Chocolate Earl Grey (TE13)

When I pulled think out of the chest of wonders (Upton box), I thought, “why would someone put these two together!?” The taste was an awesome surprise. I feel like I have an Earl grey tea, heavy on lemon, that I dropped a Hershey bar into. The flavors all play together so politely. No huge clashes for me to wade through. I enjoy this, but not enough to give it some prime real estate in my cupboard.

Have I mentioned that LiberTEAS spoils me!? :P

This smells AWESOME! It’s pure chocolate and Earl Grey! WOW! Just what I had HOPED it would smell like! Or…in my case…orange chocolate/Earl Grey-ish even! YAY!

I’m just finishing up the infusion…
I’m told I need to try 2 infusions with this so I will – here’s what I found with the first one…

The aroma changes completely after infusion is complete. It’s still pleasant but not as awesome…I guess you could say. I can’t pick out each flavor like before. This doesn’t bother me too much because this often happens with flavored teas – as you know.

It’s infuses very dark brown and has a bit of cloudiness to it…I am assuming from the sugary-chocolate bits.

The taste is different but very good. I would say I can taste the cocoa type taste first then it quickly changes into a chocolate…so almost first being hot cocoa taste but then more of a chocolate bar taste. From there you can taste the black tea but then quickly changes into more of a bergamot and chocolate type taste. It ends more of a chocolaty-black tea flavored taste. Thru-out the entire sip it’s very smooth and the flavor changes intrigue me.

This is the first cup in a long time I have had to think about it with each sip (more than just a few sips, that is)

This one kept my attention going strong the entire time.

I continue to type and think as I write this…

As it cools at room temp for a few mins I can taste a chocolate-woodsy-black tea type taste for the after taste more. This certainly isn’t a bad thing (in my book).

Again, very smooth and creamy thru-out the cup!

This tea is much like an adventure! I like it!

Tea no. 3 in the Upton Earl Grey sampler. It’s called Earl Grey Chocolate on the sampler label but has the same catalog number as Chocolate Earl Grey.

I’ve been looking forward to this, as I am at least a 200 on a scale of 1-10 in terms of chocolate fanaticism.

I must admit to being somewhat baffled by the all the variations on the Earl Grey theme. Seems to me at some point it ceases to be Earl Grey and starts being something else, but perhaps I’m just old school. Of all the variations, this is the most puzzling to me so far. But that’s probably only because I haven’t come across marzipan-halvah-cookies-’n-cream-melba-toast-pineapple-lime-spaghetti-mutton flavored Earl Grey yet.

This is a very colorful, pretty blend: yellow, green, blue, tan and brown/black. I love anything with cornflowers in it as that shade of blue is so calming and beautiful. It smells strongly of cocoa, and the cocoa has a mint-like lilt to it which defies explanation by the ingredients. The undercurrent of the tea, by contrast, smells almost coffee-like. I am getting nothing in the bergamot or lemon department.

But after steeping, there is both lemon and bergamot in the aroma, along with unsweetened cocoa (that still has that interesting minty-upswing). The taste is very strongly of the cocoa. As with the creme vanilla variety, the bergamot’s role seems mostly to be to corral the cocoa to some extent. The lemon actually seems to be the stronger citrus note here, and seems to be helping the bergamot with the task of keeping the cocoa from turning this into a single note tea. Interestingly, the bergamot hopped onto my tongue a few minutes after my last sip and sat there for about a minute before scurrying away.

Fortunately I have more of this so I can play with it some. Right now I’m in that place where I like the idea of this tea more than I probably like the tea itself. But the idea is so interesting, I really want it to knock my socks off. Right now it’s not doing that; it’s not striking me as that much different from a pretty standard chocolate flavored tea. I’m wondering if steeping 4 minutes would make a difference. Perhaps milk and sweetener would as well.

That said, I haven’t tried any other Chocolate Earl Greys, so there isn’t one I’d choose instead of this. Nor can I say this is signficantly better than any others. It’s either this one or nothing for me right now, and for that reason I’m giving it a default very good rating.

When I placed my last Upton order, a sample of this went into my cart. But wait! It’s almost sold out (so I bit the bullet and added a tin to cart). Did I make a mistake? Hmmm, that’s on my mind as I test this tonight.

Sniffing the tin, it does indeed smell like those chocolate/orange cream candies that are popular around Christmas-time (name escapes me). After steeping, I did a little testing because I suspected this would need sweetened, and it did (added 2 tsp. raw sugar to 15 oz.). This black tea used is STRONG and a bit too strong for me. I’m not getting much chocolate (or orange for that matter). Tasting like coffee (eeeeeek) to me. Added 1 T. (or so) of Coffeemate “Natural Bliss” Sweet Cream. Sip. Sip. Sip. Mmmmmmmmm. NOW this is great. I’m getting that chocolate-covered orange cream candy impression. The tea itself has mellowed, and it is as described. I must have missed that this had flowers when ordering (brain focused on the chocolate part…go figure), but I’m not getting any hint of flowery’ness in this. I wished I had bought a whole tin of Creme Caramel yesterday, but am not regretting the “risk” of getting a whole tin of this one. Yum (and perfect for a cold snowy night…brrrrr).

I can not believe that it is almost May.
I feel like I have already lived through a year, with everything that has happened to me so far this year.
Especially, with my health.
More things have occurred, and I keep waiting for my brain to catch up.
I told my Hubby the other day, I guess this is the year of finding out whats wrong and finding solutions.
Part of me is relieved.
I have not felt well for awhile now, and to have someone tell me, that yes, there is something wrong with you.
Well, it meant I was not crazy after all.
Anyway,my days are filled with work, doctor’s appointments and other typical errands.
But, I still make time for tea.
This morning, I decided that I wanted to try this tea.
Chocolate and Earl Grey for a Monday. Sounds perfect.
I was surprised to see all the other items in the tea tin with the dry leaf.
Chocolate chunks and orange peel and flowers.
Smelled tasty though.
The tea is actually quite yummy.
I was afraid the chocolate would over power my beloved bergamot, but it does not, in fact it almost compliments the bergamot.
I am usually not a fan of messing with my earl, I like him strong and a little rough.
But, this Earl is quite nice, and I would not mind indulging in him now and than.
Happy Monday, Folks!

This tea confuses me. The name is “Chocolate Earl Grey” but the chocolate bit is more strong hints of chocolate or cocoa flavor (not an actual chocolate taste) and the Earl Grey bit is more of a hint of fresh citrus lightness (instead of noticeably bergamot).

I’ll admit, I was hoping for something a bit more like a chocolate orange. So the fact that this tea is mild tasting with notes of chocolate and bergamot instead of the actual taste of chocolate and bergamot left me feeling a bit confused. That being said, I managed to drink my cup pretty quickly – it was sweet, smooth and had a very nice flavor. Just totally not the flavor I was expecting. For that reason, I’m leaving this one unrated for now. I need to have a cup of it without blatantly incorrect expectations clouding my experience.

Another goodie from my Upton order!! The scent of the tea reminds me so much of the Chocolate Oranges you can find around Christmas and I LOVE those! The taste is initially chocolate with the orangey bergamot not far behind. The lemon is a nice addition also because it helps the bergamot from being overdone (which I don’t usually mind, but it would bother many). I’m getting more citrus in the flavor than chocolate but it ends up being a nice twist on an Earl Grey without losing the fact that this is an Earl Grey tea.

This is one of the most unusual Earl Grey teas I’ve ever encountered, and yep… that’s just why I ordered the sample of it – I simply had to try a Chocolate flavored Earl Grey tea.

The chocolate in this blend is surprisingly strong, while the bergamot is a bit more subdued… I really expected it to be the other way around. A very pleasant blend! I may have to actually order more of this one. A very good chocolate blend.

I am sadly still not getting the chocolate flavor in this tea :(! I’m tempted to doctor it with a chocolate bar piece. Don;t get me wrong it’s still good tea, but I was hoping for more chocolate goodness. Will try a re-steep once this cup is done….

Thank You Doulton for allowing me the chance to try this tea

I was pleasantly surprised with this one. It is delicious, slightly sweet, light on bergamont, mildly chocolately. Just very yummy! It smells great before and after. Gorgeous flavor!

I bet if Captain Jean Luke Picard wanted to change it up a bit he would say….“Chocolate Earl Grey…Hot!”. This is one I will be buying when I run out.

backlogging
And more thanks to Sandy Stith for this one as well! :D

I was a little hesitant at first because I haven’t really had a chocolate tea that I’ve loved (yet!), but I honestly needn’t have been worried at all. Slightly malty, it was like drinking the product of a union between EG and hot chocolate. Surprisingly good, though I’d have liked to taste the bergamot just a little bit more. That being said my husband is in love with this tea and has decreed that I buy a tin the next time I order from Upton! :)

Fake chocolate scent and flavor :( otherwise a nice EG. I’m going to have trouble getting past the fake flavor though. Maybe my friend might like it …

I’ve been wanting to try this one for a while now; I love chocolate tea, and I love Earl Grey tea, so the two of them together was very appealing to me! And now, thanks to twiggles and the HoppiTea swap, I have a sample!

I might have expected this tea to smell like a chocolate orange or something, but the aroma comes together in a way that you can distinctly smell the roasty chocolate and the somewhat floral EG, and they also meld together. This tea doesn’t hit you over the head with either flavor, and considering how chocolates and EGs can both have a tendancy to do so, it’s impressive. I don’t get as much of a citrusy EG as a floral one (I think the jasmine flowers contribute to that), though as it cools I think I get a hint of lemongrass on the end of the sip. I brewed it for only 3 minutes, but since I get no hints of bitterness whatsoever I think I’ll go up to 4 next time as suggested. This one was different than I was expecting, but very good! I look forward to sipping through my sample!

ETA: The resteep on this is fantastic… the chocolate takes a backseat and becomes a supporting flavor (though still evident), but the bergamot comes out with a more citrusy flavor. The jasmine is evident here as well, adding a smooth floral note. Delicious!

OK, so take this with a grain of salt because I don’t like earl grey/bergamot which smells like men’s cologne… why does anyone want that in their tea? Anyway, Lizbet sent me a sample of this (a tiny sample since she knows my feelings on earl grey) and I’m actually surprised by this one. It’s not great, but it’s not sink worthy either. I barely taste a hint of chocolate and a hint of lemon, and maybe if I try and think about it hard enough, I might get a hint of bergamot. Mostly, this one just tastes like black tea to me… with something. Thanks Lizbet for adding an exception to my earl grey rule.

Mrawlins2 gave me a sampling of this tea and I am soooo glad she did. The chocolate mellows out the tea and creates a soothing cup of earl grey. I have been looking for a cream earl grey, this may be just the thing I was looking for! Chocolate, who knew?Astringency is low and that is how I prefer my teas. It also seemed to have a spiciness to it that made me want to go back for another infusion:)

I missed you, Upton.
I fell prey to the temptation of the delicious looking Earl Grey sampler, and I’m glad I did… I’m trying this one without any additives first to see what I think. The ingredients list is just amazing, and this manages not to taste artificial and cloying. It’s definitely an earl grey, but with a definite touch of cacao. I didn’t expect to like this one out of the otherwise appealing sampler options, but I do. I don’t love it, but I’m going to finish off the tin for sure!

I got this in the discounted Valentine’s sampler. I finally got around to trying it this morning. I was pretty excited by the tea in its tin. I looks great, and smelled heavenly. I could pick out several unique scents in the dry tea.

But, when I got to sippin’ I wasn’t as impressed. This is pretty good, but the Earl Grey doesn’t really come through for me. There is so much going on, I think, that it just tastes a little murky. I do like it and will definitely take another shot of it soon, when I have more time to enjoy it, but I wasn’t as taken with it as I thought I would be by two things so great as chocolate and EG.

I’d like the smell of this a lot. It’s got a very good aroma into it, nice and chocolately and hints of the bergamot in the Earl Grey. The taste is very, very lightly Earl Grey. Mostly just kind of a medium chocolaty taste that’s relatively good because it’s not overpowering. The Earl Grey flavors are not prominent enough for me so it kinda falls into a chocolaty tea with Earl Grey notes. But for a chocolaty tea this is probably my favorite so far.

I purchased this one without sampling…..I know, so weird for me. I am definitely happy with the tea. The chocolate and bergamot flavors are subtle, and I loved the touch of lemongrass. I also liked that the brew is light, rather than heavily flavored or scented. Yum!

Nice! The combo of chocolate and bergmot really is reminiscent of a chocolate orange. It’s a bit lighter in flavor than I hoped, so I will try a longer steeping next time. I think it helps to not think of this as an Earl, because the cocoa notes definitely transform it into something else entirely!!