Earl Grey

I have had the most horrible, terrible weekend. My bad weekend had nothing to do with no tea, but everything to do with inconsiderate people.

So happy to be home. I can’t even have a nice cuppa because it is too close to bedtime and I am on fluid restrictions, and yes, I am 3 years old.

So I will review the only cup of tea I got to have all weekend but couldn’t get onto steepster to post about. This was so delicious, mostly because I needed tea so bad. It was a strong black base, and very strong but sweet bergamot. The black tea was still smooth and blended well with the bergamot. The slight sweetness to the tea made it very easy to drink. It also resteeped very well – gasp – I resteeped, must have been a bad weekend.

This is a bagged tea I could buy a box of and keep around for those “just in case” moments.

I’ve had crummy luck with the couple of bagged Earl Greys I’ve tried. They were terribly bitter. This one is surprisingly good! I prefer my Earl Greys with creme, but this one could live without it. It’s a decent black tea with a decent bergamot flavor! MUCH better than the other bagged Greys, but not as good as the loose leaf teas. I wonder why they are so different?

I had this with lunch at Save On Meats in Vancouver last week. It was a tea bag of fannings. It was very light and very floral. I’m pretty sure the water was not at boiling. I left it in the cup all through lunch, steeping 3 cups off of it. It didn’t change much in character over the steepings. Not excellent, but better than expected for a restaurant.

Had this today at a restaurant. It was pretty decent, especially because I was cold and just so grateful to have something warm to hand on to. The bergamot was quite strong. I added one sugar and a dash of milk, and that barely touched the bergamot. The brew was strong, but not bitter tasting or astringent. I would have this again.

Hmm. Grabbed this one at a diner on the way back from camping.

Not too shabby.

I haven’t really been into earl grey teas, but they’re a safe bet when traveling. :)

Meh meh meh meh meh.

I had this last night to start off my love’s Christmas party. I need two tea bags to really get a good steep in. It always amazes me how restaurants think that 1 tea bag for their pots of tea is enough to brew a decent steep. Not to mention, the water is never hot enough either.

It seems like a lot of restaurants use this brand, even the Keg (which is surprising.) It always makes me wince to pay for tea like this, but last night the bill was on my love’s boss, so I wasn’t concerned.

These tea bags produce quite a good cup of tea. I generally go for loose leaf tea, but there are times when a bag is simply more convenient. This Earl Grey has a strong bergamot scent. The bergamot flavor is strong once brewed, but not overwhelming. It was easy to brew a cup that was smooth and not too bitter. I brewed for approximately two minutes, which is my usual for bagged black tea. The tea was fresh and flavorful. This is definitely a good choice for those in search of a bagged earl grey.

I forgot to log this one. I drank it while awaiting my plane in the “Runway Cafe”. I even jotted down a couple notes and thoughts (not a normal habit—I don’t want to look like some weird food critic scrutinizing their service).

My thoughts, quoted directly from my notes: “Brews dark (fanning); taste is bold, not bitter. Bergamot scent borders on Pledge-y, but that doesn’t translate into the taste. Just a touch of dark citrus. Well-rounded earl grey. I like it. 72-77%?”

No idea what their water temperature was at, but I default-steep most plain blacks at five minutes.

I will fully admit. I only got a cup of tea from McD’s today because their new coffee cake muffins are divine, and tea and muffin is only $0.20 more than just a muffin.

No that bad of an earl grey. It doesn’t get bitter when the bag is left in. my go-to tea at Mickey Dee’s.