Earl Grey tea is a classic flavor that I absolutely adore.  Unfortunately, too often, I find an Earl Grey that is either too saturated with bergamot flavor that it leaves an overtly heady, repugnant perfume-y taste on my palate, or there is not enough bergamot to satisfy my liking for it.

Bergamot is a difficult flavor to perfect in a tea because it is such a thin line between not enough bergamot and too much.  That is why I generally prefer cream type Earl Grey teas, because the addition of the vanilla essence helps to soften the sometimes overwhelming bergamot presence.

However, with this Tippy Earl Grey from Golden Moon Tea, no vanilla is necessary, because it is an absolutely perfect balance between bergamot, tea, and the softest hint of lavender.

The aroma is fantastic.  The bergamot orange possesses such an amazing scent that reminds me of a strong citrus combination of lemon, grapefruit and a tree that is filled with orange blossoms, warming in the hot California sun.  When it is blended with lavender, the resulting fragrance is magnificent.

If it’s at all conceivable, the flavor of this tea is even better than the aroma suggests!  The black tea base used here is of the highest quality and as the name suggests, very tippy.  It has a smooth, rich flavor that is strong enough to not be overpowered by the presence of the bergamot, yet mild enough to not overwhelm the balance of flavors.

And as I just stated, the amount of bergamot is absolutely perfect.  It is not so pungent that I feel as though I’ve just accidentally sprayed my tongue with a mist of perfume, but at the same time, it is pleasantly present with its extraordinarily delightful flavor.  It’s in there!

The lavender is very soft in this blend.  It is an excellent addition, though, because the union of the sweet, floral essence of lavender and the unique properties of the bergamot create a flavor profile that transcends the ordinary Earl Grey blend.

Golden Moon Tea describes their Tippy Earl Grey as

It’s difficult to improve upon a tea so revered as Earl Grey. But we believe we’ve done so, in creating a Tippy Early Grey that takes the traditional and adds layers.

To start, the base of our Early Grey contains substantially more tips than others. This requires meticulous plucking, and lends a unending complexity to your cup.

Then, we add not just the traditional oil of bergamot, but fresh, fresh lavander that blends sublimely with the citrus of the former.

All real reasons many open-minded connoisseurs of Early Grey claim that Golden Moon’s Tippy is the best Earl Grey they’ve ever sipped.

This is a tea that is fabulous consumed either hot or chilled, bearing in mind that the chilling process does mute some of the flavor profile… the flavor is still rich and smooth when it has been chilled.  I do recommend a light hand when sweetening this tea, as it does possess its own charming sweetness that can be beleaguered by too much additional sweetener, although a small amount of sweetener (I used a sprinkling of raw sugar) does highlight the flavors nicely.  For a creamy taste that’s out of this world, try adding just a little bit of half and half (just the tiniest splash) and you will be rewarded with a truly unique latte.

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