Blue of London

I’m surprised I haven’t tried this one yet… I thought for sure I would have. Now I want to go through my Le Palais des Thés sample set I bought ages ago to try the others that I never got around to.

I have been doing some massive swaps/giveaways and just like that my cupboard has dropped to 189 teas. I of course will be getting some teas back that will make it go up, but goodness it feels good to purge a bit. I had promised myself a tea order after I got below 200, but now I am waiting until I get my tax return and seeing how low I can go.

I brewed this slightly hotter than the lable recommended because I couldn’t bear to brew a black tea at 185°F. I figured my typical 3 minute steep time would compensate as they called for 4-5 minutes. I sniffed while brewing and became extremely wary. It smelled a bit musty, and a bit smoky. I was reminded of my recent experience with the Harney Tippy Yunnan where I didn’t like the slightly smoky note to it, and thought this would go similarly. Despite my misgivings, I let it cool and tried it.

I can say that though this is totally not the type of tea I usually drink, I am enjoying it. Yes, the Yunnan base is woody, earthy, and a hint smoky, but somehow I don’t mind it today. The bergamot is relatively well balanced; it’s not very strong, but I can still taste it and it’s a main part of the flavor. There is also this sweetness to it that is winning me over a bit. I am a sucker for natural sweetness in a tea. Altogether not a tea I would buy again, but way better than I was expecting this morning.

As a sidebar, I am very confused about Yunnan blacks. There are some Yunnan blacks, primarily golden-tip varieties like Golden Fleece and Teavivre’s Dian Hong Golden Tips, that I really really love. No woodiness, no smokiness. But I’ve tried a few other Yunnan blacks lately that have been completely different! I am sure it’s in part a grade thing, but it’s weird. Then again I have realized recently that I can’t stand some Keemuns but love others. So I guess grade makes a big deal for me in black teas.

Here’s yet another sample from my Le Palais de Thes gift set.

I decided to try this with my boyfriend this morning since he likes Earl Grey much more than I do. I think we both agree that this doesn’t smell and taste very bergamot-y so I actually liked it for this reason. It’s fairly subtle and allows the flavor of the yunnan black to come through. This is one smooth and delicious tea that I can just sit and drink plain which is unusual for me and a black tea. Pretty good, but I think I would just skip the bergamot altogether and go for the grand yunnan. :)

I think if you were expecting something like a typical strong Earl Grey you’d be a bit disappointed in this one. If you like lighter bergamot type teas (like Paris from Harney and Sons) you might enjoy it.

This tea bag is a funky little thing. I was expecting the silky bag type that so many upper end vendors seem to be using but it is a rectangular, loosely woven muslin bag, more like Kusmi’s but bleached rather than off-white. (Well, the box says unbleached but it is much whiter than Kusmi’s unbleached…) The bag also really plumps up when steeped and I can’t help but think that is a good thing – it means there might be some real leaves in there! I’m going to have to cut a bag open at some point…

The scent of the tea is rather interesting – it’s Earl Grey but there is also a note in there that reminds me of yuzu. It’s all in the citrus family so I suppose that works. The scent is rather strong but not unpleasant or fake.

The flavor is a bit surprising. The scent is so strong, I was kind of braced for a bit of a perfume shock. But there wasn’t one. Sweet and smooth on the front end, the dominant flavor is definitely the Earl Grey, but as strong as the smell and flavor of the EG is, there is no unpleasantness associated with it. I don’t feel like I’m breathing perfume and there is zero astringency or roughness. The mouthfeel is really quite silky.

I’m finding that I am having difficulty figuring out the proper words to describe the EG taste. It’s like a silky, sophisticated peel of some citrus fruit mix (mandarian with yuzu, perhaps) but without the bitterness or tartness associated with citrus peel or pith.

I can’t honestly say I love Earl Grey as a tea entity unto itself (but the husband does so I’m always on the lookout for a good one) but this one is really lovely. I feel kind of sophisticated drinking it. I’m actually sitting here in my silky monkey pajama, but I feel a bit like I’m having tea with Jane Austen. Or Mr. Darcy. At Pemberley. In full period dress.

The second steep (5:00) isn’t quite as sophisticated feeling as the first. There is a little prickle on my tongue that shows up at the end of the sip. It stays small, though, so that’s good. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the tea is astringent now, but the silky mouthfeel is missing. The flavoring seems sweeter now, but it is still in the citrus family – a navel orange, perhaps. The slight prickle brings to mind orange pith a little, that kind of tongue tingling/numbing sensation pith can give. (Or is that the center of a pineapple?) Anyway, the first steep is definitely my favorite. (That being said, the second steep sure disappeared quickly.)

(ETA: I cut open the bag after the second steep. The leaves are broken but probably some of the largest leaves I’ve seen in a teabag. Here’s a pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aug3zimm/6332730588/ )

ya know what, this is a musky earl grey, and weirdly i will admit, i think i like it more than more usual earl greys.
i’m not a person who is drawn to earl grey. i could take it or leave it kinda. and sometimes they seem too puckery. but this one is more moody. it’s a slight nuance i think, but i feel it.

(note to self: i liked the 2.5 minute steep slightly better than the 3.5 minute steep.)

thanks again Dinosara!

I found this to be a much smoother blend than the other Earl Grey in the sampler (The des Lords). This one is less astringent and the bergamot seems more prominent. Yunnan still seems a little bland to me, but I did steep at boiling. I will try this at a lower temperature next time.

I picked this tea up from Palais de The when I was wondering around Grafton Street. I love really any black tea based Early Grey, so I was very excited for this. I must say, this is not my favourite tea. I think it may have to do with the fact that it has a Yunnan base (I prefere Ceylon or Darjeeling), but I did enjoy the bergamot (you could definitely tell it was there). I’ve had it twice now, and steeped it the full five minutes. I may try 3.5-4 minutes to see how it turns out then.

Just another fantastic tea from Palais des Thes. But is not my favourite.

Be sure to steep this tea at the proper temperature. Its silky and smooth, while having some astringency, and a hint of bergamot. A robustly caffienated tea for the morning, it will wake you up!

C’est un thé équilibré que j’apprécie plus que le green of london où la bergamote est plus présente. Ici, la bergamote n’écrase pas les notes du thé noir du Yunnan.
Je le prépare à 2g/10cl, 85°C, et je l’infuse au moins 2 fois pendant 3min. C’est mon préféré parmi les earl grey

This is a tea I like against my own choice.

The tea gives off a strong perfume smell, but it doesn’t have a strong perfume, flowery taste. But the aftertaste on the other hand, has a high perfume taste.

I just can’t agree with myself, do I like the perfume taste or not? It’s a tea that wakes me up (and the taste buds). It’s ideal as a lunch/day tea.

It’s a tea I sometimes choose because it’s strong in taste and so unlike other earl grey tea.

I recommend this tea – or do I? It’s an interesting tea, and it will wake you up. But it’s really the first time I have ever labeled a tea interesting. And it is – I find this tea interesting.