Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Be sure to check out Daily Gourmet’s Special Offer on this tea!
Product Description:
Blend of Assam and Ceylon loose leaf black teas with blueberries, orange peel, marigold petals, and cornflowers with blueberry and bergamot flavoring.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This is great!
I generally approach variations of Earl Grey with great enthusiasm. As most of you know, I love Earl Grey, and it’s always exciting to try a “twisted” classic. Unfortunately, not all variations have been a success with this Earl Grey enthusiast, but I am happy to say that this is definitely a successful change-up for Earl Grey.
The black tea base is a blend of Ceylon and Assam. It is a strong, lively tasting tea and it is a good, solid background for these flavors. Because of the Assam, I recommend not steeping this too long. I steeped for just 2 1/2 minutes and the flavor is perfect. However, the first time I tried this tea, I steeped it for 3 minutes and it was a little bitter. So, take care not to oversteep.
The blueberry is prominent in this blend. At first, it was difficult to taste the bergamot, but as the tea cools slightly the flavor of the bergamot begins to pop. The combination of the blueberry, orange and bergamot orange is deliciously fruity: sweet, tart and tangy. There is just a hint of floral sharpness to the bergamot.
This tea is absolutely delicious when served hot, but I think I actually like it better iced! This is probably one of the reasons that Ovation Teas has decided to include it in their “Summer Set of Teas!”
Be sure to watch the Daily Gourmet website for a limited-time offer of 50% savings on the Ovation Teas Summer Set of Teas – starting tomorrow!
Rosie Earl Grey from Tea Licious
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Licious
Product Description:
Whole leaf tea with oil of bergamot and rose petals
Taster’s Review:
Oh, this is nice. It’s no secret how I feel about Earl Grey, but, I was a little unsure about a rose scented Earl Grey. I’ve tried some that I’ve absolutely loved, and others that have left me feeling disappointed. This one just might be my favorite rose scented Earl Grey that I’ve yet to taste.
What I like about this is that the rose flavor is well-defined. It isn’t just sprinkled with a few rose petals. The tea leaves have absorbed the essence of rose and that is apparent in the taste. It is a strong rose presence. It tastes sweet and floral and very pleasant.
The black tea is a mild black tea. It isn’t what I’d consider to be strong or bold in flavor. It is crisp and astringent. It works well with the flavors of bergamot and rose, providing a solid background of flavor without overpowering the delicious rose and bergamot notes.
The bergamot is a bit softer than I expected. The bergamot is definitely there in the scent, but, the flavor is a little more about the rose than the bergamot, especially in the first couple of sips. As I continue sipping, though, I find that the bergamot develops and by about mid-cup, I can really notice the bergamot. The tangy citrus and the sweet taste of rose contrast each other well.
A very pleasant cuppa … it certainly IS Tea-Licious!
Earl Grey White Tip from Tea Source
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Source
Product Description:
Made from fine Chinese teas with a large portion of white tips (the most prized leaf of the plant) and blended with the finest oil of bergamot available. Incredibly aromatic and flavorful.
Taster’s Review:
This is a fantastic Earl Grey. Incredibly rich and flavorful!
The aroma of the dry leaf seduced me immediately – there is just something about that bergamot fragrance that captivates me. The scent of the brewed tea is a bit softer, but, it is still quite enjoyable.
The bergamot flavor of this Earl Grey is very crisp and clear. Very bright and tangy, and not overwhelmingly floral. This does not have that perfume-y aftertaste. It’s very smooth.
The black tea is a strong, brisk tea and there are several white tips. I don’t experience much of anything that the white tips contribute to the cup, but at the same time, I can’t say that this would be the same tea without them in there. The black tea has a very pleasing flavor. It is moderately astringent, but it is not an overly dry astringency. The aftertaste is tangy yet sweet.
A very enjoyable Earl Grey from start to finish!
Earl Grey from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas (this Earl Grey is part of their Sweet Medley Gourmet Tea Collection)
About Adagio Teas’ Gourmet Tea Collection:
Perfect for any occasion, these gourmet tea collections are a great way to introduce someone to superior teas while still offering the convenience of tea bags. Each gift box includes six different varieties of gourmet tea bags containing the same high quality full-leaf teas we offer loose. Their pyramid shape gives leaves plenty of room to unfurl and fully infuse.
Bags are individually wrapped and are packaged in a lovely display box. Whomever you send it to, they’ll think of you with each delicious cup.
Taster’s Review:
This is a tea that I didn’t find on Adagio Teas’ website as a loose leaf tea (unless this is the Earl Grey Bravo). Rather than assume that it is Earl Grey Bravo, I decided to review it as “Earl Grey” since that’s what it says on the package.
The aroma of the dry leaf is very satisfying to me as an Earl Grey lover. It is the fragrance of the bergamot that captures my attention from the moment I open the pouch, and keeps me smiling as I sip. The scent tapers after brewing, but, the cup is still pleasing to the nose.
After a few early mishaps with Adagio Teas’ black tea base used in their flavored black teas, I have come to the conclusion that their black teas should not be steeped longer than three minutes. Any longer, and the flavor tends to be a bit too harsh for my palate. But even after three minutes, I’m noticing some of the harshness in my cup. Maybe next time I should try steeping at just 2 1/2 minutes.
The black tea is brisk with some bitterness to it. It is this bitterness that I’m referring to in the previous paragraph. It is a little harsh, but not so much that I’m unable to finish the cup. And I find that as I continue to sip, the harshness tends to mellow out a bit.
There is a bit of cleansing astringency to the tea which seems to enhance the citrus-y notes of the bergamot. The bergamot is bright and tangy, although I would like for there to be a bit more of the bergamot flavor.
Is this my favorite Earl Grey? No, but, I will say that it is certainly enjoyable and not something I’d turn down if offered. It is a tasty cup of tea, and makes a good choice for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Earl Grey Tea from Culinary Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Product Description:
An unbelievable aroma that portends an unbelievable taste. A correct balance of flavoring that results in a piquant and refreshing true Earl Grey taste that goes well with pastries and cakes. The true taste from the natural flavoring oils creates an Earl Grey that calls you back for more.
Taster’s Review:
Having previously tasted their Cream Earl Grey and thoroughly enjoying it, I was quite excited for the opportunity to try Culinary Teas’ Earl Grey. And I am very happy to report that I am not disappointed!
When I opened the package, I was overcome with the citrus-y scent – I could smell not only the typical bergamot notes, but also hints of grapefruit and lemon. This is one seriously fragrant Earl Grey, but even though it is extraordinarily aromatic, it doesn’t come across as perfume-y. It smells citrus-y, yes. Like a man’s cologne, no.
The brewed liquor possesses a softer scent and loses some of the more distinct citrus tones I mentioned earlier. It still smells like bergamot, of course, but I don’t smell the grapefruit and lemon anymore. But that’s OK, this is an Earl Grey tea, after all!
The flavor is delightful. The blend of Orange Pekoe leaves is strong yet pliant, offering a delicious background flavor without overpowering the bergamot. When one drinks Earl Grey, they want that bergamot flavor, and this tea delivers.
The bergamot is tangy and fruity. Some of the floral tones of the bergamot are there, but they seem to be off in the distance, only peeking through occasionally. This Earl Grey is the real deal with a very authentic bergamot flavor.
This is a celebration of the fruit that is bergamot! I love it!