Official Earl Grey Thread

I really like the Earl Grey blends from New Mexico Tea Company. And I’ve been drinking Dorian Grey and Baroness Grey from a local shop.

Can anyone recommend me a good Earl Grey tea?

I LOVED Whittard’s breakfast and afternoon earl grey tea’s, but they’ve changed the recipe and the new tea doesn’t come anywhere near. The old recipe was quite strong the bergamot (I believe it had bergamot oil in it?) and I only steeped it very shortly, which is how I like my black teas, and the flavor was still very powerful.

I’ve tried Kusmi’s and Ronnefeldt’s earl grey but they don’t have enough bergamot for me and the latter tastes more like english breakfast. I’ve had Lupicia’s in the past and that one was allright but not quite there yet as I remember. I’m so sad. I miss my earl grey, it really was some sort of daily ritual for me. It’s my favorite tea. Thanks.

Now here is probably a strange question for you Earl Grey lovers… I’ve actually never liked it (the bergomot doesn’t set with me well) but recently I tried out a blend that was recommended to me as a “good Earl Grey for those that normally don’t like Earl Grey teas” and have been trying to get my palette more used to its flavor (the blend in question was T2’s “French Earl Grey”). I also tried a Tropical Earl Grey blend which I didn’t mind too much, as the tropical notes helped mellow the bergomot flavor just a bit. Does anyone know any other good “entry level” blends where the bergomot is lighter or the other flavors in the blend help mellow it somewhat? I’m hoping once I get more accustomed to the taste I may be able to drink stronger blends.

It’s a strange idea, that someone would want to drink a version of Earl Grey designed to be a little like Earl Grey but that appeals to people who don’t like Earl Grey. Mixing flowers with teas works (jasmine black can be nice), or there’s a lot to experience in plain teas, blended with nothing at all. Trying a decent Dian Hong might make sense, a basic Chinese black tea with no flavoring. Those can be complex but not at all astringent or malty, so there’s no need to shift the flavors in different directions. Keemun or better unsmoked Lapsang Souchong could accomplish the same thing, or Taiwanese black teas; there are lots of options.

One of my cousins is an Earl Grey fanatic, as well. She recommends any loose leaf Earl Grey —so much better than the pre-bagged.