So, I’m living in Japan these days and therefore my drinking this is probably doubly odd. But after my millionth cup of green tea, I found myself craving some earl grey. And, I reasoned to myself, there was no real reason to hold out to find a shop that sold it here. The original point of earl grey was to flavor black tea that wasn’t so fresh, in order to make it drinkable. So I allowed myself to pick up some tea at the grocery store. For variety, I decided to try Lady Grey rather than the standard earl grey.
So this has less of a bergamot bite to it, is less peppery than good earl grey. It’s slightly sweet from the safflower leaves in it, and mild. I actually quite like it, and I’m sure in a blind taste test I’d be fooled by this and prove that my preference for higher end earl grey /lady greys is unnecessary.
Considering how much this cost me in Tokyo (I got the loose tea, so yes it does come in loose tea), it was the convenience of nabbing it at the grocery store alone that kept me from holding out. It’s not cheap here.
On this cool grey July day (yes, cool!) in Tokyo, I am enjoying this with my windows open, before I do yoga. It’s a great afternoon cup of tea, and makes me feel snuggly.
p.s. my canister is prettier in the one in the picture. Yay for Japan.
Terrible news for someone who just bought a 50 pack of it…
Our independent grocer has 5 or 6 different Twinings teas that they carry 50 count boxes of, and I couldn’t resist!
Oh, even the black british box is (IMO) sublime! And I am not really sure if the variations in taste are not a) subjective or b) different batches and all that or c) likely freshest, newest tea is more vivid and older (obviously) has lost more taste.
50 bags of Lady Grey in my house do not last very long, do enjoy! And maybe you will like better the british than the blue kind!
Is that the difference? That’s exciting, then! The British box was far more cost efficient than the blue box. I do love the taste, but I tend to drink caffeinated tea sparsely, only once or twice a day at most, and preferably not at all. I think I need to split some of this tea between home and work to make sure it is all enjoyed while ‘fresh’ : )
This is just subjective but I think the british box is slightly more tanninic, “stronger” – so maybe less brewing time.
The british box also has those loose little paper teabags so I think the tea ages a faster. The non-british box has the tea in little paper envelopes, which while not ideal are better than the british box – also pricier obviously. And do enjoy, I think it is a brilliant tea.
I’m a sucker for those little paper envelopes – Possibly because it just makes it so easy to toss in my bag for emergency tea.