Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Talbott Teas
Company Description:
Artful and nuanced, rich organically grown black tea leaves mingle with distinctive citrus notes of natural bergamot oil, native to southern Italy.
All natural organic premium ingredients: Organic black tea, oil of bergamot, blue cornflower, natural flavors.
Taster’s Review:
If you’re familiar with me as a tea drinker at all by now, you must be aware of my love for Earl Grey teas. This one is a stellar variety of Earl Grey.
The black tea base is very smooth and does not disrupt the bergamot flavor – rather, it melds seamlessly with it, creating a unified flavor of tea and fruit.
That is to say – the flavor here is very smooth! Perhaps the smoothest I’ve tasted yet from an Earl Grey tea. There is very little astringency (almost NO astringency!) and absolutely no bitterness to this tea. It’s fantastic!
The bergamot is a citrus-y bergamot. Yes, yes, I know, bergamot is an orange, so therefore, to say it is a citrus-y bergamot seems a bit redundant. But, hear me out: many bergamot flavors possess a somewhat pungent, floral flavor that can range in taste from very delicate to sharp to downright perfume-y.
This bergamot flavor does have a floral note, but it is extaordinarily delicate. It is sweet. It does not overwhelm the palate nor does it make my tongue feel as though it’s been coated with perfume. It’s pleasant and delicious.
For those who find Earl Grey to be too pungent, this is the Earl Grey for you! It is uncommonly smooth and rich in flavor, a truly exceptional Earl Grey tea, this Soho Earl!
Taster’s Note: At the time I wrote this review, I couldn’t find this tea anywhere on the Talbott Teas website, but perhaps it will be added by the time it is published.
Breakfast Earl Grey from Lupicia
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Company Description:
Earl Grey made with broken leaves brews up a robust taste. Perfect to enjoy with milk.
Taster’s Review:
Lupicia sells my favorite Earl Grey tea – it is the “Earl Grey” variety with Keemun tea. I love it. In fact, you can read my review of it here.
So I had really high expectations when it came to trying another Earl Grey variety from Lupicia. They didn’t let me down!
This is a very flavorful Earl Grey. Medium-bodied with a strong, even flavor, this tea would make a very nice breakfast tea, and because of its smooth demeanor, it would take the addition of milk very well, although I must admit that I prefer my Earl Grey teas without milk most of the time, because I feel that the milk tends to mute some of the flavors that I love when it comes to Earl Grey.
I’m finding that I want to compare the two Earl Grey varieties… but I don’t feel that it would be fair to this particular tea, which deserves to be enjoyed in its own right, because it is very rich and flavorful and delicious. And while it isn’t my favorite Earl Grey, it is certainly a fine Earl Grey… and for those who find the Keemun variety to be a bit too different an Earl Grey for their taste, this one may prove to be just right.
The bergamot here is a bit lighter and is in harmonious balance with the black tea base here. The result is a crisp, juicy tasting bergamot that is very refreshing, and there is a light astringency that leaves the palate feeling quite invigorated. This variety of Earl Grey offers a very clean, distinguished flavor that I think any Earl Grey enthusiast can not only appreciate but will adore.
Chocolate Earl Grey (TE13) from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Product Description:
Description:
A premium black tea combining the popular tastes of bergamot and chocolate with a hint of lemon. Decorated with flower petals and lemon peel for a delightful presentation.Ingredients:
black tea, chocolate pieces (sugar, cocoa, soy lecithin), cacao beans, lemongrass, lemon peel, corn flowers, jasmine flowers, sunflower blossoms, natural & artificial flavor
Origin:
Germany
Tasters Review:
My wonderful SororiTEA Sister Anne (AKA LiberTEAs) sent me some of this a while back and I thought I would officially add it to our blog as one of our reviews.
It’s been a while since I posted a review about an Earl Grey and I don’t think I have ever reviewed an Upton Tea on SororiTEA Sisters yet…so I figured I would check two items off of my Tea Review Bucket List today!
Chocolate Earl Grey from Upton Tea Imports – first and foremost – smells AMAZING! It’s pure chocolate and Earl Grey just like would would think – or HOPED – it would smell! This sort of takes me back to my obsession with Orange Chocolate as well! Ahhhh!
The aroma changes completely after infusion is complete. It’s still pleasant but not as awesome…I guess you could say. Don’t get me wrong – the aroma is still YUMMY but I can’t pick out each flavor like before. This doesn’t bother me too much because this often happens with flavored teas – as you know.
This infuses very dark brown and has a bit of cloudiness to it…I am assuming from the sugary-chocolate bits.
The taste is different but very good. I would say I can taste the cocoa type taste first then it quickly changes into a chocolate…so almost first being hot cocoa taste but then more of a chocolate bar taste. From there you can taste the black tea but then quickly changes into more of a bergamot and chocolate type taste. It ends more of a chocolaty-black tea flavored taste. Thru-out the entire sip it’s very smooth and the flavor changes intrigue me.
This is the first cup in a long time I have had to think about it with each sip (more than just a few sips, that is). This one kept my attention going strong the entire time.
As it cools at room temp for a few minutes I can taste a chocolate-woodsy-black tea type taste for the after taste more. This certainly isn’t a bad thing (in my book).
Anne told me to try a 2nd infusion with this one and I never pass up a 2nd infusion especially on a great cuppa! So for the 2nd Infusion…it smells like a gentle earl grey and cream.
The taste is still very smooth with a bit of sugary-ness to it and orange, floral, and cocoa hints hiding underneath.
This is a great infusion. Still a lovely tea overall…a nice treat!
Chocolate Earl Grey from Upton is an ADVENTURE in a cup! A great way to start or end the day! Wonderful!
Simply Earl Grey from Village Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Village Tea Company
Company Description:
Named for Charles Grey, a 19th century British statesman and prime minister, our deeply satisfying, aromatic tea is laced with the fragrant oil of the bergamot orange to bring you an incredible blend of traditional tea with a hint of modern spirit. We invite you to see what Charles Grey made such a fuss about when he found his escape in a delicious black tea.
This blend comes to you in 100% recycled and recyclable packaging.
Taster’s Review:
I am sure you’ve heard me declare this before, but, I love Earl Grey tea. There is just something about the bergamot orange that makes it just seem to be made for flavoring the tea leaf.
This is an excellent variety of Earl Grey from the Village Tea Company. Having not tried any of their teas before, I must say that I was rather excited to receive one of their nifty little “teaser” packages – a small cardboard cylinder “tin” that is just about the same size as a lipstick tube.
This packaging is quite impressive – I mean, really, how clever! This little tube fits comfortably in a pocket, purse or briefcase, giving a whole new level of portability to tea time! This is something that can easily be stashed in the desk drawer at work, or into a suitcase so that you can travel with your favorite teas rather than having to settle for the lackluster hotel “courtesy” teabags. All this convenience, the tea stays fresh and dry… and these portable tubes are eco-friendly! What more can you ask from tea containment?
Here’s more about the teaser packaging from The Village Tea Company’s website:
Travel Sized Tea to Go!
Our Simply Early Grey Teaser is our best blend of Indian black teas with bergamot orange essence packaged for a convenient sampling experience or for Village Tea on-the-go.
My gushing over the cool packaging of the Village Tea Company’s teasers aside, I am really enjoying this cup of Simply Earl Grey! The bergamot flavor here is a bit lighter than many Earl Grey teas that I’ve encountered – and although I really like a strong bergamot aroma and flavor – I must admit that there is a very pleasing balance between tea flavor and bergamot taste here.
The black tea base is mellow and smooth – I certainly wouldn’t categorize it as robust. This is not a tea that I would consider a breakfast or morning tea because it doesn’t have that verve that I look for in a morning tea. However, this IS a truly excellent afternoon tea and would make a perfect choice to serve to guests. There is no bitterness to the black tea and only a light astringency to it. It is just … rather simply … a delicious, medium-bodied black tea base.
The bergamot follows suit by being a softer, smoother bergamot. This is not the perfume-y tasting Earl Grey that you might remember when drinking tea at your great-aunt’s house when you were younger. It has a deliciously juicy, citrus taste to it with hints of the signature “floral” taste that I so often attribute to Earl Grey teas. But – please note – that these are only hints of those floral notes. The bergamot here is very light and refreshing.
This really is “Simply” Earl Grey… and, simply delicious.
Earl Grey from Bigelow Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bigelow Tea
Company Description:
A really fine cup of tea is one of life’s true pleasures. We heartily recommend Earl Grey for the enjoyment it will bring to your tea drinking. This delicately scented, aristocratic blend is an international favorite.
Taster’s Review:
To be honest, I wasn’t really excited to try this Earl Grey. This is weird, because I love most Earl Grey teas that I’ve tasted with a few exceptions. What I guess scared me a little was that this might be one of those exceptions.
You see, as fond as I am of Earl Grey tea, every once in a while I encounter one that just isn’t good. We’re talking … bad … like nasty bad. Soapy, perfume-y tasting tea that has no business calling itself tea, much less does it deserve the honor of being called an Earl Grey tea.
Fortunately, this tea is not one of those exceptions – this is REALLY good! Surprisingly good, even. It has a strong bergamot scent upon opening the pouch, but this aroma softens significantly when it is brewed, although I can still smell that delightful bergamot fragrance when I lift the cup to take a sip. That moment of experiencing the aroma of the brewed Earl Grey is a euphoric one, and one I don’t want to miss so I’m grateful it was there.
The flavor is very smooth… quite a bit smoother than some Earl Grey teas that I’ve tasted. It doesn’t possess that usual sharp, floral edge to it – this is neither good nor bad, it is just … different and makes for a smoother cup of Earl Grey. The black tea is also smooth and very even tasting – a very pleasant cuppa.
The bergamot here is fruitier than it is floral, and I can taste a pleasant citrus sweetness. There are hints of flower in the cup as well; they just aren’t as strong as the notes of fruit.
I have really enjoyed my cup of Earl Grey from Bigelow, and I found that this is really delightful as an iced tea – adding just a pinch of sugar to make those flavors pop with the cold tea. This is one that would also one (as a hot tea) that would take milk well too.
A delicious tea – even though it’s bagged! One that I can see myself buying again, it’s nice to have a bagged black tea for those mornings that I need tea but I don’t have time for loose leaf! Nice!