Empire Tea Services

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Recent Tasting Notes

93

Sip down. Started my day with Earl think I’ll end the work day with Earl. This one is heavy on the vanilla through the first cup but it’s a good one. The bergamot builds as the cup cools. The Ceylon base plays well with both of them.

With TeaEqualsBliss working at feeling better, I thought I would try and pick up some of the tea drinking slack. I failed miserably. I am sloshing as I walk and have not even come close. Miss your notes. Heal soon.

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93

Ok, the Zenjala Creamy Earl Grey was a sophisticated cup. The vanilla was very mild and served to tame the uncivilized bergamot. Empire Tea Services calls their version luxurious. My take on this is it is more of a frat house version. The vanilla comes screaming out of the pouch, chased by the bergamot beast in a toga. The Ceylon base is like the bass player in the band, you may not notice him untless he stops, then you realize he was responsible for the groove. There are also hints of chocolate and something like burnt caramel or sugar. This is a party in a cup and I don’t think it is intended for meditative moments. Party on.

Madeline Alyce

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to drink earl gray again without picturing Bergamot as a toga wearing frat boy! Thanks!

gmathis

You know you make me wanna SHOUT
(Sorry I’m too tired for a food fight.)

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93

I finished my work day with the tea I almost started with. This smells so luxurious. Wonderful vanilla, bergamot, and orange pieces with a smooth Ceylon base. The vanilla tastes like it has been caramelized, and the flavor flows right into the bergamot. I like the bergamot Empire Tea uses. It is a little different from most I’ve tried. I can never really pick out the orange flavor or maybe that is what gives the bergamot the unique twist. A delicious desert drink. When the sample is gone I plan to order this one.

Hesper June

Ooooo! This sounds like a absolutely divine Earl Grey! Adding this to my shopping list.

K S

Can’t wait to see your review. If I had more than a sample I would send you some.

Hesper June

Aw,thanks, you just enjoy!

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93

I love Earl Grey. I love a citrusy bergamot that doesn’t attempt to hide but doesn’t get in your face either. I love a Ceylon base. It is strong enough to stand on its own without being obnoxious. I love vanilla. There is a whole lot of love in this cup. Maybe if I looked around a while I would find something I like better… maybe… but I sure don’t feel like I am settling. If you drink this while it is really hot, it tastes like vanilla. The cooler the cup gets the more it tastes of bergamot.

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93

This is one of two samples I received during my visit to Empire Tea Services. The dry leaf is very finely cut pieces of Ceylon. Also in the mix are blue cornflower petals, and pieces of orange rind . The smell is fantastic. Very chocolate, amplified by the vanilla. The bergamot is understated in the dry scent. In the Earl Green it grabbed you before you could even open the bag.

I used a healthy scoop of leaf and 12oz of boiling water. Steeped for 3 minutes in my French press. ETS says to steep 5 minutes, but for my tastes 3 was sufficient.

The root beer colored liquor, when hot, tastes just like it smells. Chocolate and vanilla with just a hint of bergamot in mid sip. There is also a roasted note in the back of the throat. It’s not smoky, or even roasted like a charcoal firing. It is more like a burnt caramel or like the scent of roasted coffee beans. There is also the sensation of drinking warm milk.

As the cup begins to cool the bergamot comes out of hiding to take center stage but doesn’t forget it is part of a group. The chocolate/vanilla notes become Pips to the bergamot’s Gladys. Sure they can perform solo but together they are magic. The more the cup cools the stronger Gladys becomes until the bergamot nearly reaches the intensity of the Earl Green. Wow! Encore! Encore!

I was going to pass the second cup to a co-worker but I just couldn’t part with it. Yeah, it’s that good. Second cup also three minutes. Cup was half empty before I slowed down to taste it. This steep picked right up where the first cup left off.

This is a bit drying but not at all bitter. This is my first crème Earl Grey, so I can’t compare it to other blends. What I can say is this is really, really, really good. A fine Earl Grey with major yum factor. The empty cup even smells amazing. This sample isn’t going to be around long.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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86

I really enjoy this. I’ve actually drank this a few times, but I was simply too busy to log it. With that said, I’m going to continue to log what I drink, but I won’t be leaving any real notes until this black death that I’ve contracted decides to move on.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec
Ninavampi

Get better soon!!! : )

Blake

Thanks, I’m breathing a bit better today =]

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85

First of all, It’s St Patty’s and inbetween bar runs I decided to fix some tea. Consider my results skewed by the only liquid I love more than tea.

For this round I used slightly less tea, and added a touch of milk and sugar. It really makes for a far more intriguing and complex brew. As I stated before, I believe I used too much tea, but with less tea AND milk and sugar, it’s a whole ‘nother ball game. The taste I experience before was blatant and upfront. With this, there are three distinctive tastes. First you get the smoke (which is extremely subdued and far more palatable), which is followed by the milkiness, and then the sweetness brings up the rear. All in all, this is a far more enjoyable experience for me. I do wish I could be a bit more eloquent in my description, but there’s booze out there begging to be drank, and there are sober kids in China, so I must do my part.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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85

Wow.

So I’m new to teas that aren’t bagged Twinnings or something similar. I’ve grown up on standard English and Irish Breakfasts (especially the latter), with a bit of the Earl now and again. Of course I’ve had my experiences with Chai, Green, White, Mate, etc., but typical British blends in teabags is what I know. Saying this was a new experience would be a major understatement.

The smell emanating from the bag was something I simply wasn’t prepared for. I had seen Lapsang Souchong advertised as smokey, but I had no idea. It’s a cross between a snuffed out campfire and the remains of a burnt building. I can easily see this being off putting to some, but I really enjoy it. It took me awhile to place what the smell reminded me of, but I finally nailed it. Anyone who grew up with a firefighter and remembers them coming home after a run knows that smell well.

Now this is one of Empire’s Micro Blend teas, and they state that one heaped teaspoon will make a full pot of tea (32 oz) of tea. I like a stronger tea, so I used one teaspoon for one 16 oz cup. As expected, after steeping I was left with a nice dark liquid that put off a scent only slightly subdued from the bag. I normally take my black teas with a splash of milk and sugar, but I’ve decided that I’ll try a cup of all of my teas straight before reverting to what’s comfortable. The expected smokiness is immediate and unlike anything I’ve ever drank. Somehow this entire time I’d convinced myself that the flavor wouldn’t be able to match up to the strength of the scent. I have no trouble admitting that I was wrong. What’s far more surprising is the smoothness that underlies the whole affair. The smoke refuses to be ignored, but there’s a slight sweetness that sneaks in behind it, coyly hanging on to it’s coattails.

This is something I wish I would have had in the winter. Tomorrow (well later today at this point), I’ll be trying this again, but with a bit of milk and sugar. I think the next brew I’ll slightly reduce the amount of tea as well. While I really enjoyed it, it was just a bit strong.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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91
drank Earl Green by Empire Tea Services
2201 tasting notes

Sipdown, 230. Sad to see this one go! It is definitely on the reorder list… the best green Earl Grey I’ve ever tried, and I’ve tried quite a few. The biggest thing is how its not just a regular, grassy green tea that usually gets used for flavored tea bases, but a nutty, buttery lovely green that would probably be delicious on its own. Love these discoveries from tea companies that you might not expect!

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec
K S

One of my favorite Earl Greens. I have their Earl White – same bergamot but I miss the fullness of the green. The Earl Grey De La Creme is awesome but be aware the vanilla is potent in that one. Strangely I have never tried their straight up Earl Grey. Oh, and ETS’ Peach and Apricot is the best I have found to date.

Dinosara

Cool, thanks for the recommendations! I will get around to ordering from them sooner or later…

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91
drank Earl Green by Empire Tea Services
2201 tasting notes

Yum yum. I never cease to be amazed by the lovely base of this tea. So unlike your typical flavored green base! I have gotten a little fatigued on flavored greens (that aren’t florals… so mainly fruity greens), but this one is an exception. I now can pick out that this tea is full of awesome natural chestnut notes (before I described them as just nutty, buttery and even cookie-ish). I want more flavored greens like this one.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec
K S

Agreed the green base is great. I also like the bergamot ETS uses. It is no wimp and just different.

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91
drank Earl Green by Empire Tea Services
2201 tasting notes

I haven’t had this tea in a long time, which is a shame because it is so delicious. It’s rare that you get a flavored green tea with this much character. A little spiced, a little cookie-ish, a little buttery, and those flavors pair so well with the bright, citrusy bergamot. I was having a hard time trying to decide on a tea to drink this morning (nothing too fruity, nothing too floral, nothing too nutty… I really wanted a spiced tea, but I don’t really keep those around!), but this totally hits the spot.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Azzrian

Woah the way you describe it is nothing like I would have thought this one to be! Sounds really great!

Dinosara

Yeah it’s a different beast than most other greens. It is fantastic!

Azzrian

It went on my shopping list :)

K S

Wow, you described this much better than I did.

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91
drank Earl Green by Empire Tea Services
2201 tasting notes

SimplyJenW was kind enough to send me a sample of this tea when she sent the Talbott’s box. I like green Earl Greys but I don’t end up drinking them often… not for any particular reason, though. I’m almost out of the stock of green Earl Grey that I do have, however, so I guess I’m kind of on the market for a replacement. Glad to try this one!

When I opened up the pouch and stuck my nose in it to smell the tea, I was surprised. Plenty of bright bergamot aroma, yes, but also some really nutty tones as well that I’m sure are coming from the green tea. I also get the peppery notes that ashmanra mentioned, which are kind of combining with the nuttiness. It’s a pretty similar aroma from the steeped tea, but more peppery. I’m not really sure that peppery is the right word for it, really, but I can’t think of anything better. Bright, citrusy bergamot, nutty, buttery, peppery almost cookie-ish green tea.

This tea is definitely a winner. It’s clearly a high quality green base, and the flavor combos are awesome. Very similar to the aromas I described above. I agree that the bergamot is both citrusy and a touch floral, and pretty strong. The green tea isn’t grassy or vegetal at all, but nutty and cookie-ish, and the whole thing together seems lightly spicy in some way, along with being a hint sweet. This is unlike any other green Earl Grey that I’ve ever had (actually not true… it’s kind of similar to Verdant’s Lavender Earl Green without the lavender), because they are all typically generically “green tea” (grassy, green teaish) with bergamot, which is tasty but not extraordinary. This tea is pretty extraordinary. I keep taking sips and constantly being amazed by the flavor once it fully rounds out in my mouth. Definitely going on my must-have list. Thanks so much for the sample, Jen!

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec
SimplyJenW

I thought it was one you would like! It is my favorite Earl Green. (Thank you to KS for sending me some to get me hooked!)

Dinosara

Yes it was awesome!

ashmanra

I was a lucky recipient of this from KS as well. Yummy tea, and resteeps well. I think I may like this more than black Earl Grey now.

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91
drank Kenya by Empire Tea Services
4843 tasting notes

This one is still not on their website. It’s quite enjoyable. Very rich and flavorful. It has hints of malt to it and a robust quality that reminds me a bit of an Assam, but the overall flavor is much smoother than a typical Assam, and it doesn’t have the astringency of an Assam.

A very enjoyable black tea!

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89

Tea of the afternoon……
And courtesy of KS! (Thank you! I have been waiting to try this for a time when I no longer had a cold! It has taken a little longer than I would have liked to be on the mend, but I am mostly back to normal!)

This is really good. My first green Earl Grey. I really think the bergamot goes better with a green tea base than it does a black. And the bergamot in this one is the bright kind….so rather strong, but it works! This is great hot, but I think it would be very good iced in the summer. So refreshing. And so missing summer right about now…. I think I need some of this! Thanks again for the sample!

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 0 sec
K S

Glad you enjoyed it. I drink it room temp all the time. Not quite iced but it is really good that way. BTW, I have the head pounding body aching cold now. Not fun.

SimplyJenW

Oh yuck, I hope you are feeling better, soon!

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88

Thank you TeaEqualsBliss for sending me a bit of this tea.

It’s really quite a lovely green tea. Sweet and very flavorful. It doesn’t have a grassy undertone to it at all, and very little real vegetative taste. It has that smooth, sweet taste that you might associate with a green tea but without the strong vegetative note. Light buttery notes to it as well. A very pleasant Mao Feng.

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85

Backlog:

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this. This is really quite lovely. I enjoyed some last evening while watching television, very smooth, delicious and relaxing.

Kashyap

I dont’ know how you brewed this, but this is a great offering from them and a very pricey tea…don’t be afraid to use hotter brewing temps and steeping it for a long interval as this tea gets very creamy and complex with extended steep times. Enjoy!

ms.aineecbeland

The leaves color seem different than that of The Tao of Tea Ceylon Silver tea; it was to have been green tea (greenish-greyish leaf color) when I had it and tasted like honey dew melon; very milky, rich texture. Baby powder, milky smell; so lovely for a tea. There really is none nicer than Ceylon Silver…

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92

Oh wow! This is amazing. Thank you TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this! I’m loving it.

I can’t find this tea on their website, but I did find a tea called “refresh” and I think that they are the same tea. I will have to contact Empire Tea Services to learn more.

This tastes incredible. Sweet lemon-y flavor, and it does taste like lemonheads the way that TeaEqualsBliss describes. The green tea is light and crisp, and the lemon flavor is bright and yummy.

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77

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me a bit of this tea.

This is yummy. It is difficult to discern which fruits I’m tasting. It is sweet and tart at the same time, and about mid-sip, I notice a bitterness to it that is not a typical “tea-like” bitterness so I assume it is part of the fruit. It’s kind of like a fruit smoothie made with a whole bunch of fruit balanced so well that it is difficult to determine which fruits are in there, it’s like a hybrid fruit made of many different fruits.

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72

My tea of happy hour! I’ve never had a rooibos and black tea blend before, so I was intrigued to try this tea.

This is a pretty blend. Saffflower and marigold blossoms make for a very colorful mix with dried fruit, black tea, AND rooibos. The infusion is a dark, ruddy, very wine-like color with a fruity/vanilla aroma. At first sip, I do get a sangria flavor. Lots of fruit notes but it’s difficult to really distinguish what they are. Blueberry? Raspberry? Blackcurrant? Yeah, all of them I guess. And vanilla… I defiantly taste vanilla or something creamy. I don’t know if the rooibos and black tea blend makes much of a difference. I like the combination I guess. Maybe the rooibos serves to mellow the black tea a bit which helps to achieve the fruity wine flavor?

This tea is a pretty good tea and a nice start to a fun Friday night. Now off to have the real deal and some tapas :)

Edit: This tea tastes better cold than hot. I’m not going to change my rating, but it’s worth noting.

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67

Interesting, there’s no listing for this tea anymore on the Empire Tea Services website hence no product description. Hmmm…

The leaves are pretty with bright red safflowers and blue cornflowers mixed in with the black tea. The blend dry is very aromatic. The liquor is a dark copper. Flavors… raspberry, vanilla, and do I taste chocolate? There’s a floral tone as well. The body is bold with a bit of a brassy finish for my taste.

Not bad. I’m going for another cup.

Edit: I put a little raw sugar and almond milk in my second cup and this improved the flavor quite a bit. I’m bumping my rating up slightly.

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96
drank Ti Kuan Yin by Empire Tea Services
1719 tasting notes

I had to work this weekend. I was in the office all alone. I needed something interesting to keep me awake, something comforting to ease the stress, and something easily sippable to make me happy. I brewed two cups Saturday and two more today. It was a good choice. I only have enough left for one more round of multiple steeps. I have always drank dark oolongs so this is my first lightly oxidized oolong. The more I drink it the more I love it. High yum factor. Must reorder.

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96
drank Ti Kuan Yin by Empire Tea Services
1719 tasting notes

Figured out what the taste I couldn’t place was… Last night I had some apple pie with a little nutmeg in it. So Ti Kuan Yin has a hint of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Just a hint.

I mixed this tea with the earl green. It tamed down the bergamot flavoring of the earl and added its own oolong touch to the cup. My new everyday cup, worthy of the 95 I suggested in my original review

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96
drank Ti Kuan Yin by Empire Tea Services
1719 tasting notes

A semi oxidized Chinese tea rolled using a traditional method. Another sample given to me at the shop. I was told this is their most popular oolong. The dry leaf has a faint vegetive sweetness and is rolled pretty tight. The liquor is very light green, almost clear. The brewed leaf is large generally complete pieces. Poured into the cup I can see the bottom. I am so used to bagged tea, which turns the cup black immediately, that this is still freaking me out. The brew has only a slight scent. First sip is very light and semi sweet. It doesn’t taste grassy yet reminds me of a sencha. There is a kind of fruity taste, that I recognize but can’t put my finger on, lingering after the sip. The oolongs I normally drink are dark and earthy. This is very light and airy. I was in a hurry for tea this morning and did not let the water cool so there is a small amount of bitterness that is entirely my fault. Further showing my novice approach I shamefully added sweetener. The tea reprimanded me most severely until I promised never to do it again. This tea will do multiple steeps.

I am not going to assign a rating to this for a few reasons. First, it is so unlike anything I normally drink I don’t have a reference point to compare. Second, I didn’t follow proper steeping protocol and further desecrated the cup by adding sweetener. My gut tells me the quality of this product is very high but my taste buds won’t commit. Maybe they are still upset for being reprimanded? I will say this makes me want to try one of their oolongs on the black end of the oxidized scale or this tea with maybe lemon grass. Yeah, I could see me giving that a 95.

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96

Tuesday we were in Columbus Indiana, so we stopped at Empire Tea Services warehouse. Here in small town Indiana, they blend and carry 250 different teas. Mainly they are wholesalers, supplying tea for restaurants and hotels. They also do relabeling. The retail side of the business is called Tea Temptations. They don’t really push the retail side. I have tried to get them to sell samples and smaller sizes – 4 oz is just too much for most of us around here. They told me it cost more than they make from it. Others do it, so I’m not so sure, but they seem happy with things the way they are. They also have items in stock (like yixing pots) that aren’t on their website. The tiny pot I looked at was $29.

So, the tea… back in my tea bag only days, I loved Peach Apricot tea. I am not a big flavored tea drinker, except mainly Earl Grey. I am not sure why PA has always appealed to me. This stuff blows the doors of anything bag related. I was told that this has been their number one selling tea for several years. Today I am having it iced. The gunpowder tea is mainly large broken pieces with some full leaves. It stays mostly in the background. The peach and apricot share equal billing. They taste really natural to me. I can almost feel the fuzz on the fruit.

Oh, one other thing, the tea comes in decorative plastic lined waxed paper bags. It should probably be moved to something else if you don’t drink it up quickly. Admittedly, I never move it and it seems to do well. Just wanted you to be aware.

gmathis

Just the two words “tea” and “warehouse” used simultaneously…ahhhhh…

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