Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Le Palais des Thés
Tea Description:
Yunnan is one of the best black teas in the world and with a fresh and delicate bergamot from Calabria, it gives a particularly fine and well balanced blend. An exceptional Earl Grey.
Earl Grey is one of the best-loved English teas. It was first created when Charles Grey, 2nd Earl of Falloden and Foreign Secretary of Britain, received an old recipe from a Mandarin Chinese that called for flavoring tea with bergamot.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a tasty Earl Grey from Le Palais des Thés … this Blue of London – or Earl Grey Yunnan. Tasty … but I don’t know that I would call it exceptional as it is called in the above description.
But it is good. The Yunnan gives it a very rich flavor that is sweet with notes of caramel and spice, and the slightest hint of chocolate. It is a strong, invigorating black tea, and I like the way the Yunnan complements the bergamot flavor. The Yunnan tea is the strongest flavor of the cup, but there is a compelling balance between black tea notes and bergamot.
The bergamot here is a softer bergamot. Some teas go for a heady bergamot essence and some go for a more subtle approach. This bergamot is on the subtle side. It doesn’t whack me upside the head with the tangy citrus notes, nor is it so strong that it comes across as perfume-y. It is on the delicate side, but it isn’t so delicate that it is not tasted. I DEFINITELY taste the bergamot here, I just don’t taste a strong, pungent, soapy bergamot that overwhelms the palate with its presence.
And I like that. As much as I love bergamot – and for those of you that have been reading my reviews for a while probably are well aware of my love affair with the distinguished Mr. Earl Grey – sometimes a subtle, smooth approach is better than coming on strong. I like that the way the bergamot comes through here.
This is a really good Earl Grey … and the more I sip it, the more I like it. It isn’t my favorite Earl Grey, which is why I say I wouldn’t classify it as exceptional – I save exceptional for only those I consider my favorites. But, it IS good, and certainly worth a try, especially if you are a fan of Earl Grey. Just because it isn’t my favorite doesn’t mean that it won’t be yours!
Organic White Tip Jasmine Green Tea from Fashionista Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Fashionista Tea
Tea Description:
Organic Chinese green tea, lightly fired to maintain silvery tips, traditionally scented with jasmine.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It seems like it’s been ages since I’ve last had a jasmine tea! It really hasn’t been all that long, but, whenever I do sip on a jasmine tea, I can’t help but wonder why has it been so long since I’ve had jasmine! I love jasmine tea so … it’s one of those teas of which I never tire.
And this Organic White Tip Jasmine Green Tea from Fashionista Tea is an amazing jasmine!
I’ve read tasting notes from those who don’t like jasmine teas … and jasmine is one of those teas that can either be very right or very, very wrong. It is important that the tea be scented with jasmine rather than being flavored with it. And there is a distinct difference. A scented jasmine tea is one that was processed by layering the newly harvested tea leaves with jasmine blossoms so that the tea leaves can absorb the essence of the jasmine flower. A scented jasmine tea tastes like the jasmine flower without tasting like perfume. It has a lovely floral quality that is exquisitely sweet and exotic.
A flavored jasmine is one that has been flavored using an oil. The jasmine oil imparts a very perfume-y quality to the leaves, and the result often ends up tasting like you’re sipping on perfume. I don’t know about you, but sipping on perfume isn’t my idea of a tasty cuppa!
THIS jasmine tea tastes like a scented jasmine – with a light, lovely, sweet floral quality that does not taste perfume-ish whatsoever. It is smooth and refreshing. The sweet, vegetative tones of the green tea comes through nicely. There is a slightly dry astringency to the tea … it is very mild. This is truly a perfect balance of flower and tea!
A really excellent jasmine tea – if you are looking for a jasmine tea with a lighter jasmine essence that tastes natural, sweet, and not at all perfume-y … this is the one to try! And you’re going to love dealing with Fashionista Tea – I can’t say enough about how wonderful this company is! They are a really excellent company and offer a superb product! That’s a win-win!
