Earl Grey Impérial by Mariage Frères vs. Earl Grey Lavender by Revolution

Mariage Frères on left, Revolution on right

Today we have the third bout of the Battle of the Earl Greys, where Mariage Frères' Earl Grey Impérial goes head-to-head with Earl Grey Lavender by Revolution!


Earl Grey Impérial by Mariage Frères
Teaware: 16oz glass infuser mug with lid
Measured dry: 1-1/2 teaspoons
Water Temperature: Boiling
Steeping Time: 4 minutes
Additives: 4 teaspoons of raw sugar




Earl Grey Lavender by Revolution
Teaware: 16oz glass infuser mug with lid
Measured dry: 2 sachets
Water Temperature: Boiling
Steeping Time: 3 minutes
Additives: 4 teaspoons of raw sugar





Now that both cups have been properly infused, let's see how they meet the criteria!

1. Does the tea taste smooth, without any jarring notes?

• Mariage Frères: Yes, the green base blends very nicely with the bergamot and makes for a very smooth and understated cup.

• Revolution: By comparison the black tea becomes much more prominent in this cup, but it's not jarring - just more noticeable. Jake thinks he detects a slight "burnt cereal" flavor, but I think it's just part of the black blend that makes up the base of this tea and doesn't detract for me.

2. If this is a variety blend, does the Earl Grey flavor profile maintain the driver's seat?

• Mariage Frères: This is a green variety, which does mark a significant change to the flavor profile. I actually get more bergamot and mint here, and it doesn't strike me so much as an Earl Grey as a green variety.

• Revolution: This is a lavender variety, and the fresh floral note is more present in the aftertaste, which makes this the more traditional of the two.

3. Is there a "Wow!" factor? Something that makes it stand out?

• Mariage Frères: This isn't your traditional flavor profile, but it is a damn good cup of tea. The green base twines beautifully with the prominent bergamot notes, and the minty aftertaste serves as an additional wake-up call in your morning cuppa. 

• Revolution: I do enjoy the balance this tea achieves. So many lavender Earl Greys are overwhelmingly floral, but this one is so understated that I really enjoy that aspect of it.

4. How is the astringency? Does it detract from the tea?

• Mariage Frères: There is no detectable astringency - it's a very smooth and silky cup.

• Revolution: There is some mild to moderate astringency, but adjusting steeping times may help alleviate this. 

5. Does it have any special ties to sustainability, Fair-Trade, or eco-friendliness?

• Mariage Frères: None listed.

• Revolution: None listed, and their tea only comes in individual nylon mesh sachets.

Jake's Opinion: The Mariage Frères is my favorite of the two. It is a very smooth cup of tea with prominent bergamot notes. The Revolution has a more traditional profile that blends bergamot and black tea flavors together nicely, but the lavender element in this cup tastes either burnt or over-dried. That's in stark contrast to the sweetness I would expect from fresh lavender, and that I smell from the tea left in the box. This may be a steeping problem, because when this tea cools it looses the jarring notes from the lavender, but I still prefer the Mariage Frères.

Lyssa's Opinion: This was an interesting pair-up of very different varieties, and while I do enjoy both teas, I tend to prefer the Mariage Frères for the purposes of this project. I disagree with my husband's strange fixation on the lavender, and like I mentioned in the Revolution's initial review, it's a wonderfully soothing cup for evenings, but the Mariage Frères is a little more geared towards the get-up-and-go I need to help me wipe the sleep from my eyes before school.

So, the winner of this face/off is...

Earl Grey Impérial by Mariage Frères

Earl Grey Lavender by Revolution

Tealights and tea... a wonderful combination!

Seller Description: Revolution Tea's award-winning Earl Grey Lavender adds a unique twist to a popular favorite. Ceylon, Oolong and Darjeeling estate tea leaves are lightly flavored with Oil of Bergamot and combined with super blue lavender to create a wonderful, sweet tea. Enjoy Earl Grey Lavender as a morning pick-me-up or as a late afternoon treat.

Website: Earl Grey Lavender by Revolution
Sample source: Provided

A sachet of Earl Grey Lavender

Teaware: Noritake "Sterling Tide" teacup, 7oz capacity
Measured dry: 1 sachet
Water Temperature: Boiling
Steeping Time: 3 minutes
Additives: 2 teaspoons of raw sugar

Despite the caffeine I knew was loaded in every sip, I couldn't resist steeping a cup (or two!) of this tonight. We just finished our first week back with students, so I needed a little cup of calm... and the warmth of the tea was also a much-needed balm to my throat. The first week back always does a number on my vocal chords after a summer of casual conversation. I lit a couple tea lights and settled back to sooth and enjoy... or loaf and invite, if you've ever had Kim Campbell as a professor! One of her favorite poetry activities is - even now that she's teaching teachers and not middle school students - to have those in her charge physically interpret the line from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself."

The contents of the sachet

Now the business of interpreting "I loafe and invite my soul" is usually fraught with reflection, meditation, or any number of things that speak to you as an individual. For me, it's calm and quiet and often best done in starlight.

I am so glad that I steeped up a cup of this tea, because it was the perfect counterpoint. Dry, it smells nearly entirely of lavender, and fresh lavender at that. No sour perfumey notes, just the serenity of a lovely fragrance, and I think that was the clincher this evening.

The box indicated a 3-4 minute steep time, and lately erring on the side of caution has been working well for me. There is a surprisingly good balance between the traditional Earl Grey flavor profile and the lavender. The black tea and bergamot slide to the front, while the lavender dances lightly in the background. Often I will encounter teas which are skewed one way or another, but this one actually lives up to its promise.

The infused leaves

I did open one of the sachets, and I was impressed with the beauty of the tea it contained. There is a world of difference between the fannings of a tea bag and the unbroken leaves of a sachet like this.

But the elephant in the room is the nylon sachet, which does give you the experience and quality of a loose leaf tea with the convenience of a tea bag. I hope in the future that Revolution will embrace biodegradable sachet material, or offer their teas as loose leaf. It is truly the only thing keeping me from completely enjoying this wonderful tea.

It is pretty unusual for me to enjoy a cup of Earl Grey at night, but since this is so much more soothing than brisk I just couldn't let my fingers walk past it to more nighttime-friendly teas.

Prominent Notes: Black tea blend and bergamot oil
Aftertaste: Fresh Lavender

Overall: A surprisingly tasty tea