Earl Grey

(Part 2 of my Ritz-Carlton Story. For Part 1, see English Breakfast by Taylors of Harrogate)

I had a lot of time to kill, so I really took my time to savor that breakfast, dipping my asparagus in the hollandaise. The food was quite tasty, although the steak could have been a little more rare, but it was tender, none the less.

For dessert, I had a pot of this Earl Grey with stevia added. It is nothing remarkable, but at the moment it felt like a sweet after breakfast treat, and satisfied the desire for something sweet to contrast with the savory meal I had eaten.

Early this morning I made some of this to put on ice in the refrigerator. It worked out well. The result is a nice clear iced tea. If I do this again, I will steep for one minute less or add a pinch less tea. I added two brown sugar ice cubes to the hot tea (it was in a 24 ounce pitcher so it won’t be too sweet). Trumpets did not blare; fireworks did not ignite, but this will make a perfectly serviceable iced tea for frequent summer consumption (for me the year has but two seasons: winter and summer).

This is a “does the job” earl grey. Although I haven’t tried many earl greys so am not well versed in the range of eg possibilities, I can say it holds to the expected caffeinated standard. This morning I have tempered my eg with a bit of raspberry flavored ceylon. It most certainly takes the robust kick out of the tea equation, and yet makes up for it in the delightful blend of bergamont and raspberry flavor. No competing here, just a gentle meeting of the minds with a little cream and sugar chiming in. It’s very easy to wash over the flavors with too much half and half, so add your cream gingerly to the conversation with every intention not to talk over anyone else.

As an amateur tea blender, I like to think about what qualities are important to me with the teas I’m blending. Ceylon is on the lighter side, so if I want my blend to have strength I won’t use equal parts, and instead offset at 2 to 1 parts. The result is a nice earl grey with a smidge of raspberry flavor. The raspberry flavoring is strong, so it doesn’t get buried by the earl grey. My caution is in blending too many flavors where the tea doesn’t know what it wants to be. Well, now my beautiful bone china mug has been emptied of it’s coppery liquid content, signaling a return to work.

Edit add: now that 5 minutes has passed and the flavors linger – I miss the zingy lift that I get with the more robust breakfast blend. For those of the same fold who like to go deep, to go fully caffeinated, and with trusty sword and shield first thing in the morning – I would recommend against this blend. Stick to your friends, stick to your neighbors, and by all means stick to your tried and true tea family of trusted soldiers when the sun’s rays emerge from the east.

This morning’s tea experience was a little bit of a comedy of errors. Except it really wasn’t all that funny. I had to make a larger-than-normal quantity of tea so I pulled out my big tea pot – and forgot it had no in-spout strainer about half way through the pouring. Oops. Between pouring the mugs out into the nearest receptacle, finding something to strain the tea with, straining said receptacle and remaining tea, dripping everywhere, using the wrong receptacle and, oh yeah, forgetting to start the timer in the first place, I have no idea how long this tea ended up steeping for. More than 3 minutes. Less than 10. But even with all that going on, this tea wasn’t ruined so I consider that a win.

As for the tea itself… meh. It’s apparently decently forgiving (I did use a little bit of sugar and half & half but less than a tsp for my 12oz) but my unenthusiastic response is really in relation to the flavor. It’s a ‘typical’ Earl Grey. And by that, I mean it is kind of floral and perfumy. I guess I have been a bit spoiled by my recent experiences with Andrews & Dunham’s EG which tastes so fresh and juicy. There was no fresh or juicy with this one.

That’s not to say this is horrible. But it’s nothing special. At least it is pretty forgiving, though.

Where to begin? I have read so many good things about this tea and could not wait to sample it… plus finding it locally was very convenient. On opening the box doubt began to set in. There was no aroma of bergamot whatsoever, which lead me to think they might’ve made a mistake at the packing plant and put straight black tea in my box! As it started to brew I realized it was indeed Earl Grey because a faint hint of bergamot could be detected wafting out of the cup.

Added my usual splash of milk with two sugars and prepared to be amazed. I was not. It was indeed an Earl Grey, but more lemony and not as strong as I thought it would be. The tea color was a bit redder than Twinings brand (which has a stronger and better flavor) and the underlying taste of the tea was smokier than I anticipated…which isn’t a bad thing.

All and all, not a poor Earl Grey but not a great one either.

N.B. This review is for the bagged version.

A decent Earl Grey, something you could serve to company. This actually a friend of mine’s favorite brand of Earl Gray though- so I think your mileage varies by how much you like the blend.

Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey is one of my favorite Earl Grey blends. To begin with, it has an intoxicating aroma. I’d, in fact, wear it if the essence could be captured in a cologne. It’s that good. Now there’s an idea. Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey Cologne for the discerning gentleman or Earl Grey No. 5 for the charming ladies. I like the fragrance so much I almost hate to throw away the bag when I’m finished with the tea. But the real story is in the taste. It is rich, it has stucture and it is full bodied. It’s not like some whimpy Earl Grey blends that are thin, weak, flat or just plain insipid. The bergamot is quite evident and that is the way I like it. I don’t want a so so black tea blend with just a hint of bergamot. If I’m drinking an Earl Grey tea I want to taste the bergamot. For me, this tea is the Bette Middler of Earl Greys. It is bold, it’s brassy and it has notes that will get your attention. And I do mean that as a perfect compliment. There’s a lot to like about it and as long as Taylors of Harrogate produces it it will be in my cupboard. Give it a try, I think you’ll like it.

The aroma of this Earl Grey is very different than others I have tried. However, the tea is pleasing, but a little strong for an Earl Grey. I recommend steeping for about three and a half minutes only.

A nice, balanced Earl Grey with excellent quality bergamot. I like this as a morning tea. I find that the bagged version is quite respectable, too.

This is a pleasant EG, but like others have suggested, the bergamot is strangely perfume-y. I’m a big fan of EGs on mornings where I need a zing to get me going and I’d much prefer a fresh, citrusy bergamot to this one. I don’t think it’s nearly as bag as people here are suggesting—in fact, it’s quite satisfactory, but it’s not top-shelf. Trust me, you can do MUCH worse than this one.

My first brew tasted heavy on the bergamot, but consistently since then it has been delicious and well balanced.

I’ve been looking for a good Earl Grey for the longest time.

This one, unfortunately, isn’t it. A fine basic Earl Grey but the citrus tones in this are… perfumey and cheap, a little overpowering. Wouldn’t repurchase.

Just opened the package – what a strong smell from the bergamot oil. I enjoyed the first infusion. Not sure this is the “best Earl Grey ever” but it is good.

This tea is a big disappointment considering its high ratings on steepster and elsewhere. I’ve been on a search for the perfect earl grey, and so far, I’ve tried maybe 20-30 different earl greys. This one is really mediocre. It tastes no better than a cheap earl grey from a tea bag, worse maybe. It has no body or depth, just a weak, perfumy bergamot. The flavor is very weak overall. Steep time adjustments and adding more tea do not seem to bring out any more black tea flavor from the tea.

Considering that I had the teabag version, the tea was very fine. It helps me survive while I’m waiting for the good stuff to be delivered, because to my horror I could not get any loose tea in Madison, WI… Actually I don’t think I’ve seen much of it anywhere since my arrival in the US over 2 months ago…

I buy this loose whenever I can get it! Good to blend with lavender as well.

Fragrant.

Simply, the most aromatic, fresh and perfect tasting Earl Grey tea I have ever come across. I bought this in bulk from a tiny shop in downtown Haworth, England (home to the Brontes). I am rationing it strictly for fear of running out. I have no idea where I can get more and I live across the sea and about 3000 miles away from where I bought this.