Decaf Earl Grey from True Honey Teas

True Honey Teas blends its teas with natural honey granules to brew in added sweetness. This one is a decaf earl grey tea, black tea with bergamot citrus and vanilla.  I’m glad I tried this, I would not have normally added honey to my earl grey but I like this combination.

The lemon and honey are a classic combination, bright and sweet in equal parts. The tea is rich and full of flavor despite being decaf, and the vanilla pumps up the honey smoothness.

True Honey Teas are perfect for those of you with a sweet tooth, or those who love honey in their tea. The dried honey granules give you a way to store your tea dry, pre-sweetened. Definitely worth a try if you are curious. A fun new take on earl grey.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: True Honey Teas
Description:  24 Decaf Earl Grey Tea Bags With All-Natural Honey Granules

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Lady Grey from IndiasTea. . . .

It’s hard to pin down exactly what makes a tea a Lady Grey blend.  I believe Twinings tea company first coined the term, making a citrusy earl grey tea without powerful bergamot oil.  Either way, Lady Grey blends tend to be earl-grey-inspired teas blended to be a bit more gentle or ladylike. Lady Grey from India Teas certainly fits into that category.

While this blend has bergamot oil in it, it is at much lower levels than your average earl grey. Instead of the intense bergamot, this tea is accented with lemon peel and orange peel, making for milder and gentler citrus tones.

The leaves and the brewed tea had a fragrance of lemon-vanilla, reminding me of lemon poppyseed muffins. The tea is bright and pleasant, but not overly sweet, still preserving some of the citrus pop of traditional earl grey.

Brewed, the leaves appear much greener than when they are dry.  I’m not sure exactly what type of tea leaves are used as a base, but the flavor and color lead me to believe it is a darjeeling, or less oxidized tea.  The more delicate leaves suit the airy lemon peel flavors and ladylike theme.

Lemon is the star player in this blend since there is no black tea tannin richness to overpower it.  This Lady Grey is light and drinkable, a sunny lemon brew with just a little grounding to distinguish it from an herbal tea.

This is a delectable alternative to powerful earl greys, and might just be your new favorite citrus tea for cold brewing as the weather gets warmer.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: black
Where to Buy: Indias Tea
Description:

Not to go by its name, Ladygrey Tea is a modern creation so as to appeal to every age groups with its distinctly citrus fragrance.

Ladygrey Tea is a Tea blend which has been flavored with the addition of oil of bergamot to provide a relaxing and calming effect by taking you on a only-me journey.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Peppermint Rooibos (and bergamot!) from Rishi Tea

Sometimes you need a clean and fresh cup of tea to help you relax or clear your mind.  When I needed something like that, I reached for Peppermint Roobios from Rishi Tea. This was a new tea for me, though it didn’t feel out of my comfort zone.  Peppermint and roobios: I know both of these ingredients and I know they make a fine combination.

When I brewed this tea, I read the packaging and noticed that there was another flavor in the blend as well: bergamot oil.  Bergamot is what provides the citrus flavor in earl grey blends. This little citrus pop is what makes this blend appealing for me.  It adds a brightness to the earthy red rooibos and a nice counterpoint to the cool peppermint.

This is a great naturally caffeine-free flavor for a day when you need something soothing.  The citrus-mint combination makes this much more complex and enjoyable, with lots mouthfeel sensations from the sharp citrus, cool mint, and sour rooibos.  This is a great all-purpose blend to brighten a grey day or help bring some cooling inspiration to a busy day.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Rishi Tea
Description:

Peppermint Rooibos makes a deep red infusion with a smooth, rich mouthfeel and fresh minty sweetness that underlines the finer points of peppermint. The slightest touch of bergamot harmonizes these herbs, highlighting the soothing aroma of peppermint with the sweet and silky character of rooibos.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Earl Grey Le Creme from The NecessiTeas. . . . .

 

I’m not normally a bergamot fan, but my high school partner-in-crime, code-named Tiny Salutations is, so welcome her along on today’s adventure!

This is a delightful blend that ignites the romance at first sight, and pictures don’t do it justice. Beautiful blue corn flowers are sprinkled throughout, which is a special flower that she would grow and send to husband back when they first dated. She says she’s kind of in love with this tea before even drinking it. The dry leaves need to be cross-marketed as an air freshener!

The corn flowers float to the top as it brews and lose their color becoming translucent and elegant like dragonfly wings. That initial carmel smell mellows out as well, and the brew just smells like standard Earl Grey. The combination of small tea leaves and delicate flowers mean the brew time is quick and more caffeine is released into the light amber infusion.

There is not as much flavor as color implies, so it’s great way to get caffeine if you don’t like the bitterness of the tannins. There’s a slight milky aftertaste. It tastes like a Standard cuppa black tea, but you don’t need to add any cream or sugar! (Unless you’re an absolute sugar fiend)

Upon resteeping, the tea still has some oils to give off and it has a good earthy taste but not as much caramel flavor.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Flavored Black Tea
Where to Buy:  The NecessiTeas 

Our Earl Grey Le Creme is a forgiving indulgence essenced with bergamot, vanilla and cream. Go ahead, treat yourself!

Your tea is hand packaged in an airtight tin at no additional charge.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Travel the World with #SirStuartBlackAndGreen from #Kent&Sussex Tea Co.

Sometimes I try out unflavored teas with one kind of leaf, and a flavor that all about the purity of the process.  And sometimes I try out teas that are exactly the opposite– just like today’s blend, Sir Stuart Black and Green.

This tea has both black and green tea leaves, three types of flower petals, and rich spices like cardamom, fennel and ginger.  Visually, this blend is full of diverse colors and shapes, and the smell of the dry leaf is luscious and complex.  It smells like someone lit floral incense in a kitchen, where other smells like fennel or orange peel are being mixed together as someone starts cooking.

The flowers are most prominent in the scent of the tea, with bergamot and sweet orange dominating the taste.  The flavors of the tea leaves themselves are minimal: no grassy greens and no bitter blacks.  Instead, the varied ingredients list really dominates the flavor spotlight.

As I drank the tea, more of the unexpected herbs like fennel or cardamom popped up in the taste and smell, though the ginger was slow in arriving.  I finally got some of my favorite buzzy, spicy mouthful from the ginger after I let the teabag steep beyond the recommending steep time.  Overall the blend is sweet without being cloying, and the bright citrus lingers on the tongue without being to tart.
According to Tea & Coffee, this blend is named after the well-travel Sir Stuart Cleary of Cranbrookshire.  With all the varied treasures and eye-catching beauties hidden within this tea blend, it feels like a bounty gathered from exploring the reaches of the world.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black/Green
Where to Buy: Kent & Sussex Tea Co.
Description:

Sir Stuart a fine Black Tea and Green Tea. A flavoured Tea with hints of Bergamot and Orange. Named after the explorer Sir Stuart Cleary of Cranbrookshire following a trip to the Orient. A beautiful looking loose leaf tea with magical flavours when brewed. A Fruity aroma combined with Spicy Ginger and Fennel create something special and fresh tasting. Ingredients Black Tea, Green Tea, Ginger pieces, Fennel, Cardamom seeds, Natural flavouring, Rose petals and Cornflower blossoms.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!