Oolong Earl Grey

So I did my usual Thermos-and-travel-mug thing for work today, but forgot the travel mug, so I stopped at McD’s for a muffin and large Earl Grey, so I could have something to drink out of for the rest of the day. And, besides, I enjoy the Higgins & Burke Earl. I finished my large H&B, and then refilled my cup with this Oolong Earl.

It was like going from one of those “chocolate flavoured confections” you get half-price after Easter, to a real Lindt bunny.

I am in love with the Red Leaf Earls. There is nothing like them for depth of flavour. A two minute steep and hours later, it still knocked my over with scent and flavour.

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tea! Yay for Oolong … Yay for Earl Grey!

I’m liking this a lot. The Oolong is a Formosa Oolong, which has peachy undertones and I like the way they accent the flavor of the bergamot. It tastes light and crisp, lighter than a typical black Earl Grey would taste. It has a diaphanous taste to it: not as solid as the background in a black tea (because this is an Oolong), but, it is smooth and sweet and quite nice.

I think this may have been the only EG oolong I have ever had. If I had others…I can’t recall them at the moment. I will say this is quite impressive. I was hesitant not because I don’t like an interesting EG but because I was wondering just how it would work with an oolong. This is really amazing tho! It’s everything you would WANT in a EG and awesomely done with an Oolong! It’s one of the darkest infused oolongs I have ever tried liquor-color-wise but the over all experience was quite special. I will say I am a fan!

This was the first Earl Grey variant I encountered that didn’t taste like something other than Earl Grey. Most bergamot-scented alternates have a flavor “like” Earl Grey, but still retain some of the trappings of whatever base was used; a White Earl Grey still tasted like a white, a Honeybush Earl Grey still tasted like honeybush. With bergamot. Good but not Earl Grey.

This was an Earl through-and-through. So much so that I didn’t even taste the Formosan oolong base. Jasmine flowers were added to this as well. Why? I dunno. But they add a mild floral touch to the bergamot…but only minor.

It’s a splendid afternoon Earl. I should know. That’s when I had it…in my pajamas.

Full Review: http://www.teaviews.com/2010/11/30/review-red-leaf-tea-oolong-earl-grey/

I agree that this might not be an EG but the experiment is fantastic, although sometimes I’m an orthodox with EG. It’s woody, straight up without any sweetener or milk. Perfect amount of bergamot.