Twining's Earl Grey Tea

[Kaych]

Hey guys, I just took a photo of my and my brothers' Christmas gift for our parents, the Earl Grey tea floral collection along with the classic from Twinings. Unfortunately, as I found out, Twinings sells a different formulation internationally than they do in the UK. As their CSR wrote, "the difference between the international market and the UK market is that tea drinkers in the UK prefer a stronger taste then their international counterparts. So the taste between these two blends will vary." My parents had been complaining about this for years, so we decided to order some directly from the UK. Lemme just say, if you though the shipping costs for pens were bad...

 

Without further ado:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6551003783_d4dcc6b5ec_b.jpg

[osnofian]

Cool stuff!

Next time you need something shipped, just ask Shouldn't be more than 10 quid I guess... Of course the ratio between the cost of the tea and the shipping is a bit problematic...

P.S. - Try the Fortnum and Mason blend next time, it's awesome!

[RayMan]

Earl Grey is my favorite. I prefer strong tea. Never knew we weren't getting the strong stuff here in the states, but I let it steep for quite a while.

[JefferyS]

I used to drink Twinings Earl Grey, and then Twinings Ceylon. But the local stores all stopped stocking bulk tea, as nobody but FP users would buy it.

[Ghost Plane]

Here in the States, try Tazo's version. Noticeably stronger.

[opus7600]

I had no idea we were getting cheated over here. I have mobilized my FPN ally on the other side of the pond to obtain this mythical strong tea.

[floydee1]

Interesting, living in the UK, I had not realized there was an export lighter version.

Interesting still,in the UK, Twinnings also make a lighter morning/breakfast tea called Lady Gray.

Edited December 28, 2011 by floydee1

[Kaych]

Cool stuff!

Next time you need something shipped, just ask Shouldn't be more than 10 quid I guess... Of course the ratio between the cost of the tea and the shipping is a bit problematic...

P.S. - Try the Fortnum and Mason blend next time, it's awesome!

 

Twinings ships internationally at cost, so it would probably be the same. Although, they do ship by DHL, so regular parcel service would probably be cheaper. But can you send food by Royal Mail? In any case, thanks for the offer, I'll keep it in mind next time!

 

I had no idea we were getting cheated over here. I have mobilized my FPN ally on the other side of the pond to obtain this mythical strong tea.

 

I personally only find it a hint stronger. My mom on the other hand says it is a noticeable difference. There definitely is a more pronounced bergamot flavour though. And the scent is much nicer.

 

 

Interesting, living in the UK, I had not realized there was an export lighter version.

Interesting still,in the UK, Twinnings also make a lighter morning/breakfast tea called Lady Gray.

 

Lady Grey is probably just the international version mixed with lavender.

[Lacrimosa]

I love Twinings Earl Grey! I never heard of a second version though... I let mine steep for a very long time too so I am hopefully getting something similar. Great packaging on the four other flavors! I will have to order those.

 

Interesting, living in the UK, I had not realized there was an export lighter version.

Interesting still,in the UK, Twinnings also make a lighter morning/breakfast tea called Lady Gray.

 

Lady Grey is probably just the international version mixed with lavender.

 

From the tea bag box:

 

"A fragrant, bright & light black tea scented with bergamot & citrus notes of oranges and lemons"

 

I personally like the normal Earl Grey better then this stuff, but it isn't bad at all.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Lacrimosa

[liapuyat]

Lavender Earl Grey! First time I saw anything like that. Thanks to your pic, I shall look for it.

 

Stash Tea (based in Oregon) has a premium Double Bergamot tea, which is very nice, if you can't get the UK Twinings Earl Grey formulation. I discovered it from a local coffee shop in Manila.

[beak]

Dear Earl Grey drinkers - do any of you take it with a little milk? it may surprise many that some of the poshest people around do just that. The 'lemon only with EG' is, IMO, a silly rule, and I don't know where it comes from - does anyone?

[JohnS-MI]

Dear Earl Grey drinkers - do any of you take it with a little milk? it may surprise many that some of the poshest people around do just that. The 'lemon only with EG' is, IMO, a silly rule, and I don't know where it comes from - does anyone?

 

 

I take tea with my tea, but everyone else should have it just the way they prefer. However, it seems to me the bergamot flavor might conflict with the milk more than most teas would.

 

 

Is this "weaker flavors for export" generally true for Twinings or just their Earl Grey? I'm not fond of bergamot, and not a big Earl grey drinker. I drank Russian Caravan for decades until they discontinued it in the US. I also like their Irish Breakfast, Prince of Wales, and Gunpowder Green (about the only green tea I will drink).

[opus7600]

Dear Earl Grey drinkers - do any of you take it with a little milk? it may surprise many that some of the poshest people around do just that. The 'lemon only with EG' is, IMO, a silly rule, and I don't know where it comes from - does anyone?

 

Yeah, me too. Though now that I know it's not proper, I'll probably continue doing it just out of spite.

[PaulT00]

Dear Earl Grey drinkers - do any of you take it with a little milk? it may surprise many that some of the poshest people around do just that. The 'lemon only with EG' is, IMO, a silly rule, and I don't know where it comes from - does anyone?

 

I'm not a great Earl Grey drinker - preferring something with a bit more 'oomph' generally - but on the occasions when I do drink Earl Grey it is invariably with a dash of milk.

 

There has been some controversy in the UK over Twinings Earl Grey blend - apparently the old tried and true recipe was changed a while back, with many long-term fans of the original being up in arms at the "undrinkable" new blend. Must admit I haven't tried the new one myself though.

[Kaych]

Dear Earl Grey drinkers - do any of you take it with a little milk? it may surprise many that some of the poshest people around do just that. The 'lemon only with EG' is, IMO, a silly rule, and I don't know where it comes from - does anyone?

 

Both my parents do, but I prefer just plain black! Which is funny because I can only drink chai tea lattes, and not chai by itself.

 

 

Is this "weaker flavors for export" generally true for Twinings or just their Earl Grey? I'm not fond of bergamot, and not a big Earl grey drinker. I drank Russian Caravan for decades until they discontinued it in the US. I also like their Irish Breakfast, Prince of Wales, and Gunpowder Green (about the only green tea I will drink).

 

I'm actually not too sure...you'd probably have to email them. But they do have a substantial number of teas in their "International Range". I'd assume that they too are weaker, or else why bother creating a different line?

[pen2paper]

these threads! *

But, after pricing the Twining's today, came home with Tazo assorted.

Milk? really? what about sugar?

*Last time, a Very expensive chocolate taste test

[JefferyS]

I'll try some Earl Grey with CoffeeMate in the morning.

[kestrel]

 

Is this "weaker flavors for export" generally true for Twinings or just their Earl Grey? I'm not fond of bergamot, and not a big Earl grey drinker. I drank Russian Caravan for decades until they discontinued it in the US. I also like their Irish Breakfast, Prince of Wales, and Gunpowder Green (about the only green tea I will drink).

 

When I was in college many years ago I kept a stash of up to 15 different Twinings teas on a closet shelf. Most of those seem to have been discontinued (anyone else remember Indian Breakfast Tea?) and most of what is sold in US stores today seems inferior to the the versions sold on the UK market. I do, occasionally, order loose tea direct from Twinings but the shipping is very expensive. With shipping included I can usually get better prices for comparable (or superior) teas from Mariage Freres.

 

Peets has a Russian Caravan that is very similar to the no longer available Twinings version. Usual disclaimer applies to all brands mentioned.

[Ghost Plane]

+1 for milk AND a sugar cube, unless someone's gifted me saffron sugar. In that case, it's sugar only as milk kills the lovely saffron taste/aroma.

[DRP]

I may be committing some great sin here but go ahead and bring this up, anyway.

 

Have you ever tried Earl Grey as iced tea?

 

Purists may want to cast me into a pit of snakes, but Earl Grey served over ice on a hot summer day is pure refreshment!