Winter White Earl Grey

This sample was part of my Earl Grey exploration, which has included Harney’s Earl Grey Supreme, a lavender EG, an EG cream, Harney’s Viennese EG (a Darjeeling base), and this tea (Chinese Mutan White with bergamot).

This tasted almost like a lemony-flavored white, but there was still a light bitterness from the bergamot. Very floral without becoming perfumey. A nice roundness to the body. Rather smooth, especially considering that I find bergamot somewhat harsh. Next time I would try 160°F with the intention of pushing back the bergamot, though this definitely works for me at 176°F also.

By the third cup the bright lemon-like tasted faded, allowing more of the bitterness of the bergamot to come through; but the full body and buttery texture were still wonderfully enjoyable. To quiet the bitterness, I added some sugar to my last couple steeps, and sure, it was good, though the lesson I took from it was that although I found lots to enjoy in this cup, bergamot is just not so appealing to me at the moment.

As I wrote in my note about Viennese EG, these two teas surprised me in the same two ways: by being surprisingly successful in their blends and by teaching me that I am currently not much of a fan of bergamot. Softened with some milk or cream, sure. But I just don’t see adding milk to Darjeeling or white tea. And there is plenty to appreciate just as they are. I must applaud Harney’s blenders, since the many, many Harney flavored teas I’ve tried have all — yes, I think I can say all — have struck me as rather well done.

I love white tea, I love Earl Grey, and Harney & Sons is usually one of my go-two brands, but somehow this blend is not my jam. The tea is too light and the aroma overpowers the cup. It reminds me of bitter almond.

The sachets of this tea where so strongly scented that it put me off trying it for a few days, worrying me that I would have a similar experience as Chinese Flower, but instead of a hot fruit cup, a hot lemon peel! The brewing tea was much better smelling, sweeter and less citrus-y, though I again can detect the white tea, which I guess I am just not in the mood for lately (unless it is paired with jasmine!). Unfortunately the cup needed some sugar to bring that sweetness back out of the tea, it was a little pucker-worthy until I sweetened it. The citrus backed off quite a bit, but I found it overall to be a decently balanced tea. Perhaps I’m just used to non-white Earl Greys, but this cup just didn’t quite pack enough punch. I will most likely be sticking to my sweeter, citrus blossom earl greys in the future.
I will try this again in the future at a lower temp and lower steep time. So far all of my harney & sons samples have been waaay too flavorful for me, steeping less and at lower temp may help me appreciate them more.

Can’t believe I haven’t had this before. Hm. Since the white tea isn’t very strongly flavored, the bergamot really comes to the forefront and pops up in your face. This is a super highly perfumed tea. I generally like EGs but I also like to taste tea with them. I don’t think I’d choose a white EG over a black, based on this experience. Thanks for the sample, cookielady!

Overboard Traveling tea box

I’m up drinking caffeinated tea, but only because I chose to go out late and also drink a Diet Coke, so what’s more caffeine going to do what hasn’t already been done? Also, I made the mistake of going to Kmart and trying to use their e-coupons. It’s a great idea, but never works… anyway, right – this tea.

It was freezing when I came inside so I figured I should make myself a cup. Unsweetened, it’s light, a little bit floral and citrusy, though I’m not detecting anything buttery about it; its mild. I tend to like my earl grey with a bit of vanilla. Ok, a lot of vanilla, like I added cream but don’t want to clog my arteries. I’m sure my palette isn’t refined enough to appreciate the finer nuances of tea, but creamsicle tea is pretty awesome. I added sweetener, which made it a sweet citrus tea. Tasty, certainly not horrible, but I’d reach for my Argo Earl Grey Cream over this, even if this is easier and bagged and white.

1 sachet in 12 oz of water.

I don’t really drink much Earl Grey, so I don’t really have much of a comparison for this, but I do like it. It’s light and citrusy, and very pleasant overall. I feel like it would go very well with some milk. In fact, I think I’ll add some before I finish the cup… Yeah, that’s exactly what it needed to round out the flavor. I may have to start drinking more Earl Grey in the future.

I’ve gone through some ups and downs with this one—from really enjoying it at first taste, to falling dramatically out of love with it, to liking it again. And all over the course of one tagalong container, which is only 5 sachets! It is a tea that is easy to make astringent if the water is too hot, and there’s a bite from the bergamot or other flavoring that is almost peppery at times. But with more careful treatment this is still a light, enjoyable blend, and also takes a little bit of sugar nicely.

Thank you The Cookie Lady!
I love the H&S teas. Rarely am I disappointed. This is one of the few tea companies that make sachets that I like. They really seem like loose-leaf.

Dry has a light bergamot scent. I am not a white tea drinker in general so I certainly can’t pick out specific white tea flavors.

Brewed I am enjoying the gentle white tea blended with the bergamot.It’s not a strong bergamot. I love bergamot and Double Bergamot tea is a favorite. However, this lighter level of bergamot works well in this tea. This is a relaxing light tea that would be enjoyable while sitting reading or watching a favorite TV show.

Love this so much! What a delicious Earl Grey. Right up my alley. But, forget about the winter part because this will be greatly enjoyed year round.

Very bitter if over steeped. Three minutes, for me, is too long. Not as good as the black Earl Grey. White doesn’t seem to stand up against the Bergamont like the black teas can.