Earl Grey bergamot level
I was perusing Upton’s website and found their comments on regular EG interesting. Their’s is an English blend where the bergamot is little lighter than many American counterparts. In my grocery store tea days (ok, 6 months ago) I always drank Ahmad because the bergamot did not overpower the tea. Most EG’s I find at the grocer are too over-flavored. I want to taste tea. Another hint that I was born on the wrong side of the Atlantic?
I tend to like the blends lighter in bergamot, too. If it is too strong, it smells and tastes too much like perfume. If it is done well, it is the most relaxing tea. I am a big fan of Harney & Son’s Earl Grey Supreme, and Viennese Earl Grey. I might have to try Upton’s EG on my next order, though.
I totally agree with SimplyJenW…I hate that perfumey taste with EG’s. I really believe that Harney’s EG Supreme is what Jean Luke drank on the Starship Enterprise:)
Have you tried the Chocolate Ear Grey from Upton? It is a really smooth cup of tea.
Our Barnes and Noble sell Harney’s but it is bagged. Does it compare favorably? I recall reading somewhere they use large pieces in their bags.
Harney has nice sachets. I still prefer loose, but their sachets are good. Is the tea the Earl Grey Imperial? I don’t have that one. But if you want to try some of Harney’s other Earl Greys, I can pop some samples in the mail for you. I mail order from them frequently and have three right now. Message me your address if it sounds like a good option.
If I’m to have an EG, I prefer a very subtly flavoured one. Mostly, I admit, because I don’t actually like EG all that much.
I feel sad for you ;^) Earl Grey is da bomb. Earl Grey, hot, 2 sugars. Good enough for Star Fleet = good enough for nerdy me.
EG is my favourite tea and I was quite impressed with the Upton’s sampler I bought (well, except for the EG Lavender which I found to be too perfumey). It definitely has a nice light flavour. I used it up and have gone back to some Teavana EG that I had kicking around the cupboard and definitely notice the difference and prefer the Uptons. The Teavana’s is overpowering but it was a gift and who doesn’t like free tea :)
You made me laugh out loud… and clean my glasses. I read Upton’s as, well you know (Ol’ yeller and red). BTW, except for the milk thing your bio could be mine.
I find even the bergamot in Ahmad tea too strong. Even with milk it tastes as a bottle of perfume. I blend it with other teas such as rooibos or mint, but it inevitably takes over all other flavours. This Earl Grey is the reason I dislike black teas altogether.
Harney & Sons earl grey, if it is available in your area, is very light on the bergamot. Sounds like you just may not be an earl grey fan. That’s ok, as there a lots of other choices out there.
K S, true; surely there’s a whole universe of blacks for me to discover, but anyway, I’m not a caffeine-person. At the moment I’m dedicated to my Oolongs and gradually I will give blacks a chance.
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