Which earl grey?

[OttoRose]

Ok so this is a "drink" question rather than "food" - which brand do earl grey tea-loving MNers recommend?

I've gone off Twinings (tastes different since they shipped their ops to Poland), Clipper leaves a weird aftertaste, and Sainsbo's own brand is too perfumey.

Tea bag recs rather than leaves please as I cba with the faff of messing around with teapots & strainers etc.

I thought Twinings Eral Grey tasted different because they changed their recipe a year ago or so? They still sell (or used to) the original one on their website.

I switched to Tesco finest after Twinings changed.

winnybella how can I not have known that?!? There's a good piece here on the change of recipe. Looks like I'll have to start ordering online.

TBE - I drink industrial quantities of tea, so Teapigs are just too spendy I'm afraid.

fuckityfuckfuckfuck - as a rule I generally don't 'do' Tesco, but I might have to make an exception if their early grey is good.

Ta for replies.

I got the Co-op's finest(?) - posh own brand anyway - Earl Grey this week for the first time and it is nice. Worth trying.

I don't mind the new Twinings flavour. I didn't really notice much difference tbh but my mum told me the Telegraph was up in arms!

Well I know you said no loose tea, but after buying a bag of loose earl grey from the Exchange Coffee Company I shall never routinely drink earl grey tea bags again. The loose was in a league of its own - delicious and worth a little effort.

Taylors of Harrogate is good - bags, not loose tea.

My DH loves the Williamson Earl Grey bags. A bit pricier than Twinings and we have only found them in Waitrose

OP - I agree with MrsMagnolia. Loose leaf tea is miles better and I have only just discovered this since being given a teapot like she describes, by Bodum (called the Assam, I think). It works like a cafetiere so you have no more faff than dealing with a teabag, and there's a whole pot so if you drink a lot it saves you from constantly boiling the kettle in the morning. I'm evangelical about it.

And the answer to which tea is: rose tea. Twinings do one (in bags) but mine currently comes from Mariage Freres. I'm obsessed. Failing that, try lapsing slouching. Waitrose loose leaf is excellent.

Happy to (fail at all to) help.

Sainsbury's EG (or Co-Op, identical) til I die. I think know it has more bergamot than the others.
M&S is awful
Whittard do a loose-leaf Earl Grey Breakfast which makes a nice change at the weekend - like a posh builder's...

Loose leaf is the way to go, but I'll happily drink Taylors earl grey (tea bags) or Waitrose own brand. Williamson is nice but quite floral I think, orange blossomy.

I like the Waitrose own brand ones too. We are trying to save money and shop in Morrisons at the moment and we have got their own brand at the moment, which are OK too.

Could anyone tell me what is The problem with Earl Grey teas?
I've found them wonderful in the past but now most of them seem tasteless, sometimes they even don't look like tea, I don't know what I'm drinking! Are there brands better than others? Thank you!

I like the Sainsbury's decaf one - it tastes fresher and less dusty than Twinings. Tea Pigs too soapy (and £££). Clipper not bad.

I might get shot down here but i quite like Twinings Lady Grey. It has the bergamot but also orange and i think its quite nice

I like Williamsons ones. And Tea Pigs if you want to splurge.

Lady Hebden from Hebden Teas is the only one I touch since I bought some in York. They do mail order. I know it’s pricier, but no comparison with the mainstream brands www.hebdentea.com/shop/lady-hebden-earl-grey-orange-2/

Just get something like this, I've got one - not this one - and it's great.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIY-Total-Tea-Infuser-Ball-Pass-Filter-Tea-Infuser-Stir-Strainer-Spoon-Teacup/352231701669?hash=item5202a53ca5:g:MpUAAOSwdAxZbIVC

M&S all the way..

The best Earl Grey teas for me today are : Taylors (bags) and Sainsbury's Fairtrade (loose leaf).