Earl Grey by Arbor Teas vs. Silky Earl Grey by Teajo Teas

Today, in the second-to-the-last of our first elimination rounds, Arbor Tea's Earl Grey is going up against Teajo's Silky Earl Grey. May the best tea win!


Earl Grey by Arbor Teas
Teaware: 16oz glass infuser mug with lid
Measured dry: 2 teaspoons
Water Temperature: Boiling
Steeping Time: 4 minutesAdditives: 4 teaspoons of raw sugar





Silky Earl Grey by Teajo Teas
Teaware: 16oz glass infuser mug with lid
Measured dry: 2 teaspoons
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?

• Arbor Tea: Yes, this is a nice, smooth Earl Grey.

• Teajo Teas: Ohhhh, yes! I want to slide into this cup and float for a while! It's delightfully smooth, and definitely lives up to the "Silky" part of its name.

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

• Arbor Tea: Not applicable, this is a straightforward Earl Grey.

• Teajo Teas: The cacao and licorice notes add depth and detail, but there is no question that the Earl Grey flavors are large and in charge.

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

• Arbor Tea: This is tasty and enjoyable, but it doesn't really stand out.

• Teajo Teas: Every single sip comes with its own "Wow." From the incredible freshness and intricate layers of flavor to the delightfully smooth and supportive base, this tea is in a league of its own.

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

• Arbor Tea: Very mild and hardly noticeable. 

• Teajo Teas: There is none at all, and nothing to detract from its experience.

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

• Arbor Tea: Yes, this is a certified organic and fair trade tea from a company that uses exclusively biodegradable packaging and carbon offsets. 

• Teajo Teas: Yes, this is an organically grown, single-estate, biodynamic tea. 

Jake's Opinion: The Teajo is a spectacular blended Earl Grey, and enjoyable for all its elements. The Arbor, while a solid Earl Grey, is like water in comparison.

Lyssa's Opinion: I am so, so grateful that Tea Sipper recommended Teajo, because it has blown nearly everything else out of the water. I love the freshness, the base, and the supporting notes... heck, I just love this tea! It's kind of unfair to put it up against anything else, because it will just be too difficult to beat. The Arbor is a nice, solid Earl Grey on its own with wonderful ties to sustainability, but it just can't hold a candle to the awesomeness that is the Teajo.


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

Silky Earl Grey by Teajo Teas

Organic Earl Grey Black by Arbor Teas

Seller Description: "This organic, Fair Trade Certified version of the classic Earl Grey does not disappoint. It has the correct balance of flavoring which results in a piquant and refreshing true Earl Grey organic black tea taste. Made fashionable by the Prime Minister of English Ear Grey (1830-1834), Earl Grey is traditionally a blend of organic Chinese tea and organic India tea flavored with the oil from the Asian citrus fruit, bergamot. Ingredients: organic black tea and natural bergamot flavor."
Directions: One level teaspoon per 8oz cup of water.

Cost: $9.95/4oz

Teaware: 16oz capacity hand-thrown mug

Measured dry: 2 tsp

Water Temperature: Boiling

Steeping Time: 5 minutes

Additives: 1-1/2 tbsp Sugar in the Raw, dash milk

The only other Earl Grey I have to compare this to right now is my Teavana Earl Grey Black, so I opened them up and sniffed them side by side. Of the two, this is less sweet and more sharp. I can’t detect the slight licorice flavor of the Teavana in it, and while it smells a little more… I can only think of the word astringent, it doesn’t shout bergamot at me either. Huh. I don’t know what I was expecting, but so far this isn’t broadcasting any kind of “Wow!” factor.

Today felt like a mug morning, so I loaded a tea ball 1/2 way and steeped it for five minutes. I’m trying to get better about not over-steeping things, so I set my most annoying timer. When its shrieks brought me back into the room, I was surprised at how dark this one came out. Even after I put in a generous pour of milk, and a tablespoon or so of Sugar in the Raw, it is only the color of hot chocolate.

I did sample it before I put in the milk and sugar, and I found that its sharp dry smell had been blunted rather decisively. This tastes a lot milder than I had anticipated, and while it’s a nice and even EG I guess I’m just craving something… different. I love everything this company stands for – organic, free-trade, bio-degradable packaging – and I wanted to love their tea as well, but it’s just not grabbing my senses and sending them whirling. It’s a nice standard cup, but probably won’t be a staple.

Akasha

6/17 Update: I just made this again, fiddling with the numbers a bit to see if I could dial in a better cup, but this tea was surprisingly consistent. More leaves? Same. Shorter steep? Same. Actually, it doesn't seem to be fussy at all - this could be a solid one to take camping.

Prominent Notes: Black tea, a hint of bergamot
Aftertaste: Nothing stands out prominently.
Overall: Mild - There's no "wow!" factor