Name: British Earl Grey Flavored White Tea
Brand: English Tea Store
Type: White tea, flavored
Form: Loose leaf
Review: For those who enjoy the flavor of bergamot but crave a lighter, cleaner tea during the summer should enjoy this offering from the English Tea Store. This is a “white” Earl Grey, blended from Pai Mu Tan white tea and natural bergamot oil. The subtlety of the white tea and the crisp citrus flavor makes for a wonderful summer beverage.
Pai Mu Tan (also known as “white peony”) is a “new style” white tea made from minimally processed tea leaves. It produces a light-bodied, yellow-green liquor with a sweet, slightly fruity flavor that reminds me a bit of green apples. In combination with the bergamot (which is applied with a light hand), these qualities create a tea that is astonishingly good served either hot or cold. I’ve long been an advocate of white peony teas as a gentler alternative to fierce black breakfast teas: Sometimes I want to wake up slowly, and a cup of this tea would be a perfect way to do so. It is also a wonderfully soothing afternoon tea.
I strongly recommend this tea: A delicious, unusual blend sold at a very reasonable price.
Serving Tips: Like many white peony teas, British Earl Grey Flavored White Tea is more subtle in flavor than black teas, but more substantial than traditional silver needle white tea. I recommend serving this tea on its own or with simple foods, such as cucumber sandwiches. Do try it as an iced tea: It is absolutely delicious and very refreshing.
Preparation Tips: Because this tea leaf is both large and fluffy, it can be difficult to consistently measure. I recommend weighing out the leaf on a gram scale and using about 3 grams of leaf per eight ounces of water. Cooler water will result in a sweeter, fruitier tea as well: Take the water temperature down to 185F and steep for three minutes for best results.
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Pingback: Review ― British Earl Grey White Tea from The English Tea Store « Tea Blog