Cheryl

Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey (TE11S) from Upton Tea Imports

Cheryl drank Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey (TE11S) by Upton Tea Imports

This is the last of my Upton Earl Grey samples that jumped into my cart with last order. Not highly rated on Steepster, but Upton says this is their best selling Earl and has high praises on their website. Last week I tested Stash’s Double Bergamot Earl and found that I was missing the tea in theirs. So hoping Upton comes through …

Well, yea, the bergamot is strong for sure. I do like bergamot, so that isn’t a problem. And yes, the tea is detectable underneath all this bergamot. This is crying out for some cream (but I promised myself not to use it tonight). I bet it would be great with cream (they do suggest it, as do many reviewers on the Upton site.) I’m actually detecting something bitter in the background…is it the tea? or the bergamot?

Honestly, as I’m finishing this cup, it occurs to me that I should take all 3 samples (this, Natural and Supreme) and just mix them in a tin and be done with it. After it’s gone, I’m not sure I really NEED a “plain” Earl Grey. I do love the EGV (having almost gone through 250g since 1-12 … and that explains the 4 lb. weight gain, after discovering the darn Coffeemate stuff, lol). To think I managed to get through Thanksgiving and Christmas without logging food and still losing 7 pounds, it does go back to “don’t drink your calories”, huh? Back to logging today : )

2012-02-20 22:07:32 -0500

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Originally started testing teas, to replace a lifelong Coke (Coca-Cola) habit. Now I’m just amazed at all the choices. Still in beginner stage of tea education. Until I get really good at iced/cold tea, the Coke habit remains, but is down to a minimum.

My cupboard here on Steepster was ridiculous, containing each and every sample size that I have been accumulating. It now only contains non-sample size teas. Loose leaf outweighs the bagged teas, but it doesn’t look that way by the list (over 100 samples).

I started my tea journey testing flavored teas. My favorites are chai and mint flavored teas, along with Earl Grey. Also like chocolate, caramel, coconut, almond, vanilla, cinnamon, clove and some others. Most flavors are better with a nice black tea base. The mint ones seem best paired with greens. I’m branching out now to unflavored teas and it is way more overwhelming then the flavored category. Phew.

My (grown) son has decided that he wants to try to find tea that he likes too, so I’ll be passing along the ones I don’t care for to him (with instructions to then pass them on to his sister…evil plot? yes!). So I’ve removed my shopping list from Steepster and moved it to a spreadsheet (swaps are out for now). My shopping list had grown to 197! By going through each one, I was able to split that in half (since many were added in beginning, before I knew what I like/don’t like).

While not swapping, if there’s something in my cupboard that you’d like a sample of, please feel free to ask : )

Ratings (for now):
90s: Must have in personal rotation. Crave it.
80s: Makes me a happy tea drinker. Very good. Unsure of long term relationship.
70s: Like this. Will drink what I have (sample/tin/box), but unsure of whether I’d buy again.
60s: Probably a good tea for what it is. Just not to my personal liking.
50s and below: Do not like…at all. Either poor quality, yuck flavor or … (see tealog).

Old (and still current) obsessions: books, music and fragrances. ~~Hopefully my tea collection stays much more “normal” then those.~~ (too late)