I had been resisting the urge to write about tea for quite sometime. Forgive me if I’ve bored you with this post.

Ever since my brand new coughing ailment, my dependence on tea has quadrupled. When you are sick, you become aware of what you find most comforting. I have become very picky about what I eat and turn to comfort foods for consolation. Maybe, it is time for me to list my favorite comfort foods. I probably will soon. This one is about my favorite Earl Greys.

Even as I say Earl Grey, I can feel the piquant tea with its strong pleasant aroma of bergamot gracefully passing over my tongue.

I don’t often drink Earl Grey in loose format. My laziness deprives me of loose tea anyway, but the tea bags are quite refreshing. And if there is such a tea that lends itself well to tea bags, it is Earl Grey. Here are my favorites (not in any particular order).

Mighty Leaf: Organic Earl Grey

One of the smoother, less sharp Earl Greys I have had. I would recommend it to anyone who is not a big fan of the strong muskiness of bergamot. It’s elegant and definitely worth trying. The tea bags look lovely too. They are individually handcrafted, transparent biodegradable pouches that give you the feeling of drinking loose tea.

Note: I also recommend Mighty Leaf’s other tea pouches. Their loose teas are fantastic as well.

Harney and Sons: Winter White Earl Grey

Made with Chinese Mutan White Tea, it has a nice sweet taste to it. It’s not very astringent, but the medium intensity of bergamot gives it a rich fragrance. Again, like Mighty Tea, it comes in beautiful transparent sachets that look quite impressive.
I am yet to try Harney's stronger Earl Grey Supreme blend, which is part of their premium tea lineup, but, I’ve heard great things about it.

Note: I’ve tried some of Harney and Sons’ other classic teas and tea blends and really enjoyed them too.

Bistro Ceylon Tea: Black Tea Earl Grey

One of the richer Earl Greys I have had. It is a medium-bodied black tea, with a good amount of bergamot. It comes in a fascinating metal stick form, the theory being that normal filter paper used in other tea bags absorbs brewing colloids or flavor carriers from the tea, and cause a loss in quality and aroma. I drink my tea with a spoon of sugar, so the teastick makes a good stirrer as well :)

Note: The company also sells really cute sugar cubes and sticks . I bought the chocolate flavored ones and use them in coffees and hot chocolates.

Twinings: Earl Grey

One of my older favorites. It has a slight lemony aftertaste to it, which gives it a nice bright and refreshing taste. The bergamot is not overpowering. I only wish it looked as pretty as my other tea bags. The white filter paper is probably what causes the thin layer of white froth on top of the tea, but that doesn’t bother me. The taste is just delightful.

Note: If you like citrusy teas, try Lady Grey, which blends bergamot, lemon and orange in black tea and is sprinkled with corn flowers. It’s quite energizing.

Two Leaves and a Bud: Organic Earl Grey, Full-Leaf Ceylon Tea & Bergamot

The description on the box says "robust", but it is the lightest Earl Grey I have had so far. It is not in the least bit tangy, and has a certain floral fragrance to it, although it is supposed to have just Ceylon Black Tea and Bergamot. I really wonder how they manage that. Again, like most brands in this list, they come in transparent bio-degradable sachets and hold full leaves, which gives it the flavor of loose tea.




Tazo Earl Grey Tea

This is my fall back in Starbucks, when I am not in a mood for white chocolate mocha. I really like it. It's strong, it's robust and has a certain smokiness to it. Like Two Leaves and a Bud, this too has a nice floral fragrance, but has a a strong citrusy flavor in addition that makes it rich and wholesome. From experience, I have learnt not to brew it for too long. A few quick dips for 30 seconds should do.

Note: Tazo has one of the coolest websites I have seen. I go there often just to admire the design and have shared the link with a lot of my friends and colleagues. Also, try Tazo's assorted tea box. It has a good assortment of some of their classic premium teas blends. Finding a good assortment box is usually hard and disappointing, but Tazo plays it safe and sticks with the classics for most part.

Williamson Tea: Earl Grey Tea

For a tea that claims to have nothing but bergamot, it has a unique floral flavor and fragrance, but is so subtle that it only augments the taste of bergamot. I would almost consider renaming it white jasmine earl grey tea!

Note: I was in the kitchen making myself some tea, when my colleague commented that I have a "lovely perfume on me" and asked what it was. I said, I don't remember. Lacoste perhaps? And he said "oh no, wait. I think it is the tea you are drinking!"

I strongly recommend drinking Earl Greys hot and black, with a teaspoon of sugar if you like.. even with a slice of lemon. They say it’s splendid with milk and honey, but I am not a big fan.

I am told Earl Greys are often made with low quality black tea, because manufacturers believe that the strong flavor of bergamot masks the inadequacies of low quality tea. But, I find that a good grade tea makes a noticeable difference. To begin with, it has less tea detritus, or dust., which releases tannin (an astringent) quickly and makes the tea taste harsh. The material of the tea bag too impacts the taste. The regular white filter paper decreases the aroma and the quality. The silk and nylon bags help with a better brew quality. Enviromentalists prefer silk to nylon because of health and biodegradability issues.

If you love Earl Grey or any tea for that matter, check this website out. It has a plethora of information on Earl Grey, lots of tea reviews and recommendations of places to have tea in. It's awesome!