Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Canton Tea Co.
Product Description:
A truly superior Earl Grey that takes this traditional favourite to a completely different level. Unusually it is made with a blend of Darjeelings from the world renowned Goomtee and Glenburn Estates and then infused with natural oil of Bergamot (the oil extracted from the rind of the Bergamot orange). A light scattering of orange blossom petals adds to the visual appeal. It has a lively fresh taste, with the soft base flavours of the Darjeelings balancing the bright citrus notes.
This tea needs to be tasted to fully appreciate just how good an Earl Grey can be. Naturally it bears no resemblance to the mass-produced Earl Greys – but being made with such extraordinarily good black teas as a base, it may just be the best Earl Grey you’ve ever tasted.
Taster’s Review:
I do adore Earl Grey tea, as most of you probably know by now. And this is a decent Earl Grey offering, although I don’t know that I would go so far as to say it is the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s certainly pleasant though.
The Darjeeling base offers an interesting set of flavors on its own. The fruity notes of the Darjeeling together with the bright citrus tones of Bergamot create an interesting taste. It is a lighter base than most Earl Grey teas, but it makes for a delightful afternoon tea.
The Bergamot is not quite as strong with this Earl Grey as in others I’ve tasted, but, it works here because it allows for the subtle nuances of the Darjeeling to be appreciated. I am finding the Bergamot to be just a little on the tart side. While it is usually quite tangy, this is veering toward the sour side of things. Not a bad thing – just different.
Overall a nice Earl Grey, and it would make a good choice for those who sometimes find the Bergamot in other Earl Grey teas to be a bit overbearing. You may find this lighter touch to be just right for you. A little sweetening is fine with this Earl Grey, but I wouldn’t recommend milk with this one – it would overwhelm it.
Earl Grey Cream Black Tea from Sands of Thyme
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Sands of Thyme on Etsy or Sands of Thyme on Artfire
Product Description:
Ingredients; black tea Assam, lemon bits flavoring, rosebuds
Taster’s Review:
I received this tea as a free sample with my order that I placed a while back – I always appreciate it when companies are generous with their teas and send free samples with orders! It’s like getting the bonus prize in a box of Cracker Jacks – only better, because this is TEA!
The dry leaf is quite beautiful. Big chunks of dried lemon and whole, red rosebuds are scattered throughout the Assam black tea leaves. It smells quite good too – I can smell the lemon, the bergamot and even a hint of vanilla.
Taste wise, this is a very unusual Earl Grey Cream. It’s the lemon in this that makes it so different. The lemon is a very strong component, and it aggressively attempts to take over. The bergamot is there, but it is hidden beneath the strong lemony notes. I think that this tea would be more appropriately named a lemon cream tea or a citrus cream tea rather than an Earl Grey Cream.
The Assam in this tea is also quite dominating in this blend – I steeped it for just three minutes and there is quite a bit of bitterness to the tea. Much more than I typically would get from an Assam for such a short steep time. The Assam does have some redeeming qualities, though. It is bold and malty. It would be much more enjoyable, however, if it weren’t so bitter and astringent.
As it cools, some of the stronger flavors temper somewhat, and it becomes a smoother tasting tea, but it still has that bitter tone that is a difficult obstacle to overcome with this tea. I don’t think I would classify this as a horrible or undrinkable tea, and I don’t want to dissuade anyone from trying it. I would love to hear from you if you have tried it and experienced something different. And while I doubt I will ever order this tea for myself, I am glad that I had the opportunity to try it.
Cream Earl Grey from Culinary Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Product Description:
Earl Grey is world reknown as a classic English tea – probably as famous as Tower Bridge or Big Ben, and if you are fan of Earl Grey and have not tried this, you are in for a treat. Cream Earl Grey has a taste that is smooth with vanilla overtones, which stand out above the premium bergamot flavor – the signature taste of Earl Grey. This is a tea that would complement a meal or any aristocratic occasion for that matter! One has to think that Charles Grey (1764-1845) would have approved of this delicacy.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I love Earl Grey tea! I also enjoy the modern variations of this classic, such as this Cream Earl Grey from Culinary Teas. The light touch of vanilla softens the sharp tones of the bergamot, making for a sweet, creamy tasting tea with that distinct Earl Grey background. Nice!
The black tea base is pleasant. It is not aggressive nor would I consider it to be a particularly bold tea, but it is strong enough to hold its own. It is mild and smooth and melds nicely with the creamy, calming tone of the overall cup.
In most Earl Grey teas, the bergamot flavor is front and center, but with this Cream Earl Grey, it steps back a bit and lets the creamy vanilla flavors play the lead. The vanilla is sweet and smooth and lends a decadent flavor to the blend, while the bergamot weaves its way in and out of the sip, never disappearing for too long. That is to say, as I sip this cup, I am continuously reminded by the bergamot flavor that this IS an Earl Grey tea. A deliciously different Earl Grey Tea!
As with most Earl Grey teas, I prefer this one served hot. I find that the flavors present themselves more distinctly when the tea is hot, and as it cools the flavors become slightly blurred. It is still quite nice as a chilled tea, but to get the full enjoyment from this cup, I recommend drinking it while its hot.
Rose Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Product Description:
Create your own heaven with rose earl grey tea. The full body of flavor of oil of bergamot that is traditional early grey is captured wonderfully with the addition of rose petals. This tasty blend of rose petals and earl grey offers a smooth and pleasant taste full of satisfying citrus and complementing floral tones. Rose petals not only provide earl grey with additional amazing flavor but with the immune system defense of Vitamin C. Protect yourself and enjoy yourself with rose earl grey. Add a sprig of mint to increase its aromatic qualities and powerful taste or add a dash of lemon to bring out the natural citrus flavor. Put it on ice for cool treat for yourself and guests or serve it warm as a perfect ending to a wonderful meal.
Tasters Review:
I don’t know why I am hesitant to drink Rose flavored teas. Maybe it’s because I assume they are going to be bitter from all the rose petals…but that is rarely the case.
This Rose Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea is very nice!
It’s everything you would expect from a Rose EG! It’s intensely scented and the flavor is ‘just right’ once it hits the tongue.
It’s juicy and floral – and it meets in the middle wonderfully!
Organic Lavender Earl Grey from Two Leaves and a Bud
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Two Leaves and a Bud
Product Description:
We added organic French lavender flowers to an Organic Assam base to create this smooth, refreshing and relaxing Lavender Earl Grey. Layers of wild honey and a light bergamot citrus finish make this the perfect variation on a theme for Earl Grey fanatics.
Taster’s Review:
I am, indeed, one of those “Earl Grey fanatics” as mentioned in the above description. I love Earl Grey!
And the more Earl Grey teas that I drink, the more I am starting to discover just how much I like the Earl Grey with Lavender varieties. I like how the flowery notes of the bergamot meld with the flavor of the lavender. It creates a unified floral tone for the cup.
The base of this tea is a strong Assam tea. It has a malty note to it and a bold character that holds up well to the sometimes aggressive flavor of bergamot. By doing so, the bergamot remains strong but doesn’t overpower the cup and come off tasting pefume-ish.
One might think that the addition of the lavender would increase the odds of it tasting perfume-ish, but it really doesn’t. This addition allows the floral tones to flourish, however, the Assam is sturdy enough to keep the flowery notes from going crazy.
This is a very pleasantly smooth, rich tasting Earl Grey with a lovely twist. It has a light astringency and a sweet finish. If you like Earl Grey, you’ll love this one!