My second review for this Earl Grey and I want to take the opportunity to speak up for it. Firstly, this size tea bag is meant for 6 oz of water. If you want more tea use more bags (or import the larger Brit version). Secondly, I’ve read some reviews that stated this is “weak”. Well, Earl Grey isn’t supposed to be a strong tea, though there are versions out there that play up the bergamot a bit more. Personally I think the balance of bergamot and tea taste is perfect in the Twinings blend.
Thirdly, there is a controversy concerning the US version of this tea was weakened in 2006 when the packaging changed (the Brit version was indeed reformulated in 2011, but that’s another pot of tea entirely!) and I want to address that.
I don’t think it was changed at all. The tea was always blended in England and prior to the 2006 package change had been packed in the US. After 2006 it was packed in England and was still blended there, hardly a need to worry there. The new packaging lists the strength of the tea as “light”, whereas before no such indicator was displayed. Perhaps the power of suggestion played into peoples perception of the taste, they were told it is a light tea and tasted it as such.
It is also possible that a bad batch of tea reached our shores in 2006/07. That combined with the new “light tea” description may account for some people detecting a taste difference. An entire blog was devoted to this “change” in 2006 – savetwinings.blogspot.com , but sadly has not been updated since 2009.
Twinings denied any change in their US Earl Grey formula at the time and never have admitted to any changes to the US blend since. I believe them because you can ask any Brit who loves Twinings Earl Grey…the company isn’t exactly shy about tampering with the blend and admitting to it when they do. www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8728913/Twinings-is-changing-Earl-Grey-man-the-barricades.html
Sorry for the rambling nature of this review but I felt this good, solid tea needed a sympathetic defense witness. lol
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Nicely put Tim! Certainly there are people who’s tastes that are too demanding and tongues as sharp as knives, but I guess its their lack of admiration for this simple cuppa. These type in particular made by Twinnings is one of many teas that got me brought me to love tea before I got began to have interests in loose leaf teas and the like. Its certainly not a bad tea and quite balanced as you described, its kinda gives a best compromise of bergamont and tea flavor without one overpowering than the other or it would be like drinking air freshener! However, it can get bitter and astringent at times possibly owing a lot of disappointment among afficianados, the main upset over teas like twinnings of course its a bagged tea which has alot of bad rep due to being of poor quality or flavor. Its an overstatement to be honest, as there are some companies who do sell bagged teas that uses fannings or a combo and still puts out darn good teas!
Twinnings , Numi, Tazo, and stash continues to make good teas despite all the upset against bagged teas, its a matter of subjection as definitely loose leaf teas can also be not good as the bagged teas. Things are not perfect which some people can’t get over…
The bagged vs. loose leaf debate is interesting. There are many teas that taste better in loose form, Twinings Earl Grey oddly isn’t one of them. I have tried the loose version and found it not as strong and the bergamot not as bright compared to the bags. Perhaps I got a bad tin? I dunno.
Nicely put Tim! Certainly there are people who’s tastes that are too demanding and tongues as sharp as knives, but I guess its their lack of admiration for this simple cuppa. These type in particular made by Twinnings is one of many teas that got me brought me to love tea before I got began to have interests in loose leaf teas and the like. Its certainly not a bad tea and quite balanced as you described, its kinda gives a best compromise of bergamont and tea flavor without one overpowering than the other or it would be like drinking air freshener! However, it can get bitter and astringent at times possibly owing a lot of disappointment among afficianados, the main upset over teas like twinnings of course its a bagged tea which has alot of bad rep due to being of poor quality or flavor. Its an overstatement to be honest, as there are some companies who do sell bagged teas that uses fannings or a combo and still puts out darn good teas!
Twinnings , Numi, Tazo, and stash continues to make good teas despite all the upset against bagged teas, its a matter of subjection as definitely loose leaf teas can also be not good as the bagged teas. Things are not perfect which some people can’t get over…
The bagged vs. loose leaf debate is interesting. There are many teas that taste better in loose form, Twinings Earl Grey oddly isn’t one of them. I have tried the loose version and found it not as strong and the bergamot not as bright compared to the bags. Perhaps I got a bad tin? I dunno.