Tea Review #1: Double Bergamot Earl Grey
For several years I have been an enthusiastic tea drinker. I might be a Southerner, but I still enjoy hot tea. In December last year I was in Seattle for a conference. I had some free time, so I did a little sightseeing with a friend. We walked down Post Alley not far from Pike Place Market, and we stumbled upon a small tea shop called the Perennial Tea Room.
After you walk through the door, there are shelves on the left side of the shop with tea cups, tea pots, and other accessories. I regret not getting a tea pot or a cup. On the right side are shelves with canisters of tea leaves. I looked at a printed list of the teas that were available. I was mostly interested in the black teas, and I saw Earl Grey Extra. It's an Earl Grey with extra bergamot. Earl Grey is one of my favorites, and I thought I would really enjoy the extra bergamot. I bought 4 ounces, and went about the rest of my day.
I tried it as soon as I got back home a few days later. I wanted to try it right away, but I didn’t have my tea strainer or empty tea bags with me. I really must get in the habit of keeping my tea accoutrements with me when I travel. To be precise, here's my setup:
Filtered waterAbout 1 heaping teaspoon of tea leaves
1 teaspoon of coconut sugar
20 ounce Yeti tumbler
Whole milk to taste
Pinch of salt
The total amount of water and milk is about 16 ounces. I use a stainless-steel tea strainer to hold the leaves, and I steep the tea leaves for 3 minutes. I’m sure that a few people will raise their eyebrows when they see that I add a pinch of salt, but please hear me out. I do that, because it takes away some of the bitterness. Some people might like that bitterness, but I like to neutralize some of it.
This blend is a clear winner for me. It has become my new favorite, and it's now what I go to most often in the morning. It has a smooth round taste, and the extra bergamot gives a bright citrus punch. I have noticed that adding too much milk muddles the flavor of the bergamot. It would probably taste fine without milk at all, but I always add milk to any black tea.
I'm currently running low, so I will be ordering more soon. This tea shop has several other teas that I plan to try in the future. I expect I will write more reviews for those too. If you’re ever in Seattle, I suggest you stop by the shop to look around. The employees are friendly, helpful, and willing to answer questions or offer recommendations.