Duchess Grey Tea

Thank you adagio breeze for this sample. Two bags means both me and my husband can try this tea so it worked very nicely. Plus I was asked if I was going to review something special for my 500th tasting note and after thinking about it for hours now I decided on an Earl Grey (hence this tea). Earl Grey is one of my favourite teas and is one of my first loves which has sparked my curiosity and explains why I am still here on Steepster, and also why my cupboards are over flowing with tea. :)

The teabag itself has a waxy citrus scent that smells rather pleasant and refreshing.

Tea comes served with half a spoon of calorie free sugar and a slice of lemon – as recommended on the back of the tea sachet.

Once steeped the tea has a strong citrus smell with slight malt and earth tones. In flavour this is very nice, it’s citrus is strong (with added help from the lemon) but also sweet, waxy and refreshing. I can also taste orange or maybe it’s bergamot in the background… delicious.

A strong citrus fruit black based tea that would be perfect as a morning tea or for a pick me up. I think the added lemon finishes it off nicely and keeps it fresh and flavourful throughout the cup. Would also make a nice iced tea.

Back logging a few cups full review soon

I am always on the search for that perfect blend. The perfect breakfast blend (it’s LiberTEAS, in case you’re still looking), the perfect chamomile (an ongoing search), and the perfect Earl Grey-type blend.

teabird very kindly sent this to me. I’ve no Trader Joe’s around here, and loved the thought of orange with the bergamot.

The flavors do translate as “lemon” once they hit your tongue. It’s smooth, and has just the right amount of scent to let you know that, yes, it’s a member of the Earl Grey family, even though it’s the result of a rendevous with some scandalous lemony fiend, and the elders of the family put it in little bags and sent it off on its way.

If you can’t tell, I’m very impressed with it, and think that this would be a fantastic tea to keep on hand at the office, or to have tucked into my purse while on the road. I’ll have to find my nearest Trader Joe’s and plan a trek to pick some up…yes, I think it’s that good.

Mm, very lemony. As in, I’m sure the bergamot and orange are there, but somehow it all comes together as lemon for me. Also, pleasantly smooth for a bagged tea. I steeped a little over 5 minutes and I didn’t try it plain, but it’s quite tasty with just milk (no sugar needed). At 10¢ a cup, I will probably buy this again. For those who have had TeaFrog’s Earl Grey Special, I’d say this is quite similar, though probably less good for re-steeping (I haven’t tried yet).

High marks for a bagged tea!

I like Earl Grey, I like Lady Grey, so why wouldn’t I like the Duchess?

Yes, indeed, I do like Duchess Grey very much! More lemony than Twinings Lady Grey, but I like that for a bit of a change.

Nice enough for a bagged blend from Trader Joe’s. I don’t know what [insert feminine nobility title] Grey is supposed to taste like, but this one just seems like a weaker, less astringent, slightly lemony version of the Earl. It has very little bitterness (with a squirt of agave, anyway) and it’s something I’d happily drink if it were on hand, but I’m not crazy about it.

Got this tea for my tea cabinet at work and while I don’t dislike it, I don’t love it either. To me it translates a bit weak and citrusy. I would like a bit more punchy bergamot and while I expected it to be weaker than an Earl Grey, I guess I expected it to have a bit more nuance. Its tasty for an afternoon cup or when you’re feeling under the weather, just nothing special.

What an amazing tea, really my favorite everyday morning tea. It has been discontinued by TJ’s, anyone have any sourcing information on it?

A great morning or pick me up tea – definitely great for rainy days and reading. I really like the lighter, citrus flavor. A quick, easy to brew tea.

Pleasant Lemon scent and flavor.

Made the mistake of adding whole milk one time, ack, never again. So much better black.

it’s like a lighter, more refreshing, more easily drinkable version of earl grey. it’s become my morning staple!

This one is quite good and I can see that I will easily be enjoying the whole box. Very lemony, but nice flavor that is refreshing for the morning.

I’m a sucker for Earl Grey with added citrus peel, but this one is a bit too bright and lemony and I think it overpowers the bergamot in the tea. It’s still delicious, I just think of it less as an Earl Grey and more as a smooth, citrus-y black tea.

Very fruity. Interesting variation on Earl grey.

This tea smells amazing which complements the taste wonderfully. Usually I don’t like too lemony a flavor but this tea balances well! The only thing I would change was to add a tad more orange flavor but otherwise a great tea for the price.

absolutely love this tea, but Trader Joe’s discontinued it. I tried Twinnings Lady grey and it is nothing like TJ’s Duchess Grey. If anyone finds a good substitute, please post!