Professor Grey

Ok, so I’m one of those people whose ears perked up when they heard complaints that this tea tasted smoky…. because I like smoky tea! And what did I purchase in one of my post-Christmas Della Terra orders? A Try Me pack of this tea!! :D

Upon opening the packet of tea, it definitely smells smoky. Of course, my tastebuds started watering…

Awwwww yeeaaaah! This is great! Guys, if you have a sample of this and don’t like it…. waves This is delicious! Like a smoky cream earl grey. Nuts, I would have probably picked up more of this had I known (or maybe I did… Steepster is down right now so I can’t check the tea description, so perhaps it’s even listed as a smoky EGC. Either way, yeah, this is really lovely. The smoke isn’t harsh, probably tempered by the cream, and the bergamot is subtle enough that I think even a bergamot-hater like Sil might find this enjoyable. :P Either way, I’m really dying to read all the other reviews on this and see if I’m the first person to write a positive review… because I can see anyone who likes smoky flavours enjoying this tea!

[Hmmm… I see that there’s supposed to be chocolate here? And no mention of smoke? How very odd.]

I don’t understand what went wrong with this tea. I bought it expecting a chocolate and cream Earl Grey. Instead it tastes like a slightly sweet lapsang.

The other disappointing thing is that listed on the bag is black tea, bergamot oil, and chocolate. There’s also a ton of sprinkles of various types in here but they aren’t listed. There’s also some weird dried small flower I guess? There is chocolate in the form of very small chocolate chips.

And it does taste smoky. I don’t like it. And it isn’t what I ordered. No chocolate, not really any bergamot either.

Just wanted to edit this to note that Della Terra brought it back according to their FB page and properly marked it this time. It DOES contain lapsang souchong, and I’m pretty disappointed that they didn’t feel the need to say anything about that anywhere in the description? Black tea is one thing, lapsang is like, another thing entirely if you’re a person like me who can’t stand it.

I’ve properly labeled my bag now and I’ve stuck it in traveling tea box A so if it gets to Sil with it still in there, hopefully it can find its way then to Kittenna LOL or if anyone else gets it along the way it has two warnings of containing lapsang souchong.

As some Steepsterites know, either some false advertising went on with this tea or it was just an honest mistake. I’m personally not a fan of smokey teas so the Lapsang souchong surprise isn’t a pleasant one for me. This was also sold as a chocolate EGC, but I don’t really taste any chocolate in this. Yes, there are mini chocolate chips but the smokiness is covering that up.

There is also a fair share of colourful sprinkles and silver dragées, so consequently, you’re left with a reddish-orange skum ring on the surface.

Without any additives, it’s a lighter Lapsang with a weak bergamot note. I added some coconut almond milk in hopes of drowning out the smoke. What it left me with is black forest ham. I’m not even joking. I’m not really a fan of red meat as it is, so a tea that tastes like it is a bonus right there.

Why did this have to happen?

Smokey chocolaty bergemont oily TERRIBLE earl grey tea

I know a lot of people are upset with this one because it’s smokey, but honestly, I have to say that I enjoy it. I wasn’t sure at first, but now that I’m revisiting it, I’m definitely liking it. I’m a little disappointed that it isn’t what I expected, but I do enjoy it for what it is.

I decided to try it with milk this time, to see if it brought the chocolate out any more. The red sprinkles make the milk look really odd. There’s a faint bergamot, with the smokey flavor upfront. There’s definitely more of a creamy milk chocolate flavor that I couldn’t taste much without the milk. I still don’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t like smokey teas, but I’m really enjoying this one now.

I tried to find instructions on how to brew this tea on Della Terra’s website, and I think they discontinued it since it wasn’t there anymore. Probably the best idea…

Now, the dry leaves look very pretty: black tea leaves, chocolate bit, red sprinkles, shiny pink sprinkles, and silver orbs. With the way the aroma smelled and the flavor tasted, the tea – well – resembles lapsang souchong. I expected it to smell and taste like their other chocolate teas, but it instead smells and tastes like smoked black tea. Bizarre. Totally bizarre. Either that or my taste buds are out of whack.

ETA: Been procrastinating on editing this note. A while back I was browsing Della Terra’s website and noticed they were selling this tea until they officially ran out. In the ingredients list, they listed not black tea – like they did on the label – but lapsang souchong. (smacks forehead) Doggone it, I tasted smokiness when I first tried the tea and couldn’t…just couldn’t! >_< I wasn’t able check the website when I bought the tea to make sure what base was used. My credibility as a tea taster just went back down to level zero.

Anyway, now that I know why it tastes smokey, I’m more forgiving. Professor Grey needs to be steeped for 60 seconds, 90 seconds at the most – otherwise the lapsang overpowers the chocolate. Still can’t taste the bergamot. It’s decent.

(head-desk)

Since there are no notes or ratings I thought I’d whip one up quick before my meeting! I tried this first with almond milk and german rock sugar and did not like it, not much earl grey and NO chocolate. So they other day I tried it with nothing added, which is how I typically drink my tea and it was much better. I got the bergamot, though not much it was still there, and the chocolate is like a melted hershey kiss kind of taste and smell. It’s an interesting combo, I don’t think I would reorder this but I love the name and it’s such a fun idea!

Okay, so I don’t know what happened with this tea. When I smelled the dry leaves, they smelled kinda funny, not really like earl grey or chocolate. I thought it would change when steeped, but the smell got stronger instead. It smells like smoke. I’m not sure what kind of smoke, but smoke nonetheless, and not in a good way. I could not really taste any bergamot or chocolate. I thought maybe it would get better as it cooled, but as I kept sipping, I decided I hated it and dumped out my cup. I have never dumped out my cup before! I feel so bad, because I love the other Della Terra Teas I got, but I guess this one isn’t for me. I really tried!

LOL, I should have read reviews before buying this but I lucked out because I like it. Not an EG at allllll. It’s very lapsangy and smells SO GOOD and cedary like a sauna. Mmmmmm.

It’s also full of junk?? I opened the bag and was like HUH. They put the wrong tea in & mis-labeled? There are shiny silver balls and sprinkles and chocolate chips and flowery bits and and and???? Not very Professory, I have to say. But it smelled lapsangy, so I thought: STILL A MORNING TEA! :D?

And it is very good. The DT lapsang I have kinda hurts my tum a bit? I have to reeeeally be in the mood. But this one is gentler so I can see having it more often.

But it is NOT an EG. Bergamot is AWOL.

This reminds me a lot of my beloved Upton Imports Baker Street Afternoon Blend in that there’s a delicate floral element, probably from the bergamot, laced up with the smokiness, a combination that’s somewhat unusual and to me quite beguiling. The chocolate combined with the smoke makes one think of keemuns like Hao Ya, but there’s no trace of bitterness here. Really yummy afternoon tea break sort of thing, good with a cookie.

I like it a lot! If you’re in the mood for a very bergamot-y standard-tasting Earl you’ll be disappointed, but if you like either of those aforementioned teas you may enjoy this. I definitely did.