In drinking the tea I was surprised by the lightness and delicacy of the flavor.  I think I would have preferred a little more apricot flavor but all in all I thought the tea was a nice afternoon tea- something that would go well with shortbread cookies, or a light snack.  I think it is too light for a breakfast cup and not rich enough for an evening cup, if that makes sense.

The liquor is pale golden with a delicate apricot flavor which is followed by lasting notes of light vanilla.  Not theheady bourbon vanilla, but just a hint of vanilla flavor that enhances the sweet peachiness of the apricot. I do not think i would hold up well for iced tea.

I am most impressed by this tea in its ability to flavor baked goods from frosting to scones.  I am thinking of  making a mousse with it.

All of my kids are tea drinkers as you know, and all are sold on this tea.  If you like a flavored white this is a good one to try.  I do not like it as well as I like their blueberry white tea that I reviewed last year, but it comes in a close second.

Image:Amazon

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Bigelow Teas Sweetheart Cinnamon a perfect addition to a Valentine’s Day tea party.  First off all, the name is pretty Valentine’s-y wouldn’t you say? Secondly, it comes in a pretty pink packet, and third, it is sweet cinnamon flavor.

To me, all of those things together make it a fantastic way to start the morning with Rose and Cinnamon Scones.

This is not a grown up tea at all.  By that I mean that it is full of flavor that kids will enjoy as much as the adult with a sweet tooth.  You could make this tea in apple cider for a nice flavor change, it is that cinnamon-y.

I am often disappointed by flavored teas that claim to be cinnamon or whatever and yet taste primarily like black tea.  Bigelow Tea’s Sweetheart CInnamon tastes like cinnamon.

YAY!

Nice Cinnamon aroma, nice cinnamon flavor.  Just a hint of crisp apple.  I like it!

image:marye audet 2009

Post from: Kettle and Cup

I know…Lipton? What am I thinking.  I really don’t care for Lipton teas.  But lately they have come out with the silk pyramid bags, and they are trying to change their image from the family iced tea bag, and sun tea, to the tea of tea snobs everywhere. ‘

Well, I don’t think I am a tea snob but they got me on this one.  It is fantastic.

So, what am I thinking?

I am thinking that this is an awesome tea, folks.  Lipton really hit the motherlode with this.

This is a seriously delicious black tea flavored with chocolate and real pieces of caramel.  Basically you feel like you are eating a milky way bar…or, uh, drinking one.  The flavor is intense.  Creamy and sweet, but with the black tea bite.  I loved it, and will definitely be buying this again.  Soon.  The kids all ready drank all of mine. :/

This would make an awesome latte, or iced drink. Do add cream and sugar.  I know that you usually add milk to tea, but this particular tea gets very rich and creamy and flavorful with the addition of some cream.

Post from: Kettle and Cup

The poll I posted for January was, What is your favorite tea?

Earl Grey won with- 6 votes

English Breakfast- 3 votes

Herbal, Green, Oolong, White-2 votes each

Irish Breakfast, Flavored, Other- 1 each

So, what is it about Earl Grey that people like so much?

History

First of all, Earl Grey is not a type of tea, but a black tea that is flavored with bergamot, a small type of orange. Because of this, the tea can actually be very low quality with the producers using the flavoring as an enhancer.

The blend is named after the 2nd Earl Grey, a British Prime Minister that served during the 1830’s. His major accomplishment while in office was abolishing slavery in the British Isles, however he will forever be associated with tea.

Legend has it that a Chinese Mandarin’s son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey’s men and the Mandarin gifted the Earl with this special tea, flavored with bergamot oil. Another legend says that it was actually an Indian Raja that was the grateful father, HIS son having been rescued from a tiger by one of the men.

The truth of either of those stories is questionable, but Jackson’s of Picadilly, a prominent British tea company (since the 1600’s), claims to have originated the manufacture of the tea, after Lord Grey gave them the recipe in 1830. The original recipe is said never to have left their hands, all other recipes only being based on it.

Lady Grey Tea was invented because, according to some, straight Earl Grey tea caused improper impulses in women. (If you know what I mean, shove, shove,  wink, wink, say no more, eh, say no more) and it is believed that the additional flavorings curbed these unusual appetites. I don’t know how true this is either, but I DO have 8 kids, and I DO like Earl Grey tea.

Types

There are numerous types of Earl Grey now. Other flavorings are added along with the bergamot, and Adagio even has a Green Earl Grey. Some of the best one’s I have personally tasted are:

• Mrs. Earl Grey by Teavana
• Numi Aged Earl Grey
• Tea Guys Earl Grey Cream
• Earl Grey Lavender, that my tea and coffee supplier came up with for me personally.

If you want to see reviews on numerous, and I do mean numerous Earl Grey Teas check out Tending Toward Tea

Earl Grey Tea Drinkers in Fiction

• Jean -Luc Picard
• Bruce Wayne
• James Bond
• Frasier
• Piglet
• Bertie Wooster

London Fog

London Fog is a drink made with Earl Grey. It is most often made with whole milk, but I like it best with half and half or full cream. Why? Because I am depraved when it comes to things like cream and butter. I like the luxury of it!

Steep 1 Tbs Earl Grey in 1/2 c water. Strain and add it to a warmed cup. Pour steamed milk or heated cream into the cup to fill it and add 1 tbs vanilla syrup. Sip while reading Carry On, Jeeves by P.G.Wodehouse.

Post from: Kettle and Cup

This is one of my new favorite teas. I don’t really know what I was expecting..“chocolate and strawberries with a spicy twist. Blend consists of crushed cocoa, apple bits, strawberry pieces, chocolate bits, safflower petals, and crushed chili pods.”

I dislike chocolate teas, but when I was in the store and the cover came off this cannister I knew I was taking some of it home. Chocolate…spice..something…it was undefinable and I needed more.

So I did…took some home that is. I made a cup…and tasted it. The chocolate is the primary flavor but not regular chocolate..not like Hershey’s or something..Definitely not a sweet chocolate taste. This was a deep, intense bittersweet chocolate that was enticingly married to, but not overpowered by either the tea or the other flavors.

I think this is going to be something you will love if you like intense flavors, and chai. It is not a light afternoon sipping tea but more of a robust, sitting by the fire and warming up tea.

This is a tea for drinking on it’s own. It’s flavors are best experienced on their own.

Post from: Kettle and Cup