Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & Green Teas
Where to Buy: Nina’s Tea Store
Tea Description:
Bergamot from Sicily. The smoothness of Keemun (Black Tea) together with the freshness of bergamot. An ancient recipe that was handed down by a high dignitary of China to Earl Charles Grey. A classic that definitely shouldn’t be missed.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened my sample of this Earl Grey tea from Nina’s Paris, I’ll admit that I was a little disappointed and skeptical about whether or not I’d like this Earl Grey, because the aroma was very faint. Not just faint, but there was hardly any discernible bergamot fragrance. And when it comes to Earl Grey, I want BERGAMOT!
Now that the tea is brewed, the bergamot scent is a little stronger than it was with the dry leaf. And the flavor doesn’t disappoint! Quite the contrary, this is a superb Earl Grey!
The bold flavor of the Keemun black tea base gives this tea a little added “umph!” that makes a real difference in the overall flavor. I love that rich, smooth flavor of the Keemun together with the tangy-sweet notes of the bergamot. The wine-like notes of the Keemun marry beautifully with the citrus fruit, and creates a very harmonious taste.
And the slight smoky note of the Keemun also adds some interest to the cup without overwhelming it. It’s not a heavy smoky tone, just a little wisp of smoke in there that keeps the taste buds intrigued.
The bergamot is stronger in flavor than the fragrance led me to believe, but it isn’t an overpowering bergamot flavor. Typically, I like a good, strong bergamot essence, but, I like the subtler approach of the bergamot here, because it works to the favor of the complexity of the Keemun, allowing the palate to explore the many different notes within this cup. It’s not all about the bergamot, nor is it all about the Keemun. It’s a really interesting combination of flavors, one that I am enjoying very much.
This is a really good Earl Grey. Definitely worth a try if you’re an Earl Grey enthusiast like me, or even if you are just looking for the “right” Earl Grey for your tea cupboard. You should definitely try this one, it’s different enough from the standard to make it stand out from the pack.
Nina’s Japon Tea Blend from Nina’s Paris
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & Green Teas
Where to Buy: Nina’s Tea Store
Tea Description:
Black tea, sencha, genmaicha, caramel, vanilla
A marvelous blend of black tea and roasted green tea from Japan. An irresistible dreamy concoction made with crispy rice, vanilla and caramel.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! This tea is TASTY!
I’ve said before that as a rule, I have my reservations about a tea blend comprised of two different tea types like this one which is composed of both green and black tea leaves. It makes deciding how to brew the tea a little more difficult, because you aren’t entirely sure the best way to proceed in a way to get the most flavor out of the tea. Generally, boiling water is the way to brew black teas for the best flavor, but, green teas require a lower temperature to avoid scorching these tea leaves as they are more delicate.
When I have a blend like this one, I usually opt to go with the lower temperature requirements of the more delicate leaf, because it is possible to achieve flavor from the black tea at a lower temperature, and I’d rather lose a little bit of flavor from the black tea than to possibly scorch the green tea and have bitter flavor. So I used 185°F water and steeped the tea for 3 minutes.
And I’m quite happy with the result.
I taste the rich notes of the black tea, the warm, toasty notes of the genmaicha green and the sweet, fresh notes of the Sencha. And these flavors meld beautifully with the caramel and vanilla notes of this blend. It’s really quite yum!
The sip starts out sweet. The first notes I recognize are the roasty-toasty notes of the genmaicha’s brown rice, and I love how the roasted rice harmoniously marries with the sweet, luscious caramel flavor. These two flavors were made for each other. Then I notice the vanilla, it’s a top note here, but it’s not an intrusive flavor. It sort of gently blankets the flavors with it’s soft, creamy sweetness. Delightful!
The rich, smooth flavor of black tea starts to work its way into the sip shortly after I experience the rice and caramel, and the black tea adds a whole other dimension of sweetness and flavor. It adds a real depth to the flavor that makes this tea special.
The freshness of the green tea notes arrive on the palate at about mid-sip. While Japanese Sencha teas can sometimes taste bittersweet, right now I just notice sweetness. There is a slight bittersweet note that I experience in the aftertaste, and I like that savory element.
A delight to sip, from start to finish!