Earl Grey Creme

Sipdown! 209/365!

This was a free sample in my Bird & Blend order – I don’t know if the samples are random or personalized, but the ones I got definitely matched the items in my order!

Anyhow, I like my EG creams to be as creamy as possible. Unfortunately, although this is definitely a smooth EG (not as harsh as their Lady Lavender!), it is just not creamy enough for me. A bit does come out when it has cooled, but I want more. I’m sure this would take to a splash of milk and sweetener very well, but given that it was a single-sachet sample, I won’t be trying that!

As an EG, it’s quite good – strong but smooth bergamot – but it just isn’t the cream EG of my dreams.

One of my absolute favourites from Bird and Blend, which is a company I’ve loved for about 5 years now. Nice bergamot notes in the Earl Grey, definitely appreciating the vanilla as well. I drink this without milk as I think you can appreciate the flavours more this way, however it does also make a nice London Fog tea latte! Just chucked it in a basket infuser in a normal sized mug as I couldn’t be asked to faff about with a teapot, got two good steeps out of it. Probably could have gotten 3 but wanted to move on to something else.

Okay, people, I have a dangerously large amount of snacks in my house right now…

The husband and I went to Costco over the weekend, mostly to stock up on pantry staples like chicken stock, canned tomatoes, pasta, et cetera. But of course, they had a big section of holiday snacks near the front, and having zero self-control, I ended up with a huge bag of white chocolate peppermint Pretzel Crisps and an equally giant tin of “European” cookies with Belgian chocolate. (facepalm)

Add to that that I also made a batch of Rice Krispies treats (my husband’s favorite) over the weekend and we still have a big bowl of mini candy bars from Halloween… Let’s just say I’m happy that I never bother to weigh myself anymore! XD

But dayum, those Pretzel Crisps… 10/10, would recommend!

Anyway, the tea. This one is in my sipdown-in-progress box (or as I saw VariaTEA call it, my focus box, which I think I like better). And that is through no fault of the tea, it’s just old and the packet was already opened, so that makes it a target for finishing off.

I actually do quite like this one, being a lover of Earl Grey. The bergamot is light enough to not overpower the vanilla, which has a nice creamy custardy note to it. I’m not sure it’s quite the Earl Grey Cream of my dreams, but it’s probably the closest I’ve had. Will definitely consider for a reorder once I’ve ahem… reduced my cupboard a bit!

P.S. – I have three different tea mails out for delivery today! SQUEE!

Sampler Sipdown September! I work this Saturday, and with no kettle at work anymore (at least, not until I can ask our building manager to inspect the power sockets, I swear something is overheating my kettles…) I just grabbed one of the single-serve sampler teabags I’ve received as order freebies to put in a thermos and take with me as I headed out. This one came from a past Bird & Blend order, sometime back in their Bluebird Tea Co. days. I was feeling in an Earl Grey mood today.

This was very nice. Earl Grey is a tea that took me some getting used to (bergamot was not a flavor I took to instantly) so I don’t like Earl Greys that have really overbearing bergamot, nor do I like Earl Greys with a really strong, biting, astringent black tea base. I find I’m not having either problem with this blend. The base is hardy but not bitter, and any astringency left from the Ceylon after the sip is fairly mild. The bergamot seems to be pleasant for my tastes, leaving a noticable touch but not so strong that it is overbearing on the tea or downright sour. The touch of vanilla creaminess likely helps, as it adds that touch of counter-balancing sweetness to the citrus that ties it together nicely. I do wish I had milk here at work to create more of a creamy mouthfeel and amp up the creaminess/sweetness a bit (I do love me a nice London Fog!) but even plain, this is a nice cuppa. And hey, I found a leftover chocolate donut in the breakroom! Score! The chocolate goes nicely, I must say.

I made this the last time I was in Florida and I am hoping that it was the lack of my usual teaware, including my variable temperature kettle, that made for a very bitter cup, which is what this was. Astringent and just way too brisk for my tastes. I tried pulling out the vanilla creaminess that was trying to fight through the bergamot and black tea base by adding some cream but alas there was no aiding this sample.

Check out my full review here: http://sororiteasisters.com/2018/03/30/earl-grey-creme-from-bluebird-tea-co/

My Bird and Blend advent arrived today, and this was one of two free sachet samples included. I’m like 95% sure I’ve had this before but I’m too lazy to go and check right now. All in all it’s a fine “EG Cream” though, but nothing to write home over. I wish it was either sweeter to compensate for some bitterness in the black tea base, or just creamier in mouthfeel. Doesn’t need to be both. Maybe fussing with steep time would help though, but given I only had the one sachet that wasn’t an option.

I think my EG kick is coming to an end though – I drank a lot of EG last week, and wasn’t nearly as excited for this one when I saw it in the box today.

Sipping this as I type. Love an Earl Grey Creme, no matter the brand, there’s just something nice about the sweet notes of vanilla mixed with bergamot.

I’m drinking this black today, Ceylon is a bit strong and bitter, probably nicer with milk, but the bergamot is medium strength with light touches of vanilla :P

Additional notes: So this is for a fresher blend than the first time I had this three years ago. It was never my favorite Earl. Now they are using a much darker black tea than before (awesome) and the bergamot is slightly stronger and better than before (still not my ideal bergamot) but there is still no cream to speak of. The description still says “vanilla pieces” like it did three years ago, so maybe this is just one of those cases where I can never taste the vanilla pieces? I’m beginning to suspect. Anyway, this is an improved blend but not yet as fantastic as I’d expect Bird & Blend to make. Raising the rating from 72.

A sample from a swap, which has been languishing for a while – it´s winter, and I am craving tea and new teas but trying to watch caffeine intake which is annoying.

This was a perfectly nice earl grey, just the right level of bergamot for me. I can not particularly noticed the vanilla, but I was absentmindedly enjoying it.

I don’t really have much to add to my previous tasting notes, but I still find this one utterly delightful. Mild, slightly citrussy earl grey with a big smack of creaminess. It’s just gorgeous!