Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Direct Link to this Tea: Raspberry Earl Grey
Product Description:
Treat yourself to a flavorful cup of organic raspberry earl grey tea. The citrus of traditional earl grey and juicy fruitiness of raspberries team up in this fabulous tea and are a force to be reckoned with. Organically grown, raspberry earl grey offers a fuller and purer taste that will have your taste buds thanking you. The citrus of bergamot oil and sweetness of raspberries complement each other perfectly. Wonderfully warm for a chilly winter evening or coolly iced for a hot summer day, raspberry earl grey is great for any occasion. This sweet and full-bodied tea is great for kids and adults alike. Enjoy your organic raspberry earl grey and spoil yourself every day of the week.
black tea, raspberry and bergamot flavor
Taster’s Review:
This is AWESOME!
I think by now I’ve made it perfectly clear about how much I adore Earl Grey. Bergamot is one of my favorite tea flavorings, and I am thrilled when I find twists on the classic Earl Grey.
This “twisted” version of Earl Grey incorporates the bright, sweet-tart flavor of raspberry with the traditional bergamot flavor. The raspberry flavor is the dominate flavor, a fact that might make some people question why I love it so much since it’s bergamot that has captured my heart. But the combination and balance works so well with this blend.
The raspberry tastes genuine, like a fresh berry that’s deliciously sweet and has that tingly berry taste at the finish that lingers long into the aftertaste. And while it is slightly stronger than the bergamot notes, the bergamot is not overwhelmed. The bright, citrus-y tones of the bergamot are pleasantly tangy and give this cup a very vibrant appeal.
This cup is neither all about the Earl Grey nor is it all about the raspberry. I like that both flavors are distinct. The black tea is not to be overlooked here, either, as it is incredibly smooth and gives the cup a very well-rounded flavor.
I recommend this Raspberry Earl Grey to lovers of Earl Grey and to raspberry fans alike … this tea will knock your socks off!
Jasmine White Tea Classic from Shang Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Shang Tea
Product Description:
Ingredients: Organic White tea leaves, Jasmine flowers- Antioxidant Rich
Artful and exquisite, combining our high quality white tea leaves with jasmine blossoms. Harvested in warm weather when the tea leaves grow quickly and form sweet, tightly-formed leaves.
Taster’s Review:
I know that I’ve said this before: I love jasmine tea. I love it so much that I even bought a Yixing Tea Mug especially for my jasmine teas. Using my Yixing Mug gives a sense of special ceremony to the jasmine tea – and I love that with each use it is becoming more “seasoned” (perhaps I should say “infused?) with the flavor of jasmine.
Occasionally, I do come across a jasmine tea that I don’t really like. Fortunately, that has never been the case with Shang Tea: They continue to surprise and impress me with the quality of their teas, and especially their jasmine scented white teas.
This Jasmine White Tea Classic is absolutely heavenly. The aroma of the dry leaf is perfect – lightly fragranced with the sweet, beautiful scent of jasmine and just a hint of fresh white tea. This translates to the bouquet of the brewed tea as well as its flavor.
The flavor is sweet and subtle. The white tea is – as expected – quite delicate in flavor. Likewise, the jasmine flavor is also quite soft in flavor. What I am finding most enjoyable here is that while the flavors are rather quiet, they are not lost or watery in any way. They are in perfect harmony.
The jasmine is sweet yet possesses that hint of sharpness that is distinctly jasmine. The white tea has a fresh, airy taste to it that reminds me of the taste of the air upon a snow-capped mountain. Fresh and exhilarating without being too assertive. It’s the kind of flavor that makes me sit back with a smile of satisfaction on my face.
If you like jasmine – you really MUST try the jasmine offerings from Shang Tea. You may just find your new favorite!
American Classic Rockville Raspberry from Charleston Tea Plantation
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Charleston Tea Plantation
Product Description:
Whether you brew by the cup or the pot, tea lovers will enjoy the subtle nuances and fresh-from-the-farm flavor of full leaf loose American Classic Teas. Reminiscent of a bygone era, our Rockville Raspberry tin contains 1.6 oz. of flavored premium black tea.
Taster’s Review:
There aren’t a whole lot of teas grown in the United States. In fact, to my knowledge, the Charleston Tea Plantation is the only commercial tea farm in the continental United States. So I feel very privileged (and even a little proud!) to be able to try this tea.
The black tea base is remarkably smooth. There is very little astringency to the tea. There is a slight starchiness that is somewhat drying toward the tail end of the sip, but it isn’t “pucker-y” like some other teas astringent quality, and even that slight dry feeling is, indeed, slight. It is a rich tasting tea, bold but not particularly aggressive in this cup.
Which is just fine! I like the way the raspberry flavor reveals itself here. The flavor is sweet with just a bit of berry tartness that lingers in the aftertaste. It isn’t overwhelmingly “fruity” – this is a black tea that has been gently flavored with the essence of raspberry. It isn’t overdone or too sweet. It is just right.
This is a tea that is delicious served hot – it’s perfectly cozy on a chilly day like today. But I suspect it would make an even better iced tea! A light drizzle of honey or agave nectar will bring out some of the more delicate flavors of both the tea and the raspberry, but, it really isn’t necessary. It’s quite delicious without, too.
I like this one a lot!
Earl Grey Tea from Joy’s Teaspoon
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Joy’s Teaspoon
Product Description:
The embodiment of the finest English tea.
In 1833, Earl Grey, the Earl of Howick Hall, at that time British Prime Minister, suspended the price monopoly which the East India Company had over the tea trade with China. The originally pure Chinese tea was lightly flavored with bergamot oil. This additional fragrance, provided by the Chinese, was intended to protect the tea from the taste of mold and tar which could arise from the long voyage at sea to royal England. Now, you’ve learned a little something!
Ingredients: black tea, natural bergamot flavoring
Taster’s Review:
I can’t begin to describe the JOY that comes over me when I am offered an opportunity to taste an Earl Grey tea that I’ve not yet tried. I get almost giddy and sometimes I even start dancing the happy dance. Yes, I love Earl Grey that much.
For some, Earl Grey may not be that incredible because, as the saying goes “Earl Grey Teas are like…” well, never mind, I probably shouldn’t say that here. But, basically, everyone (that is, nearly every tea company out there) has got at least one Earl Grey tea. Some of them have several!
But, after having tried so many Earl Grey teas, I have learned that not all Earl Grey teas are created equal. And, interestingly enough, after trying so many Earl Grey teas, I have yet to grow tired of trying one that is new to me.
This Earl Grey from Joy’s Teaspoon is delightful. It has a nice balance between black tea and bergamot. The bergamot flavoring is strong, but it does not oppress the delicious black tea base. It is a brisk, flavorful Earl Grey that takes well to the addition of milk and honey – if you want it – but also tastes wonderful without it.
The bergamot here tastes like bright, tangy orange with just a hint of a floral quality. It doesn’t taste overdone nor does it have that cheap perfume kind of taste to it. I know that I’ve said this before, but this is one of the very best Earl Grey teas that I’ve encountered.
Very little astringency to this cup, which is surprising, because I’ve come to expect a little more from Earl Grey. It’s a nice surprise, though, and I think it is one of the main reasons why I am finding this Earl Grey to be so remarkable. There is no bitterness, just a clean, vibrant taste of black tea and bergamot.
This is a great example of the classic Earl Grey, one that Earl Grey aficionados would want to not only try, but probably adopt as one of their tea cupboard staples. As this is the first tea that I’ve tried from Joy’s Teaspoon, I’d say it’s a very encouraging sign of what I have to look forward to from this new company! Well done!
Classic Earl Grey from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Product Description:
Classic Earl Grey is blended with Chinese, Indian, and Sri Lankan teas and is enhanced with a touch of natural bergamot oil. The character is distinct with a citrus flavor.
Taster’s Review:
This is a very well-crafted Earl Grey!
It is not often that I come across an Earl Grey that is as well balanced as this one. The flavor of the bergamot is strong – but the black tea is just as strong and the two compliment each other well without competing with one another.
The black tea base is brisk and bold. It is a toothsome black tea with a deep, complex flavor. There are notes of malt and even some distant spice notes in there! There is a light astringency to this – lighter in astringency than I ordinarily experience with a citrus flavored tea – and no bitterness. A very delicious blend of black teas!
The bergamot is fragrant and crisp. Citrus-y tart but also pleasantly sweet. This has very few floral notes to it – the bergamot here prefers to exhibit its citrus tones rather than its flowery qualities which is perfectly fine with me. It has a clean, authentic taste to it. It doesn’t come across as perfume-ish. Just delicious.
This is an Earl Grey that would work nicely as a hot or iced tea, although I generally prefer my Earl Grey teas hot … with just a tiny drizzle of honey, if you please! I don’t usually add milk to my Earl Grey so I didn’t here, but it should take it very well if you prefer Earl Grey with milk. A good “anytime” tea, this Classic Earl Grey from Butiki!