Dear Steepy:
Today I received my Upton Tea order. What joy! What excitement! I have to say, I think the amount of tea I ordered multiplied in the box. I surely couldn’t have ordered 18 different samples, plus a pound of tea? Something must have happened that I am completely free of blame from. Packing gnomes, or possibly a gemino curse.
So naturally, in order to combat the effects of the evil packing gnomes, I had to immediately begin drinking the tea. If I let it sit too long, who knows how many times the curse could multiply. I would quite literally be buried in tea. Obviously, I had to start with the biggest package, the 250g bag of the Season’s Pick Earl Grey Creme Vanilla.
Upon opening the bag, I get a powerful smell of lime. Now, my only other previous Earl Grey Creme expereince also reminded me of lime. I’m not sure if it’s just me, or maybe this is truly what the combination of Bergamot and Creme smells like. I’m not sure. I suppose the only real way to tell would be to take a standard EG, or possibly even a double bergamot EG, and add some cream. I may have to try this. For science, of course, not for my own personal enjoyment, heavens forbid!
Brewed, the SPEGCV gives off a delightful smell. All at once it is sweet, and vanilla, but also tart smelling. It really is a very, very lovely aroma. I think that’s part of my love with EGs in general; as polarizing as the aroma may be, it is very distinct.
The taste has a very similar profile to the smell. At first, the creamy, vanilla flavor sort of smoothly glides over your tongue, with the tangy citrus flavor in tow. The flavors are really smoothly mingled over a fairly subtle tea base. The tea is lost a little bit at first, but once the up front vanilla flavor fades a bit, the flavor finishes off as a fairly straightforward EG. The tea and bergamot just lolligagging at the end of the sip to remind you where this tea comes from.
This is sweet and dreamy. It reminds me of what I’ve always wanted key lime pie to taste like, but it’s never really lived up to. But in a tea. It’s really quite good. I am definitely going to enjoy drinking my way through this tea. And at the absurdly low price of $7 for 8 oz, it’s both supremely good and supremely cheap. Who could ask for more?
Sincerely Yours,
Buried in Tea
Preparation
People who liked this
Comments
Well… even if you are buried in tea I hope you die happily. :)
Could it be the tea gnomes sent something for your ever-charming boss? =P
Packing gnomes…….hahahaa…Buried in tea-I’ll bet I can bury myself in my own tea!
Sounds a bit like one of those ‘bad dog’ moments. :p
Anyway, I’m rather intrigued by the idea of lime. I’m not too fond of Earl Greys because I think bergamot is such a perfumed and dusty flavour, so I tend to prefer something flavoured with lemon instead. (Although that’s not actually super interesting for me either, but at least not potentially unpleasant) I am, however, intrigued by the idea of an EG spiked with lime, giving a bit of sharpness. Or just a plain lime flavoured black, really. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.
I’m not fond of most earl greys for the same reason. I can tell you with this one it smells like it’s going to be perfume-y, but the taste vanilla and citrus. The perfume I smell seems to disappear magically in your mouth. I wonder if that is the vanilla taming the bergamot.
I think it might be. I’ve had relatively good experiences with EGs that have something in addition to bergamot. Kusmi’s smoky EG is actually very enjoyable. (IF, of course, one likes smoky tea)
When I saw that you went straight for the 250g, was worried. Glad you like it !!!
It was a great pointer, thanks Cheryl! Dylan really likes EGs, so we were looking for one we could enjoy together.
Reading above, you aren’t normally an Earl fan (didn’t think I would be either). So this is one you like? or not? I’m on my 3rd 250g, since this is my morning choice. But I do put honey and creamer in. I did what Dylan did with this one, when contemplating Chocolate Earl Grey (got a tin instead of sample), and that turned out good too. The Caramel + Choc Earl = win win. Have fun with your samples!
I’m a big guy, I like buying big things. It’s probably something I should be better at… but I’m not :P
Angrboda – If you’d like, I can send you a sample! I’ve got a little bit sitting around :P. TropicalTeaCo also has a straight Lime black in their $1/oz sale. Their teas are always passable, I’ve only ever thrown one out (their vanilla chai tasted terrible, and I love both vanilla and chai, together to boot!).
This is one I like. I was a bit hesitant but the first sip was good. I was pretty surprised, since I was expecting a perfumed tea.
Well… even if you are buried in tea I hope you die happily. :)
Could it be the tea gnomes sent something for your ever-charming boss? =P
Packing gnomes…….hahahaa…Buried in tea-I’ll bet I can bury myself in my own tea!
Sounds a bit like one of those ‘bad dog’ moments. :p
Anyway, I’m rather intrigued by the idea of lime. I’m not too fond of Earl Greys because I think bergamot is such a perfumed and dusty flavour, so I tend to prefer something flavoured with lemon instead. (Although that’s not actually super interesting for me either, but at least not potentially unpleasant) I am, however, intrigued by the idea of an EG spiked with lime, giving a bit of sharpness. Or just a plain lime flavoured black, really. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.
I’m not fond of most earl greys for the same reason. I can tell you with this one it smells like it’s going to be perfume-y, but the taste vanilla and citrus. The perfume I smell seems to disappear magically in your mouth. I wonder if that is the vanilla taming the bergamot.
I think it might be. I’ve had relatively good experiences with EGs that have something in addition to bergamot. Kusmi’s smoky EG is actually very enjoyable. (IF, of course, one likes smoky tea)
When I saw that you went straight for the 250g, was worried. Glad you like it !!!
It was a great pointer, thanks Cheryl! Dylan really likes EGs, so we were looking for one we could enjoy together.
Reading above, you aren’t normally an Earl fan (didn’t think I would be either). So this is one you like? or not? I’m on my 3rd 250g, since this is my morning choice. But I do put honey and creamer in. I did what Dylan did with this one, when contemplating Chocolate Earl Grey (got a tin instead of sample), and that turned out good too. The Caramel + Choc Earl = win win. Have fun with your samples!
I’m a big guy, I like buying big things. It’s probably something I should be better at… but I’m not :P
Angrboda – If you’d like, I can send you a sample! I’ve got a little bit sitting around :P. TropicalTeaCo also has a straight Lime black in their $1/oz sale. Their teas are always passable, I’ve only ever thrown one out (their vanilla chai tasted terrible, and I love both vanilla and chai, together to boot!).
This is one I like. I was a bit hesitant but the first sip was good. I was pretty surprised, since I was expecting a perfumed tea.