Hide

Welcome to Steepster, an online tea community.

Write a tea journal, see what others are drinking and get recommendations from people you trust. or Learn More

Earl Grey from Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea
95

1 TB for 500mL water, no milk or sweetener.

I am not an Earl Grey fan. Sometimes I really want it. Most days I ignore it. Very much a mood thing with me. But when I do drink Earl Grey, I am horribly picky. So far, only two EGs, Numi Aged Earl Grey and Stash’s Earl Grey, have ever wowed me. Many, including Twinings, make me gag.

I ordered Series 3 — an Earl Grey, a Caravan, and a Jasmine Green — from Andrews & Dunham solely on the strenth of their Captain Assam’s High Seas Elixir and their really funny copywriting. And the labels. I freakin LOVE the labels.

I figured the Earl Grey would be one I’d give away as a Christmas gift. But nooooo, this evening, after an exhausting and almost fruitless workday (now entering hour 11 of same), I want Earl Grey. Hot. Diplomatic solution to Klingons off the port bow, the whole bit. Damn Fine, eh? Let’s check the mettle of your dilithum, then.

Warp core breach! In the best possible way. Smoooooooth black tea base, and a bergamot flavour the proves that bergamot is, in fact, a citrus fruit and not paint stripper. No bitterness, which is a lovely suprise; too many EGs used a crappy tea base that gets really bitter on its own and then further sours under the bergamot. Body is light — very pleasingly so — and but not weak. Liquor is about halfway between brass and copper. Fragrance is distinctive and delightful. Clean finish: the tea taste vanishes, but the bergamot haunts.

If you don’t already like Earl Grey, I doubt this will convert you, as it’s the Earl Grey-iest I’ve drunk in a long time. If you like Earl Grey, you really should try this one.

People who liked this

LiberTEAS
TeaEqualsBliss
Dorothy
Angrboda
chrine

Comments

Dorothy
Dorothy 2010-12-14 19:54:23 -0500

Its sad, but a lot of Earl Grey tea is awful. So when you find a good one it really knocks your socks off.

Michelle Butler Hallett
Michelle Butler Hallett 2010-12-19 17:24:15 -0500

You’re right. And it doesn’t have to be awful. People keep trying to hide poor tea with enough bergamot flavouring to choke a horse. You can’t skimp on Earl Grey, or you end up with sour socks in dish soap.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Writer and tea fiend. Author of DELUDED YOUR SAILORS, SKY WAVES, DOUBLE-BLIND, and THE SHADOW SIDE OF GRACE.

I prefer straight teas but will try almost anything … so long as it’s not tainted with hibiscus. I loathe hibiscus.

Oolongs and blacks are my favourites.

Location

St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

Following These People

Beckara
Beckara

Hello, Steepster! ...

TeaEqualsBliss
TeaEqualsBliss

Near Vegan. Tea Lov...

Patrick Tannous
Patrick Tannous

I am a student entre...

Dorothy
Dorothy

Feel free to add me ...

LiberTEAS
LiberTEAS

I am obsessed with t...

cody
cody

20-something. Semi-p...

Paul M Tracy
Paul M Tracy

avid reader and fitn...

heatherwassing
heatherwassing

I'm a work-at-home m...

JonTea
JonTea

<B> *If you are a Te...

mirthmatter
mirthmatter

20-something year ol...

-Jessica-
-Jessica-

I am a tea enthusias...

Hippietea
Hippietea

I love good quality ...

Kristen
Kristen

Always been a tea dr...

Lori
Lori

Just a few months ag...

Meghann M
Meghann M

Live in the cornfiel...

gmathis
gmathis

Somebody asked me on...

DecemberMint
DecemberMint

A fellow tea-drinker...

52teas
52teas

Hand-crafted Artisan...

See More