Loose Leaf Tea: Earl Grey Creme Black Tea
Tea Company: Teavana
Tea Company Description: A smooth and rich combination of classic Earl Grey black tea and Bergamot oil with a touch of dairy-free creaminess coming from the vanilla pieces and cream flavoring added.
Brewing Instruction: Use 1 teaspoon of tea per 8oz of water. Heat water to 195-205 degrees and steep tea for 2-3 minutes. 2oz of tea equals 25-30 teaspoons.
Ingredients: Traditional blend of Earl Grey black tea with bergamot oil, blue cornflowers, vanilla pieces and cream flavoring (dairy-free).
Health Benefits: Bergamot oil acts as a mild natural anti-depressant. May assist in lowering cholesterol/Good for the Heart. Promotes healthy teeth, skin and bones.
Review
Dry Leaf Assessment: The appearance of dry leaves is slender, wiry with fair amount of pretty blue corn blossoms. The smell of the dry tea leaves is typical for teas scented with bergamot oil.
Infused Leaf Assessment: Wet leaves are lively and luster. Corn flowers are pale in color, almost colorless. The aroma of the infused leaves is mellow, slightly creamy with definitive notes of vanilla and bergamot on the foreground.
Liquor: The color of the infusion is brown-reddish (slightly turbid, which could happen when natural flavors are used) with distinctive bergamot sweet aroma on foreground and a vanilla note in the background. The taste of the brew is slightly sweet, smooth, and medium-bodied without excessive astringency. Predominant Earl Grey profile prevails over weak vanilla-creamy palate with short lasting citrus-like aftertaste. Basically, if it wasn’t for the word “crème” in the name, I won’t be looking for those nuances, that are very well hidden. Simply, I would not call this tea “creamy”.
Recommendation: The flavoring ingredient of Earl Grey tea – bergamot oil is from the rind of the pear-shaped bergamot orange. The peel of the bergamot orange contains an essential oil that is used to flavor the Earl Grey tea. If you are an Earl Grey enthusiast, this tea is an inexpensive variation of well known scented black tea with a new twist. Earl Grey tea can be enjoyed with cream and sugar, or without. This particular blend may be enjoyed at any time.
Score: 81 – Decent
