Tea Blog

Name: Earl Grey Supreme

Brand: Harney & Sons

Type: Black tea, flavored

Form: Silken tea bag

Review: A good Earl Grey can be hard to find. So many companies cut corners on Earl Grey, using only cheap black tea and then covering up its deficiencies with a heavy dose of bergamot oil. Fortunately, the good folks over at Harney & Sons decided to do things a little differently when it came to designing their “supreme” Earl Grey.

First they began by actually blending some high quality black teas, and then added some Ceylon silver tips (white tea) for a bit of sweetness. An examination of the tea bag clued me into the fact that this isn’t your standard Earl Grey: The leaves are relatively large for black tea, and the various hues remind me that this is a real blend of real tea, not a bunch of bulk leftovers.

They then finish the blend with a restrained amount of bergamot, which results in a fine cup of tea indeed. The bergamot is more quality than quantity: Nothing harsh or perfume-y about it, but it does make its presence known. Yet the real star of Earl Grey Supreme is the tea itself: This blend of black teas and silver tips makes for a robust yet extremely smooth brew that meshes well with its citrus notes.

Preparation Tips: Normally I would advise preparing an Earl Grey with boiling water, but since this is a decidedly refined tea, you may want to bring the water temperature down to 200F just to be safe. Don’t let the tea steep too long, either. 2.5 minutes should do the trick.

Serving Tips: Earl Grey is generally a good food tea, so feel free to serve it with most meals. At the same time I would advise trying this tea on its own, at least the first time you drink it. It is such a satisfying cup of tea, with many nuanced flavors, and it would be a shame to miss out on appreciating them.

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