Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Zhi Tea
Tea Description:
Cousin to the famous Earl, we welcome the illustrious Violet Femme. Resplendent. Elegant. Complex. Mysterious.
Not so simple and definitely refined, Violet Femme takes her cues from the well-balanced Earl Grey and goes a step further with a splash of creamy vanilla and luxurious lavender. The resulting cup is evocative, aromatic, and smooth.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As some of you are probably well aware, I’ve tried many different variations on the classic Earl Grey tea. I love Earl Grey, and I love trying new spins on the traditional favorite. This Violet Femme Black Tea Blend from Zhi Tea is another twisted Earl Grey … and I’m loving it!
The sharp, tangy bergamot is softened by the addition of sweet, creamy vanilla and then becomes delightfully floral with the addition of lavender. I love these three flavor profiles together! They work very well together.
The black tea base is smooth and richly flavored and can hold its own in the presence of the strong flavors of bergamot, vanilla and lavender. It has a bold taste to it, and it isn’t overly astringent. It doesn’t taste bitter, although I don’t know if I’d be saying that if I over-steeped the tea. I brewed this tea at 205°F for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch and it produced a perfect cuppa.
The bergamot is strong but as I mentioned already, the tangy citrus has been subdued with the velvet-y vanilla notes. Together, they taste sweet and creamy, but also deliciously exotic with lively citrus tones. There is almost a “caramel-y” sort of quality to this … the combination of the tea, bergamot and vanilla tones offers a hint of caramel-ish low notes that I find very enjoyable.
The lavender hits the palate at about mid-sip, offering a beautifully subtle floral note. Sometimes lavender can be overdone and end up tasting kind of soapy, but, that didn’t happen here. Zhi Tea knew what they were doing with this blend and added just the right amount of lavender buds to offer a sweet touch of lavender without overpowering the cup.
Overall, I think that this is a masterful blend that – in my book – raises the bar when it comes to Earl Grey variations. This is really tasty.
Season’s Pick Earl Grey Crème Vanilla Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
A classic Earl Grey, accented with vanilla and cream flavors. This delightful variant will appeal to most Earl Grey enthusiasts.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
While sorting through my tea stash, I was happy to find this Season’s Pick Earl Grey Crème Vanilla Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports among those teas! I’m always eager to try a new-to-me Earl Grey, and I really enjoy the creme varieties of this classic favorite.
And this is a really tasty Earl Grey Creme! The sharpness of the tangy bergamot has been softened with the notes of vanilla and cream. This is more “creme” than it is “Earl Grey” which I might otherwise be iffy about (I do love my bergamot!) but in this tea, it’s working for me.
The black tea base has a smooth, even flavor. It’s not a “weak” tasting tea – it certainly has some impact – but it isn’t an aggressive tea either. It is strong enough to hold it’s own without attempting to interfere with the flavors of bergamot and creamy vanilla. A nice balance has been achieved here.
The bergamot is not as strong as it might be in a classic Earl Grey (without the “creme” added) and while I do appreciate a good, strong bergamot flavor, I like the way the bergamot has been lightened by the presence of the cream and vanilla flavors. These are creamy and sweet and give the cup an indulgent flavor that might seem almost too luxurious to drink first thing in the morning! Then again, why not!
Sacher Blend Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Inspired by the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, this is a traditional blend of Darjeeling with a hint of Ceylon. The blend is then lightly scented with oil of Bergamot and a hint of genuine Bourbon vanilla. The result is a floral Darjeeling surrounded by soft, fruity, citrus notes. A new formula which we find especially pleasing.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I came across this Sacher Blend Tea from Upton Tea Imports in my stash, the thought that immediately came to mind is one of my favorite television shows: Grimm. Most of the show is filmed in Portland, Oregon, which is what drew me to start watching it in the first place and one of the reasons I still love the show. Portland is almost like one of the “characters” of the show, and I feel like I “know” Portland … or at least am somewhat familiar with my odd neighboring city.
Anyway, the reason this tea reminds me of Grimm is because some of the scenes over the last couple of seasons have been filmed in Vienna and the main location in Vienna is the Hotel Sacher. So when I found this tea in my stash, I was excited to try it. Is that nerdy of me?
I was even more excited when I opened the package and I realized that this was an Earl Grey blend! I could smell the bergamot – one of my favorite scents when it comes to tea! The bergamot aroma is softer in this blend than in some other Earl Grey teas that I’ve sampled, and even though I do love a good, strong bergamot (so long as it’s a good quality bergamot!) I also have an appreciation for the more subtle approach when it comes to bergamot.
And Upton took the subtle approach with this blend. The bergamot is not just a softer fragrance, but it is also represented in a more delicate way in the taste. Oh, it’s still there, definitely! But the flavor is not in your face. This Earl moves in on you slowly but surely, enveloping you in its flavor. I think that this could be an Earl Grey that those who are typically put off by the strong, perfume-y taste of some Earl Grey blends, this is not perfume-y at all. This is sweet, tangy, and uplifting.
The black tea base is a blend of Ceylon and Darjeeling teas, and this provides a mild, light-to-medium bodied tea that seems to glide over the palate. There is nothing heavy to this cup, making it a perfect choice for an afternoon tea. It is a mellow, gently invigorating cup of tea. One of the better Earl Grey teas that utilizes Darjeeling in the base that I’ve come across.
This is something I could definitely see myself sipping in Vienna at the Hotel Sacher, and hopefully avoiding any unfortunate encounters with Wesen.
Earl Grey Black Tea from Uniq Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Uniq Teas
Tea Description:
Uniq Teas Earl Grey loose leaf tea is a fine blend of black tea with the zesty and fragrant aroma of top quality Bergamot oil. A classic black tea loved across the world. Uniq Teas Earl Grey delivers a timeless and classic tea with its rich, full-bodied black tea taste and exotic citrus flavor. For a refined exquisite taste and memorable aroma, Uniq Teas Earl Grey Tea infuses the citrus punch of the bergamot fruit. A refreshing and bright cup of tea for anytime of your day.
Taster’s Review:
It’s Earl Grey time! As most of you are probably aware by now, Earl Grey is one of my very favorite black tea flavors of all time. And this Earl Grey Black Tea from Uniq Teas is an excellent Earl Grey selection. The black tea base is smooth and rich tasting, and the bergamot is good and strong.
And since it seems like at least once a week I’m here all giddy over some Earl Grey tea, it might lead one to think that I love ALL Earl Grey teas that I try. But that isn’t true. I’ve tried more than a few that have not been up to par. More often than not, the culprit for a bad Earl Grey is in the bergamot flavoring. A good quality bergamot oil is essential for a good Earl Grey tea, and I’m tasting a really superb quality bergamot here with this Earl Grey from Uniq Teas.
And it’s also … just a wee bit different from some Earl Grey teas that I’ve tried, too. This bergamot tastes just a little bit sweeter than the typical bergamot, which tends to be somewhat tangy. This still has that classic tangy bergamot taste, but, there is a smoother, sweeter tone to this as well. No … this isn’t an Earl Grey creme, either! This is just … a really nice, refreshing take on Earl Grey!
And the black tea has a robust character to it, but isn’t overwhelming. It melds really nicely with the bergamot to create a delightful partnership of flavors that is both rich and flavorful. A really lovely Earl Grey tea!
Oh … and if you’re still wondering … YES! Uniq Teas does still do customized blends! You might recall that the SororiTea Sisters team did our own blends (and you can buy those blends as well as other blends created by Uniq Teas too!) A custom blend would make an incredible gift for the tea lover in your life … even if that tea lover is you!
Earl Grey Assam Black Tea from Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
The extremely popular and refreshing blend of citrus bergamot over a rich Assam black tea base. This Earl Grey provides a rich and smooth finish to a famous tradition. Best served hot with milk and sugar.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s customized subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
I was really excited to receive this month’s package from Simple Loose Leaf! I have been looking forward to trying their Earl Grey Assam Black Tea since I placed my subscription order. I love Earl Grey, and usually Earl Grey teas are made with Ceylon leaves. I’ve tried a couple of Earl Grey teas that were crafted with Assam tea, but, I am always interested to try others.
And I’m really enjoying this Earl Grey.
The bergamot aroma was strong and distinct when I opened the pouch. The scent from the brewed liquid is a little softer than the fragrance I experienced from the dry leaf, but, it is still wonderfully aromatic.
And the flavor … sublime! The bergamot is strong without tasting perfume-y. It has a bright, energetic citrus note that is tangy and sharp. Hints of floral tones sort of weave their way in and out throughout the sip.
The Assam tea is a substantial base – it tastes strong and sturdy! There are notes of malt, but I’m finding this Assam to be more “wine-like” than malty. And I like the way the wine notes complement the bergamot. They marry very nicely in this cup.
Since the last time I reviewed a tea from Simple Loose Leaf, the company has implemented some changes. Or perhaps, I should say that they’ve added some additional services on to the unique customized subscription program. They now have a Tea Collection subscription service, where you can choose from six different tea collections, like Earl’s Collection, Fruit Lover’s Collection or Pure Green Collection. And with these subscriptions, you simply choose which collection is most appealing to you, and they’ll send you a pre-selected monthly tea.
In addition, they have Tea Clubs that you can sign up for, and choose from a monthly payment plan or a pre-paid plan. And they also offer tea samples and tea by the ounce now … these are two suggestions that I made in my previous review, and I’m glad to see that they have considered my advice! (Yes, I’m taking credit for it! ha!)
This is a very good Earl Grey tea – if you love Earl Grey like I do, this is one you should try!