Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea For All Reasons
Tea Description:
If you are a fan of Earl Grey, why not try our newest blend, a dreamy, creamy Earl Grey taste with rich dark chocolate. I think we’ve found a winner!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Um … hello? Chocolate Earl Grey? YES PLEASE!
When I received my package from Tea For All Reasons, this was the first tea that I HAD to try. Why? >>Chocolate Earl Grey<< Need I say more?
OK, so I guess I do. This is a tea review. You didn’t come here to read me acting all giddy over chocolate plus Earl Grey.
Of all the many versions and varieties of Earl Grey tea that I’ve tried, I do think that Chocolate Earl Grey teas are my favorites. The sweet chocolate notes meld so beautifully with the tangy bergamot to create a chocolate covered citrus kind of taste … you know those yummy chocolate oranges? Yeah, kind of like that, only better because this is tea!
The black tea base provides a mild backdrop for the flavors of bergamot and chocolate. It’s not an overly aggressive base, it’s strong enough to be tasted but not so powerful that it overwhelms the notes of citrus and the dark chocolate notes.
The bergamot and chocolate are pretty well balanced here. These two flavors don’t seem to be competing with one another. They seem pretty evenly matched. The result is a sweet, creamy, rich, chocolate-y, citrus-y cuppa! I wouldn’t add milk to this … I think that the tea has such a nice balance as it is, and milk might disrupt that. I like it just the way it is – served hot and straight up! It’s perfection for this Earl Grey aficionado/chocoholic!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Citrus Earl Grey Caramels from Bad Girl Chocolates
About Bad Girl Chocolates:
Learn about Bad Girl Chocolates on their Facebook Page.
Product Description:
These little beauties are our latest creation – Citrus Earl Grey Tea Caramels. We made them for our newest friend Amoda Tea.
Bad Girl won’t be selling these delicious caramels ourselves, so the only way to get them is to hop on over to Amoda Tea and subscribe to their subscription tea service this month.
(Note: these were in the May Tea Tasting Box from Amoda Tea)
Taster’s Review:
As I mentioned in my Rooibos Chocolate Tisane from Forsman Tea company review, May’s tea tasting box from Amoda Tea is my favorite box that I’ve received from them thus far. But really, I’ve enjoyed just about every box I’ve gotten from them. It’s a lot of fun to receive the subscription box, too! To learn more about subscribing, click here.
One of the reasons why I enjoyed this box so much is that in addition to three really great teas/tisanes, there were four tasty caramels from Bad Girl Chocolates. These caramels were infused with the Citrus Earl Grey tea from Naked Teas Galore – which was featured in Amoda’s April Tea Tasting Box. And I have a sweet tooth, so, one of the easiest ways for a tea company to make me happy is to add sweets to the box when they ship something to me.
These caramels are smooth and creamy and caramel-y delicious. The Citrus Earl Grey tea notes are subtle at first, but as I continue to allow the flavors of the chewy caramel to develop on my palate, I notice more of the citrus-y, bergamot-y flavor, with notes of black tea in the background. The tea adds a nice depth of flavor to the caramel.
Absolutely YUMMY! Thank you, Amoda Tea, for this lovely Mother’s Day “gift” inclusion in my May box! I wouldn’t be sad if there were more in my June box, because I want more!
Earl Grey Matcha (Black Tea) from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Earl Grey Matcha is distinctive in its special combination of a hint of citrus fruitiness and smoky essence. This exceptional flavor is ideal for the well developed and adventurous palate that seeks a combination of variety and spice in any refreshment. This special flavor is ideal for many special occasions where people can treat themselves to a new fresh taste that is still uncommon yet unforgettable to the palate. Earl Grey Matcha stands in a special class of its own because of its essence of refinement.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As one who enjoys both Earl Grey and Matcha … this was a powdered tea that I just had to try. I opted for the black powdered tea leaf with this Earl Grey Matcha blend from Red Leaf Tea rather than the green tea, because even though I’ve enjoyed the various twists on the classic Grey that I’ve tasted – including the green tea Earl Grey blends that I’ve tried – I still prefer the flavor of the black tea with the bergamot.
I also chose the distinctive level of flavoring for this blend, and I am kind of wishing that I would have gone with the delicate level for this one. I mean, I like bergamot, I like it a lot! But the aroma – whew! I think that it goes just a tad TOO bergamot-y here with the distinctive level of flavoring. This is STRONG … and I think it’s too strong, veering on the side of perfume-y soap.
But since I hadn’t yet tasted it, only smelled it, I hoped for the best – crossing my fingers that the strong aroma did not translate to a soapy tasting black matcha drink. Unfortunately, all the hoping in the world didn’t help. Even the stronger flavor of the black tea powder versus the softer flavor of the green tea powder … the bergamot is just too … soap-like in this.
However, not willing to give up yet, I decided to try this as a latte and see if the milk would help mute the flavors out a wee bit! Success! This is good as a latte – in fact, it’s the only way I can really drink it! It’s especially good with vanilla flavored almond milk! (It’s also good when blended into a glass of honey flavored, Greek Kefir!)
I really don’t know that there will be a “next time” for me in buying this Earl Grey Matcha – but if I were to buy it again, I would be mindful to choose the delicate level of flavoring. This DOES have promise, but the distinctive level of flavoring – which has been so reliable for me with most of the flavored matcha teas that I’ve purchased in the past from Red Leaf Tea has let me down today. That said, I’ve had enough tasty Red Leaf Tea Matcha offerings that I won’t let one bad one spoil it for me. Time to move on to another!
Dorian Grey Tea from Luhse Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Luhse Tea
Tea Description:
Story: Queen Song is clearly not your typical gorilla. She’s a risk taker and norm-breaker. She couldn’t just leave traditional Earl Grey alone.
Tea Description: Earl Grey’s flamboyant brother. Added vanilla takes average Earl to a whole new level.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Ah, this is nice! I love Earl Grey – as I’ve mentioned many times! – and I love it when I find a delicious creamy Earl Grey like this Dorian Grey Tea from Luhse Tea. The traditional bergamot flavored black tea with a touch of sweet, creamy vanilla makes this Dorian Grey different from the classic Earl.
It would seem that I’ve tasted almost as many Earl Grey “Creme” blends as I have the traditional Earl Grey teas … because it would seem that for every Earl grey tea that there is out there, there is the creamy counterpart. But please do not read that as a complaint … just a statement of observation. I love Earl Grey, and I’m certainly not going to complain that there are too many Earl Grey teas out there – all the more for me to sample, my dear!
And I’m really enjoying this Dorian Grey Tea. I wasn’t too sure about it when I first opened my sampling of this tea, because the aroma was rather muted. I didn’t smell a whole lot of bergamot, or vanilla … or well, anything. I was worried that either my olfactory nerves were not operating properly, or maybe the tea was a stale sampling. However, once, I brewed the tea, the aroma came forward! Beautiful citrus-y notes, hints of flower, and a lovely vanilla overtone. My taste buds started to jump for joy.
The flavor is really quite delightful. The vanilla is just a tad stronger than the bergamot … but it doesn’t overpower it. It mellows out the bergamot – as I expected it to – but I still taste the tangy citrus notes. The cream adds a lovely sweet note to the cup … and the thing I love about creamy Earl Grey teas is that it’s a built-in “latte” – no dairy required!
This is a smooth, wonderful tea. A great choice for those who find the traditional bergamot tea to be a bit too much … this is softer, creamier, and more decadent! I love it!
Mount Gray Tea (Earl Grey Tea) from Damn Fine Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Damn Fine Tea
Tea Description:
Long a cherished landmark, Mount Gray is truly monumental. Since its discovery in the early 19th century, generations of adventure-seekers have been drawn to the dense woods which blanket its gentle slopes. Breathtaking heights abound with lush, fragrant vegetation, and scenic trails offer surprises for even the most frequent visitors. Mount Gray was formed by a geological process involving black tea from Asia and citrus oil from southern Europe, a remarkable combination which continues to delight visitors of all ages.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Whenever Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea comes out with a new blend, you know I’ve got to have it. Like GOT to have it! I love receiving tea from Damn Fine Teas, it’s always an adventure! The delivery is super fast, and the tins are beautiful, and there always seems to be something a little extra. Something that goes along with the theme of the tea. For example, with the Double Knit Blend, there was a little plastic, black comb … kind of like you might find in the pocket of the nerdy types that would wear double knit shirts.
In the package with this Mount Gray Tea from Damn Fine Tea (an Earl Grey Tea!), there was a souvenir magnet that says “I survived Mount Gray.” Now, see, these little extras … they might not seem like a big deal, right? But I like these little extra touches. It’s just that little bit of fun and cleverness that makes it so much fun to receive a package from Damn Fine Tea. I don’t buy the tea for the extra – of course! – but it makes the receiving of the package all that much more enjoyable.
But what really sold me on Damn Fine Tea is their quality tea! Their teas always prove to be top notch. And I’m loving Mount Gray! This is a subtle take on Earl Grey. The bergamot is on the softer side here, and I’m tasting the fruitier quality of the bergamot. Yes, of course I know that bergamot IS a fruit, however, it tends to have some floral qualities to it that make it taste somewhat “perfume-ish” sometimes. But with this particular Earl Grey, the bergamot is on the citrus fruit side … not the soapy/perfume-y side! BONUS!
The black tea is right on par with the bergamot here – with this tea, I can’t say that the bergamot is the strongest flavor … the black tea definitely plays its part well here. It’s a good, strong black tea … rich and flavorful, and the bergamot brightens the cup, giving it a sweet, acidic taste that is very lively!
Normally, my favorite Earl Grey teas tend to be those that have a hefty bergamot presence … a strong bergamot flavor that manages to taste strongly of bergamot without tasting strongly of Uncle Arnold’s Cologne. This Mount Gray is different … I like it because the flavors are so well balanced. It doesn’t taste off or chemical-y or perfume-ish, it just tastes like tea and citrus! (And yes … this one is definitely right up there with my favorite Earl Grey teas!)
If you’re a lover of Earl Grey teas … this one should be next on your list to try!