Twinings

Ruby red tea with strong flavors and cinnamon goodness.
I am not sure how this is so uber relaxing but it was very much my go
to tea when I was working my previous job. Happiness in a cup

I’ll admit, although I’m pretty sure I’ve had this in the past, it’s probably only ever been with lots of milk and honey, and never without.

At any rate, yuck. I’m reminded of Sinister’s tealog concerning it, and Captain Picard (I am a Trekkie myself, although I did tend towards Voyager—I was a fan of the Doctor), and specifically the quote “watery slurry” which is Twining’s Earl Grey.

I didn’t make it particularly hot—I need to replace my kettle, I really do—but before that, the bags smelt deliciously of Earl Grey. Sniffing the wet bag, and the tea, all I could smell was overpowering bergamot. When I sipped it, that’s really all I could taste. Water and strong bergamot. Now, bergamot is bitter, like grapefruit, but the bitter that I tasted seemed more like the kind you get when you go to take the zest of something and cut too deep into the pith.

I don’t know, just my thought.

The tea taste was watery and way in the background. I tried to add some honey, and it helped somewhat—the tea is slightly more noticeable, but overall still very… I don’t want to say yuck again, because it wasn’t horrible.

However, it did give me a thought. Earl Grey scented cologne. Anyone? Interesting, eh? I remember seeing a how-to for green tea perfume somewhere. I’m sure it could be adapted. It’d give me something to do with the rest of the teabags. Although I’ll try drinking this again when I can get the water hotter.

Today I drink this tea in the afternoon without anything adding in it. For this tea, I prefer the one with milk.

As you may have noticed, I haven’t updated a lot lately, and I will tell you my reasoning: unless I find something particularly interesting the following times I drink something, I most likely will not log it. May give the impression I don’t drink much tea. More like I require VARIETEA. (Har har, look at my pun.) cough Anyways.

Waking up with a cup of bagged Lady Grey, because I needed something light and citrus-y to fill my nostrils and taste buds! It’s very forgiving on steep times and temperatures, and I drink it straight because it never strikes me as bitter or too bold. Personal preference would normally lead me to Irish Breakfast, but this is a lazy morning that requires the power of tea and fruit in one cup, rather than soothing milk that will paralyze my senses until I am prepared to realize that I am, in fact, quite conscious. Today, I am off to Sotheby’s with my college twin, so I have to look lively!

Described as having an exquisitely honeyed aroma and a light fragrant taste of ripe green muscatel grapes – this tea does not disappoint. I could see where Twinings were coming from with the aroma, but to me it was more soft straw than honey. Taste was subtle; almost Champagne like in terms of a light but focussed taste. After hints of grapes, just as described on the box. A gorgeous tea to be drunk in the finest of china cups. Black – no sugar and served just 3 minutes into steeping.

Contrary to popular belief, I do drink bagged teas. Twinings has a few that I drink. I do like Lady Grey, it has the bergamot of an EG and lemon and orange zest. Sometimes in the mornings I’m so groggy that its very hard to make loose leaf tea so I use a bag. Lady Grey is mellow, tasty, not bitter and little to no astringency. I really like it.

Lazy rainy day this morning, so its tea bag time. This is one of the better teas from Twinings and its mellow and smooth. You can taste the citrus and bergamot. Its a nice bagged tea.

In a big hurry this morning so I broke out the teabags. I was up watching the US vs Canada olympic Hockey game so only got about 6 hrs of sleep. This is a nice tea with a lot of flavor. I keep it in the cupboard.

This is a much lighter version of Earl Grey with lemon and orange added. Its actually very easy to drink and very light. My wife likes this tea so I thought I would try it this morning and I am pleasantly surprised. I like the stronger EG’s, but I really enjoyed this tea.

Didn’t brew to a very strong flavor. Pleasant after meal ginger cup.

Another tea that I absolutely adore. I like this one with sugar and milk, and I think that Twinings makes the best Earl Grey around.

This is currently my favorite tea. I got my first box as a raffle prize at a friend’s Halloween party. When it’s sweetened properly, it has a really nice bite from the ginger. I also like to warm my milk in a small bowl placed on top of the cup while the tea steeps. I find it stays hotter longer that way, as I tend to add more milk to Chai teas than any other tea.

Added 1/26/2013: WOW! I’ve started splitting this half and half with milk and water for brewing. It takes a little more time, but I heat up the milk separatly and only fill the tea cup half way with boiling water to brew the tea. I let it steep for longer than usual (about 10 minutes or so) to get the spices nice and strong, then add the hot milk and sweetener. I don’t do it this way every time, but when I have the time to make it this way, it’s even BETTER! Still my absolute favorite tea!

P.S. I sent a couple bags of this to a friend in New Zealand. He and his mother LOVED it, but they can’t get it in their grocery stores, so now I’ll have to send them each a box! :)

One of my favorites by Twinings. Sweetened with either white or raw sugar, and a bit of milk. I love how light it tastes.

Sure if you need a chai and you are locked up in Morrisons with a cup and kettle, go for it. Very smooth for commercial appeal but has no passion! My fav’s (Biochai and Palquin and even CS) aren’t afraid to slap you in the face with flavor & let everyone’s nostrils know what you are drinking. But if you want mellow, nothing wrong with the twinnings.

Its nice to be back home and drinking a tea that I’m very familiar with. I guess vacations have to end some time. After the trip I think that I-95 through the northeast should be banned. Traffic was horrible and on a Saturday. Now on to the tea. Twinings Earl Grey is one of my favorites, I think it has the perfect mix of tea and bergamot. This is a very nice tea for any time of day.

I had to have Earl Grey this morning. I’m thinking its a plus that my favorite EG is also one of the most inexpensive on the market. It’s also one of the easiest to find. My parents drank this and so do I. I’m really used to the taste and its my favorite so far. Many of the EG add too much bergamot and others don’t add enough. I’m still looking for the perfect Earl Grey and until I find it this one will have to do.

This is my favorite Earl Grey. They have been making it forever and it stays the same. I know what to expect with this one. That and the fact that my parents drank it. I drank this as a child so naturally it feels like home and brings back many pleasant memories.

Time to get back to my beginnings. I grew up with this tea in my house and it brings back memories of times past for me. This is my favorite Earl Grey tea and I have drank many many other brands and I always come back to this tea. Its perfect, the tea, the bergamot, its just all perfect. I always have this tea in my house. If you say I’m biased towards this tea, I would say that your right, I am. Its very smooth and mellow, no bitterness or astringency, Its a perfect Earl Grey.

Having my EG this morning. I don’t know why this is my favorite EG, it just is. I have tried many others but I just keep going back to the one. Its not overpowering like some and the price is right on. For me, perfect.

I really like this tea. It starts my morning out right. Just the right amount of everything.

Decided to have my EG this morning and I always have this in my cupboard. Its my go to tea thats always there for me with the same taste that I love. Maybe I love it because I’ve drank it longer and more often. It makes no nevermind, it makes me happy in the morning and gets my day off to a great start. I don’t like a heavy bergamot presence which is why some of the other EG’s turn me off.