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Not a fan of Bigelow’s Earl Grey offering. I found it to have a slightly bitter aftertaste when following the company’s suggested brew (2-4 mins / boiling). I had better results steeping it for 4 mins at 190 degrees.

For both steeps, I tried the tea plain, first. My first steep I went with 2 mins with boiling water. The tea was bitter and required the addition of milk and sweetener in order for me to finish it.

I did my second steep at 190 degrees for 4 mins. This round I detected no bitter aftertaste and while I could have finished the cup without sweetener and milk, I would have been forcing myself to do so.

Unfortunately, I found this tea offering to be mediocre, at best.

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with different teas to build up a small variety of low cost daily drinkers. Green tea is one that I tend to like alone or as the base to a cold brew.

While this isn’t a favorite of mine, it is a reasonably priced tea that does not require sweetener or cream to make it acceptable.

The tea’s flavor is subtle. Lipton suggests a 2 minute brew, but I found that short of a brew made for a weak tea where the only flavors I could pick up was the green tea, itself. At a longer, 5 minute, brew I was able to taste the lemon and to a lesser degree the honey (I almost didn’t pick up on the honey).

This is one that I would drink, but, also, one I’d easily replace with a green tea that I enjoy more. Overall I consider this to be a neutral tea, swaying me in neither direction. In a pinch, lacking other options of green tea, I would not hesitate to buy it.

I didn’t expect much from this tea but found myself pleasantly surprised. Nice tea that requires no milk or sweetener to enjoy. I will be adding this to one of my daily drinker options.

I’m not usually a fan of Chais, so I’m surprised that I found this one to be one I would drink. Based on other reviews, it seems some of what it’s lacking to make it a chai favorite for others is probably why it’s one that I do enjoy (I am not a fan of teas with a strong ginger flavor).

Not a tea that I would drink plain, as I find most chais to be, but with a bit of honey powder and milk, this makes for a nice alternative to what I regularly drink.

There’s a small ‘spicy’ flavor, but mild, again, to other chais I’ve had.

Again, not a favorite, but, likely, one I enjoyed at a low enough price point that I’ll probably keep a box on-hand for those nights where I’m craving something a bit different or for company.

The tea is uninspiring in either direction.

I’m currently mixing this tea with another Celestial Seasoning’s flavor just to get through both boxes as I’m not a fan of either. The combination of the two makes the tea drinkable.

Celestial Seasonings is a brand I find I’m either hit or miss with. There is rarely any in-between emotions I have in regards to their selection which is sad as they have a rather large selection that is readily easy to find.

There are other nighttime blends that I find hit the mark for around the same price point that I prefer to stick with.

This tea has a fantastic aroma, but I find the flavor to be weak and in need of a long steep. I have a love / hate relationship with Celestial Seasonings teas so I never know which one will surprise me. Unfortunately, this was not one that did.

I’ve opted to combine this tea with another of Celestial Seasonings teas, Sleepytime Vanilla (another tea I find too weak to stand on its own). Combined I enjoy the flavor enough that I will be able to finish off their respective boxes.

It’s a shame because the scent out of the box was great, so I couldn’t wait to try it only to be let down once it hit my palate.

My original steep was 5 minutes at 190 degrees. The steep I’ve found to work best is 7-8 minutes at 190+ degrees. Adding a bit of honey powder (and milk, if desired) does enhance the flavor if one does find it lacking.

This tea has a mild flavor with a nice hint of mint to round it off. I felt no need to add milk or sweeteners to it, though one could.

Nothing amazing, but not a letdown either. I would drink it again.

I’m not normally a big fan of Bigelow teas, but, for some reason, I recall drinking this tea last fall and enjoying it and, I think, may have coveted a few bags.

Upon brewing, though, it was not as I had recalled so I think it my review could be off the mark, if my recollection is correct and the bags I have on-hand are about a year old, making their flavor much less flavorful. ;)

I will buy a new box once I run through my currently piled up teas and see if my review remains the same. If so I will update this one.

I found this to be bland with little flavor. I’m usually a big fan of autumn brews (harvest, pumpkin, cinnamon), but this one missed the mark for me.

My first brew of 190 degrees for 5 minutes created a slightly bitter oolong whereas my second brew I opted, again, for 190 degrees but shortened the steep time to 3 minutes and experienced no bitterness.

Smell-wise, I picked up hints of cinnamon and herbs in scent but the taste was a straight forward oolong tea.

This is a tea I feel stands on its own or as the base to a flavored brew. Also, I did not find the need to add any sweeteners or milk to make it drinkable. Overall I was pleased with it and would drink it again.

I’ve had this tea sitting in my tea canister for a period of time so I’m not sure if the flavor has weakened to the point that any tasting notes are so mild they’re almost insignificant.

Scent wise I do pick up on hints of caramel and apple but with each sip I only taste the rooibos and a slight hint of apple. The tea, otherwise, barely registers on my palate.

I may purchase this tea again once I work through the overflow I currently have and see if I notice a difference in flavor. If I do I will update my review to indicate so. For now it’s on my do-not-buy list. There are better flavored teas marketed towards “diet” that I’ve encountered.