with the black tea, so I used boiling water. This did not seem to have a scorching effect on the green tea, or at least, not one that I could discern.
However, for the second time that I brewed it, I wanted to try a lower temperature to see if I could encourage more of the jasmine and green tea flavors to emerge. And while I was successful in achieving this goal – brewing at a lower temperature of 185°F brought the jasmine green tea notes more into focus – I think with this particular blend, I prefer the results when brewing with boiling water.
When I brewed it with boiling water, I could taste the “Rosy Earl Grey” notes more prominently, the bergamot and the rose were very distinct, while the jasmine and green tea notes were a little lost. Not completely lost, as I could taste hints of jasmine and green tea as I sipped, but, there was no real distinct jasmine or green tea flavor.
This time around, using a lower temperature, the jasmine is much more distinguishable, as is the green tea flavor. I can still taste the rose and the bergamot, but, these become a little more muddled as the jasmine emerges. Even though I do adore jasmine, I think with this blend, it is best served as what it should be: Rosy Earl Grey.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed both cups of tea immensely. In that first cup, the rose was so strong, almost evenly matched with the tangy bergamot notes. The blend of teas provided a nice background of flavors: primarily that of black tea, I could taste earthiness and hints of vegetation as well as a pleasant sweetness.
In the second cup, the jasmine emerged as the focal point, sweet and exotic, and the rose notes accented the jasmine tones very nicely. There was a hint of sharpness to the cup, something I noticed less with the first cup than now with this second cup. The bergamot was light but it still had that zesty tang to it, and the tea flavors were more vegetative than earthy this time, lighter and not quite as sweet.
If you have an Earl Grey enthusiast in your life, this would make a perfectly romantic Valentine’s Day tea gift for them! I am really glad I finally got around to trying this tea, it is spectacular!
Dark Chocolate with Earl Grey Tea from Dolfin
Information:
Dark Chocolate Bar
Where to Buy: The Meadow and other locations where Dolfin Chocolates are sold.
Chocolate Bar Description:
A perfect mix of contrasts: the refreshing sweetness of the bergamot blends perfectly with the strong taste of the chocolate. For afternoon tea, a chocolate with a British accent.
Learn more about Dolfin here.
Taster’s Review:
Recently, I visited the North Portland location of Little Big Burger, and as I walked toward Little Big Burger, I couldn’t help but notice this little shop called The Meadow. They sell flowers, an array of finishing salts, bitters and chocolate. Yes, I said CHOCOLATE! How could I ignore this little shop? It begged me to stop in and at least take a look around.
But, of course, if I am around chocolate, I can hardly just “look around.” I must have chocolate! They have an entire wall dedicated to high quality chocolates from around the world. I can feel myself start to drool just thinking about it!
While it was difficult to settle upon just one (or two) chocolate bars, I knew my husband was waiting for me so I needed to hurry! Finally, I settled upon this Dark Chocolate Bar with Earl Grey Tea! This is a 52% Belgian dark chocolate bar with crushed Earl Grey Tea leaves. Not an “infused” chocolate, but, a chocolate bar with real bits of tea leaves.
The first thing I notice about this bar is the packaging. Very impressive! The package is a double folded “envelope” that keeps the left over chocolate (it’s quite a large bar!) fresh until you’re ready to eat more. I really like the package, it is clear that Dolfin is committed to maintaining their product’s integrity even after the package has been opened!
Breaking off a piece of the chocolate, I notice the snap of dark chocolate. Allowing the flavors to melt on my tongue, I can taste the smooth, rich flavor of bittersweet dark chocolate meld with the tangy citrus notes of bergamot. As I eat this chocolate, I can feel the tiny bits of tea leaf in the chocolate. The leaves add a little bit of crunch without feeling gritty and because the tea has been finely ground, it won’t leave leaf particles stuck in between the teeth!
While I don’t taste a lot of black tea flavor (there is some, just not a lot), I definitely taste the bergamot, and when it comes to Earl Grey tea, I want to taste BERGAMOT. The black tea becomes more distinct as I continue to enjoy the chocolate bar, and it is more prominent when I allow the chocolate to melt on the tongue as opposed to biting into it.
This chocolate bar from Dolfin provides an amazing chocolate experience for the tea lover! And if your Valentine loves chocolate and Earl Grey … you should consider adding this to their gift. (How about a Chocolate and Earl Grey Gift Basket?) They’ll LOVE you for it!
Earl Grey from thepuriTea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: thepuriTea
Product Description:
The small, blue-black tealeaves of our Earl Grey are brimming with the bold, citrusy, sweet aroma of pure bergamot (citrus fruit) essence. A classic breakfast blend or afternoon tea, its deep garnet brew has a bold, zesty flavor that’s great alone, with a dash of sugar or a drop of milk, or alongside pastries, scones and cream, or petits fours. Our Earl Grey is supported by the complex flavors of its malty, chocolaty, earthy Fujianese black tea base, making it a far more complex brew than most Earl Grey teas out there. Whether you’re a new tea drinker or an Earl Grey aficionado, this Earl Grey is an excellent choice.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s no secret that I love Earl Grey tea, but there are just two Earl Grey teas that I consider favorites. But now, I may have to make that three.
Yes, it’s true, I have just found a new favorite Earl Grey. This is amazing.
The black tea base is strong. Earthy and rich, this tea adds a great deal of depth and flavor to the cup that the average Earl Grey tea lacks. There are background notes of cocoa and malt. It is astringent but not bitter. It is absolutely delicious.
On its own, I think that the black tea base would make a great tea. But, this IS an Earl Grey tea, and it can’t be an Earl Grey tea without the bergamot. The bergamot oil used here is of excellent quality, as evidenced by its flavor. The citrus tones are tangy and bright, and the floral notes that so often grace an Earl Grey are less evident. I can still taste a hint of it – letting me know it’s a bergamot – but, it doesn’t come off as perfume-y. It is one of the smoothest tasting bergamot flavorings that I’ve encountered in the years that I’ve been enjoying Earl Grey.
My only complaint is that thepuriTea has difficulty keeping this one in stock. The stock was just recently replenished, so if you love Earl Grey, you should get this one NOW while it’s available! This one should be a MUST TRY on your list! It’s that good.
Yongchun Fo Shou (Bergamot) Oolong Superior Grade from Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Product Description:
Production Year: 2011
Production Season: Spring
Production Region: Fujian Province, Yongchun County
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a very interesting tea for me, one that I was very excited to try. Oolong tea is one of my favorite tea types, and if you’ve read very many of my tea reviews or tasting notes, you’re probably also aware of my love for bergamot.
I brewed this as I usually would an Oolong – in my gaiwan using short steeps. I started with 45 seconds, and increased each subsequent infusion by 15 seconds. I then combine two infusions into one tea cup.
The first two infusions, I found myself searching earnestly for the bergamot flavor. I could taste the flavor of the Oolong, certainly, with a lovely vegetative flavor and hints of floral. It is a remarkably smooth Oolong with very little astringency. It is a delicious Oolong, and there are hints of a citrus tone in the distance, but, it is not a strong, palpable flavor.
By the third and fourth infusions, the bergamot was more apparent. Still not a strong presence, but certainly more evident than in the first two infusions. The flavor was tangy and citrus-y but also pleasantly floral. The Oolong had become even smoother than the first cup, with much of its vegetative taste melding with the other flavors of the tea to create a very harmonious, seamless taste.
With the fifth and sixth infusions, the bergamot was stronger than the second cup, but, this is still not an Earl Grey kind of bergamot where the flavor is very obvious. It is more like the essence of the bergamot fruit, and I appreciate that it offers a different perspective on the bergamot. This cup seems to focus more on the bergamot and less on the Oolong, with the soft mouthfeel being the most distinct characteristic from the Oolong.
A very lovely tea experience … from start to finish. I like that it surprised and challenged me as a tea taster, and that it gave me a different look at a fruit that I had become very familiar with … but, now I realize it was in a very limited way. This has opened my mind and eyes to the beauty of bergamot.