I’m a coffee drinker and hardly ever drink tea. Almost all South Africans drink Rooibos tea which, as far as I know, is only produced here. And only in one specific area of our country. Now I see Earl (or is it Earle) Grey tea mentioned a lot on the forum. What makes it so special? Is it only the bergamont flavouring or are there more in this tea? I want to try it but would first like to know from all the ladies and gentlemen, members of the jury, why you recommend it. I thank you
Earl Grey is wonderful. I think it is the Bergamot that makes it so appealing (especially to snuffers). Rooibos is wonderful. A tea shop in town imports it directly from SA. Last time I was at the shop a lovely couple from SA was there… drinking Rooibos!
An interesting assignment. Hmm… In part, the Bergamot aroma is very soothing in a way that few (legal) things are. It’s similar to a fine liqueur in some respects. Very complex, especially when no sugar is added. A little spicy, with sweet sour and bitter notes. From what I’ve heard, it should be taken in moderation as it can be somewhat toxic in large amounts. Green Tea with Jasmine, or the elusive Magnolia Oolong are equally rewarding, in much the same manner. Then there’s Lapsang Souchong that tastes a lot like Garrett’s to me. I also enjoy Rooiboos. It’s a nice way to wind down when Caffeine could get in the way of a good night’s sleep.
I don’t think Early Grey is anything special. I’m more a green tea type of person. I’ve had rooibos, but there’s another SA tea I prefer. I’ll probably butcher the spelling, but I believe it’s hoenigbos. It’s called Honeybush tea in English, which is a direct translation from the Afrikaans word I’ve just mangled. It’s like rooibos, but more flavourful.
Earl Grey is good, because that’s what Picard likes!! 
I think I’m attracted to SP’s because of my enjoyment of Earl Grey tea. I haven’t gone searching for an eclectic Earl Grey though. I’m happy w/ Twinings, or Stash but I must put milk in it. Just a bit though.
But remember there is Twinings ‘Lady Grey’ it’s flavoured with orange, lemon & bergamot. This I love the best. But then I’'ll always go for the ladies.
I have not seen the Lady Grey. A question for our British friends, is Twinings looked down on since it is a very commercially available tea?
@ csokes4; No, in fact it is hard to find in some parts of the UK It is a tea to be supported by elite. That’s me of course.
I like Jackson’s of Piccadilly loose teas. I haven’t seen it in awhile, though.
anyone else always take milk with their tea?
About the only way I can chug down PG Tips is with milk. Twinnings stopped making my favourite years ago, when they discontinued Queen Mary Tea. It came in a robin’s egg blue tin. Anyone remember it?
It was a second flush Darjeeling and wonderful stuff. Probably got too expensive to sell at a reasonable price.
wickedkitchen, I love a bit of milk in my tea. I don’t know anyone else that does. I hear in England it’s common to drink it like that.
Just reading this after posting about some tea in another thread. I recomended my favorite tea merchant. Here I will post the link: Harney & Sons I order from them about once every 4 months. I buy my favorites in bulk bags usually, and the odd tin to try out. (You’ll surely fine some quality second flush darjeelings there too, snuffgrinder) @Pieter: Bergamot is the predominate scent in Earl Grey tea. But like “Jockey Club” or “SP” its a non-proprietal name so every company has one (or several) versions of it. I drank Earl Grey and almost nothing else for about 4 years and eventaully dropped it as my “all day tea” to explore all the nuances of the different black teas. I do have the occasional one, and did today. It is very refreshing and stimulating and should be tried at least a few times. also @shikotono: my wife bought a bag of a green earl grey today, so such a thing exists. We shall see if it holds up to my needs. Greens too, have many nuances and are rather delicate, however I find my needs for strong flavors (and caffeine) only allow me to indulge in them occasioanlly. Rooibos is also very niceon occasion and around some tea folks has earned the nickname “red tea” however there is a green version of this as well which is what you might be talking about. I don’t do milk in any of them. Sorry. @snuff head: I was indirecty breast fed on Twinings Jasmine. My mother always had a cup of that in her hand. Can’t get it these days, so she drinks Harney’s too, like me! :0)
Fortnum & Mason offer good English-style teas. As well as Earl Grey they produce Queen Anne, Royal Blend, Regents and Piccadilly blend the latter of which makes excellent iced tea. http://www.fortnumandmason.com/Fortnums-Famous-Teas,361.aspx The best tea brew that uses considerable quantities of milk are the varieties of Masala Chai spice tea or Char. I make my own using fresh spices. It is particularly enjoyable during the long dark months of winter. This to make 4 cups/16 cups 5 cardamom pods /20 pods ½ tbsp grated ginger /2 tbsp 1 tsp ground cinnamon or ¼ cinnamon stick / 1 stick 5 black peppercorns /20 peppercorns 2 cloves / 8 cloves 4 tsp black tea /16 tsp I also make herbal teas using in varies combinations dried leaves of the following: Nettle (only young leaves) Blackberry Raspberry Mint Rose hip Rosemary Such teas may be bought online or at certain shops, but making it yourself is much more satisfying, cheaper and brings out the hunter-gatherer instinct.
@shikitohno Honeybush tea is “heuningbos tee” in Afrikaans, also called “blom tee” - flower tea - by some people because only the flowers of the bush are used for tea. Rooibos and Honeybush tea are wild growing plants. Before I go to bed, I always drink a cup of herbal tea which is a blend of rooibos, honeybush tea and chamomile. Chamomile = Matricaria recutita, Rooibos = Aspalathus linearis and Honeybush = Cyclopia spp. When I was a kid, people looked down on you when you drank Rooibos because it was known as the poorman’s tea. It was very cheap then. Today it is exported all over the world and is very highly rated as a health enhancing drink. Many babies, who are allergic to milk, grow up on rooibos. My wifes drinks nothing else but rooibos tea. Ladies wash their faces with it and babies are bathed in it. But…I don’t like it! I will get myself some Earl Grey today, I might like it because I just love my SP snuffs.
Rooibos becomes much more palatable with a drop of honey in it.
In south Texas we have a wild Lemon bergamot plant, that i collect every summer, and infuse my loose leaf black tea with. Utterly amazing!!!
@Pieter: That’s what I get for trying to bastardize Norwegian into Afrikaans, although for some reason I got it into my head that it was honeg or honig in Norwegian, when it’s actually honning. I do rather like that. I find the rooibos to be kind of bland unless there’s something else brewing with it, but a lot of times what they add to it brews faster than the rooibos, and winds up tasting bad by the time your rooibos is at all noticeable. I also go more for the loose leaf teas, since they’re often somewhat more fresh, although not always. They usually turn out cheaper though, especially if you know you like something, and buy in bulk.