What Does Earl Grey Tea Taste Like? A Citrusy Delight

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Earl Grey tea is one of the most popular black teas the world over. Whether you are trying it for the first time or looking to explain the flavor of this magnificent black tea to others, we have you covered.

What Does Earl Grey Tea Taste Like? Earl Grey Tea has a smooth citrus flavor from the oil of bergamot blended with the bold, malty flavor of the black tea. There are also some subtle floral notes that make the tea even more drinkable.

Read on for a deeper look at each flavor note in this incredibly popular black tea.

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The Earl Grey Tea Flavor Profile

The flavor profile of Earl Grey tea is one of the more complex ones for black tea.  That’s mainly due to the Bergamot oil that is infused in the black tea leaves. keep in mind that these are the flavor notes that I taste when I drink my Earl Grey tea. 

You may have a very different description of what you taste and how strong it is. No two people are really going to taste the exact same thing when it comes to a cup of tea. So with that in mind let’s check out the flavors of the incredible Earl Grey tea.

The Flavor Of A Malty Black Tea

The first thing we need to talk about when it comes to Earl Grey tea is that it is Black tea.  that means it’s going to have a very bold malty flavor as the basis for the entire tea.

There is really no getting around it this is going to be a very strong cup of tea.  If you’re not a fan of black tea then you’re probably not going to enjoy earl grey tea because the base of the entire flavor profile is a nice malty black tea.

However, it’s the other flavors that really combine to make this one of the smoothest black teas that you’re going to taste. It’s the smooth flavor with very little bitterness that really makes it one of the most approachable black teas. 

Earl Grey tea is a great place to start if you are new to drinking tea or want to introduce someone to some very flavorful black teas without a lot of the bitterness that sometimes comes along with it.

You also get a woodsy Nutty flavor that comes with most black teas.  This is really what makes the black tea bold and strong and gives it almost a caramel flavor it doesn’t quite approach the boldness of a coffee but among teas is really one of the boldest flavors you’re going to find this side of Pu Erh Tea.

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Earl Grey Tea Has Sublime Citrus Flavor

Now we get to the part of the flavor that makes Earl Grey and what it is.  The multi black tea flavor is the base of the tea but it is not what makes it unique. For that, we have to look at the oil of Bergamot fruit.

This is a citrus fruit that is kind of like an orange mixed with lemon, lime, and a little bit of grapefruit. It’s this flavor that makes Earl Grey tea so beloved. What it brings to the table is a subtle citrusy flavor that helps smooth out the bold black tea taste.

That’s why Earl Grey tea is one of the smoothest and most drinkable black teas that you’re ever going to find. The Citrus flavor in Earl Grey tea isn’t an overwhelming one. 

It’s not like adding a bunch of lemon juice to your tea. It’s a very subtle and Rich Citrus flavor without a lot of the Tangy or sour note that you get with regular lemon juice. Although many people do add lemon juice to their Earl Grey tea I don’t find it necessary is I love the citrus flavor just the way it is.

A Slight Floral Flavor

Another thing that I find interesting about Earl Grey tea is that there is a very subtle floral flavor to the tea. I’m not sure it’s something that everyone is going to pick up on but I distinctly taste it whether or not that’s my imagination or not I’m not sure.

But it’s a nice subtle floral flavor from the Bergamot I would imagine.  It leaves a nice friendly after taste in your mouth after you’ve taken a sip of your Earl Grey tea. It’s quite a pleasant floral flavor without being overwhelming or taking away from the other flavors of the tea.

The Aroma Of Earl Grey Tea

The aroma of Earl Grey tea is just as wonderful as the taste. You get a hint of the black tea when you smell the loose-leaf Earl Grey tea or an Earl Grey teabag. But what really comes through is the Bergamot oil. You get a nice citrusy Aroma that is incredibly strong.

When you combine that with the floral Aroma that also permeates from this wonderful tea you get one of the best smelling teas you could possibly imagine.

The smell is so potent two times that you can almost taste the Bergamot oil in the air. When you smell the steam coming off the tee you get that wonderful Aroma as well and it just stands as a precursor to the delicious tea that you’re about to drink.

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Adding New Flavors To Earl Grey Tea

Personally I don’t think that Earl Grey tea is a great option for blending with other teas. It just is too strong and tends to overwhelm the flavors that you’re adding in. That said there are a couple that you can try and see how you like it. Here are just a few examples of flavors that would work well with Earl Grey tea.

• Cinnamon
• Vanilla
• Lemon
• Lime

These flavors can enhance the earl grey without overpowering it and are strong enough to stand up to the bold flavor of the Earl Grey tea itself. They are dozens of other blends you can try but truthfully it is a great tea all by its lonesome.

In addition to these flavor blends on the list, you can always add the traditional milk and sugar to your tea to make it that much smoother and add a little bit of sweetness to it.

This is pretty much the most common way to drink Earl Grey tea, but I always recommend trying your tea out with nothing added to it.  that way you can tell whether or not you actually like the tea itself before you start adding new flavors on top of it.

The Earl Grey Tea Finish

To call earl grey tea iconic is a huge understatement. It is one of the quintessential black teas. Known and drunk around the world. In the west, earl grey tea is particularly beloved, especially in Britain.

Earl Grey Tea is a great entry point into drinking tea. It is a smoother black tea than most other out there and is particularly delicious without adding sugar or milk, although those are very common additives to this wonderful black tea.

Now that you know what to expect from Earl Grey tea it is time to try it for yourself and see how you like it.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

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