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.
London Fog from Téanzo 1856
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Téanzo 1856
Product Description:
Our creamy Almond London Fog is sure to please with this almondy twist on the classic. Blend hot with milk and sweetener, or serve over ice. Top with whip cream for added luxury.
Ingredients: Black tea, almond, and natural & artificial flavors.
Taster’s Review:
What a delightful spin on the well-loved tea beverage found at that coffee shop. You know which one I’m talking about. Well, to be honest, I haven’t consumed many London Fog Lattes from that coffee shop (why go to a coffee shop and spend $5 on a tea beverage when I can stay at home and sip on better tasting teas for much less), however, I am willing to go out on a limb here and say that I prefer this to those London Fog Lattes.
Why? Well, first off, I like that I can choose how strong I make this, and how much steamed milk and sweetener to add. At the moment, I’m drinking this non-latte, and I think I like it even better like this than with the milk, because I’m able to enjoy the complex flavors of the tea, the bergamot, the vanilla AND the almond…
Which leads me to the second reason that I prefer this to the London Fog Latte at that coffee shop. This version from Téanzo 1856 is not only flavored with bergamot and vanilla cream, but also almond! And I love the sweet, nutty flavor that the almond brings to the party. It offers more creamy flavor … and this is so creamy and rich tasting that it really doesn’t need the steamed milk. It tastes so good straight up.
The black tea base is not as strong as some Earl Grey blends I’ve tried, but, it manages to hold its own and provide a pleasant background of black tea flavor that compliments the tangy notes of bergamot and especially the sweet notes of almond and vanilla.
This is the first tea I’ve tried from this new company, and it’s a winner as far as I’m concerned! If you like those London Fog Lattes, I think you’re going to love this London Fog from Téanzo 1856!
Organic Grey Rabbit from The Rabbit Hole
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Product Description:
Delicate and fragrant this beautiful Earl Grey tea with a Rabbit Hole twist will have you bouncing around in no time.
Great little black that can also handle a splash of milk and some sweetening.
Taster’s Review:
Ah, Earl Grey… it seems like it’s been so long since I’ve had a cup, when in reality it probably has only been a couple of days. But for me, Earl Grey is one of those teas that I always look forward to, and when I’ve gone more than a day or two without drinking Earl Grey, I find myself missing it and mentally chastising myself for forgetting about my dear Mr. Grey.
The aroma is exactly what I expect when I open a package of Earl Grey. There really is no scent that is quite like bergamot, and the bergamot fragrance here is so very vibrant (or ZESTY as this tea can be found under the Zesty category on The Rabbit Hole website).
I am really enjoying this cup of Grey Rabbit. While this tea has a very strong scent, flavor wise this is a softer, gentler kind of Earl Grey. That is to say, it isn’t “in-your-face” with the bergamot flavor. It is very delicate and has a very smooth, subtle approach.
The black tea is a delicious, robust black tea that provides a solid background flavor. It is somewhat astringent, and there is a slight bitter note to it – just a hint of bitterness – and it compliments the tangy flavor of the bergamot quite nicely.
The bergamot is so wonderful in this particular tea. I generally do prefer my bergamot to be much stronger, but somehow, this lighter touch of bergamot is absolutely perfect. It is tangy, slightly sweet, and distinctive even in its subtlety.
As an Earl enthusiast, I can appreciate the softer tones this tea has to offer, and I enjoy that it is different from an ordinary Earl Grey. I think that those who have found Earl Grey to be a bit too overwhelming in the past will really find this Grey Rabbit quite appealing as well. This is an excellent Earl Grey.
Raspberry Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Direct Link to this Tea: Raspberry Earl Grey
Product Description:
Treat yourself to a flavorful cup of organic raspberry earl grey tea. The citrus of traditional earl grey and juicy fruitiness of raspberries team up in this fabulous tea and are a force to be reckoned with. Organically grown, raspberry earl grey offers a fuller and purer taste that will have your taste buds thanking you. The citrus of bergamot oil and sweetness of raspberries complement each other perfectly. Wonderfully warm for a chilly winter evening or coolly iced for a hot summer day, raspberry earl grey is great for any occasion. This sweet and full-bodied tea is great for kids and adults alike. Enjoy your organic raspberry earl grey and spoil yourself every day of the week.
black tea, raspberry and bergamot flavor
Taster’s Review:
This is AWESOME!
I think by now I’ve made it perfectly clear about how much I adore Earl Grey. Bergamot is one of my favorite tea flavorings, and I am thrilled when I find twists on the classic Earl Grey.
This “twisted” version of Earl Grey incorporates the bright, sweet-tart flavor of raspberry with the traditional bergamot flavor. The raspberry flavor is the dominate flavor, a fact that might make some people question why I love it so much since it’s bergamot that has captured my heart. But the combination and balance works so well with this blend.
The raspberry tastes genuine, like a fresh berry that’s deliciously sweet and has that tingly berry taste at the finish that lingers long into the aftertaste. And while it is slightly stronger than the bergamot notes, the bergamot is not overwhelmed. The bright, citrus-y tones of the bergamot are pleasantly tangy and give this cup a very vibrant appeal.
This cup is neither all about the Earl Grey nor is it all about the raspberry. I like that both flavors are distinct. The black tea is not to be overlooked here, either, as it is incredibly smooth and gives the cup a very well-rounded flavor.
I recommend this Raspberry Earl Grey to lovers of Earl Grey and to raspberry fans alike … this tea will knock your socks off!
Oolong Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Product Description:
Oolong tea is a perfect balance of oxidation between black and green tea that produces a strong cup of tea that includes a sweet aftertaste in the mouth. This take on the traditional Earl Grey tea combines premium loose leaf Fermosa oolong tea with bergamot orange for a new twist on the classic. With the addition of Jasmine flowers to balance out the blend this is a nice taste alternative to the black tea based versions of Earl Grey. This smooth but yet intense flavor makes Oolong Earl Grey a real hit with tea lovers of all kinds.
Taster’s Review:
Red Leaf Tea has the most extensive collection of Earl Grey teas that I’ve ever seen. And as an Earl Grey aficionado, that makes me very happy … and when I browse their website, I find myself to be a bit like a kid in the candy store: not sure where to begin, because I want to try everything!
This Earl Grey offering combines the enticing flavor and aroma of the bergamot orange with Formosa Oolong. I love Formosa Oolong teas (my first Oolong was a Formosa, and it will always hold a special place in my heart), so I was fairly certain I’d love this Oolong Earl Grey.
And I do!
That being said, this IS quite different from a typical Earl Grey, starting with the Formosa Oolong base. As Formosa Oolong is a bit lighter in flavor than a typical black tea, this Earl Grey has a much lighter flavor to it. I would describe it as diaphanous, as it doesn’t possess the same strong, solid background of black tea flavor that one might be used to when drinking an Earl Grey; instead, it is more of a delicate taste. The mouthfeel is smoother and there is less astringency too.
Something else that is unusual about this tea is that the fruit notes taste different. Yes, it still tastes like bergamot orange, but there is a little more to it, and then I realized … it tastes like peach with the citrus. And that makes sense, since Oolong tea (especially the Formosa varieties) have that fuzzy peach taste to them. The combination of fruit-y notes here is really quite delicious.
The bergamot itself is a fine quality bergamot, with notes of tangy citrus. It isn’t overdone in this blend, and it doesn’t taste off in any way. It tastes very bright… perhaps even brighter than in a typical black Earl Grey because of the lightness of the Oolong. The jasmine notes are subtle; it is just enough jasmine to enhance without the cup tasting soapy.
A well-balanced blend, and an overall AMAZING tea from Red Leaf Tea! I recommend this to all Earl Grey enthusiasts out there!