Kenyan Earl Grey

I received this from BrewTEAllySweet in a tea stash sale. Thank – you.

I like earl grey and I have really enjoyed trying different earl grey’s with different bases. It is interesting to me how the base can change the taste of the bergamont. I have never had a Kenyan tea so I do not know the characteristics of the base. This was a smooth base, but the taste was a little different. The bergamont was at the tail end of the sip and it was very light. I had the thought that I was sipping spagettii when I was drinking this tea. The base just had an odd smell. For me this tea is a no. There was something about it that just wasn’t my cup of tea. I am glad for the opportunity to try this one.

This is one of the best Earl Grey tea’s that I have tasted. A spoonful lasted an entire afternoon. Yum! (Thanks Nicole for the sample)

Ooops! I must have murdered this tea! Everyone else likes it enough that I must have done something wrong. Maybe I overleafed and oversteeped ‘coz it was awful. I am not going to rate this one; it just wouldn’t be fair.

Since my last cup of tea was not for me (but rhyming appears to be) I think I will try this Earl Grey, it will hopefully take away the sour taste in my mouth. (Yes chicory is now on my never, Never, NEVER! list). I want to apologise for I can’t remember who was kind enough to gift me this sample, please know that I appreciate it as I am truly an EG fan.

Sampled with a drop of milk.
This is of medium strength in terms of bergamot which is perfumed yet subtly sweet. The black tea base is a little smoky but the perfume of the bergamot dominates. It’s a nice blend but as the bergamot is not as strong as I like I’m going to add some sweetener.

Sampled with milk and sweetener.
The bergamot is smoother now than before and most of it’s perfume (and dryness) has gone. It has also balanced the bergamot and black tea base more that it was without the sweetener.

Overall – It’s a nice Earl Grey and it offers a pleasant level of bergamot for my personal taste but if I’m honest I don’t think it’s a memorable EG. If I was asked to sample this from a line up I don’t think it would be unique enough for me to pick it out, that could be a good or bad thing.

Tea & Cards TTB

As far as Earl Grey goes this one is actually rather solid, albeit a little boring. The bergamot plays a second fiddle to the quality black base in a way that’s comfortingly normal, but wouldn’t win any awards with my tastebuds.

Good morning, bergamot! This may be the first earl I’ve had where the bergamot smell (<3), is matched in its instensity by the taste. I think I like it.

This isn’t your granny’s earl grey, but she’d like it is you shared with her.

The whole experience is richer, darker and maltier than your average earl grey. The flavouring also sits differently than your average EG. The first flavour you get is the malty tea, followed closely by the citrus flavour, the real earl grey citrus, floral and sweet flavour come near the end of the sip and stay on your palate.
The whole experience is like the first days of fall, the sun and flowers are still around, but the coziness of fall sweaters and reading books by the fire is also present.

I have to admit that I usually don’t like Earl Grey. I just don’t like the bergamotte oil. And I don’t like citrus flavors. And this tea has both. But it is absolutely fantastic! By far the best Earl Grey I’ve had so far.

Let’s start from the beginning. The base of this tea is Justea’s Kenyan Black. See my review notes there for details of the base tea, I won’t get too much into detail here. Just let me remind you that this black tea is absolutely amazing!

Brendan Waye has blended this black tea with organic, cold pressed, mediterranean bergamotte oil, check out his review of this tea here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx83jZ3ebJE

I had the pleasure of trying Brendans own Earl grey and he convinced me that Earl Greys can be really amazing. He is really a master of blending tea! And this one is IMO his masterpiece in the Earl Grey section.

The citrussy, fruity notes blend in fantastically with the base notes of the tea (malty, “green”, green grass and fresh sprouts of trees come to mind for me). This makes the tea absolutely rich and flavorful on the full palatte. The “sweetness” of the black base teas (that others have described as well) works so amazing with the fuitiness of the citrus notes coming from the bergamotte oil. Absolutely fantastic. You have the feeling of fresh lemons and limes combined with a nice robust Assam like tea. Amazing, this one is definitely going to have a permanent spot in my shelf!