Earl grey is second only to English breakfast when it comes to well-known tea blends. Yet, despite so many tea brands having an earl grey in their repertoire, very few get it right. The mix of floral and citrusy bergamot with a slightly brisk, refreshing black tea often gets too drying or too intense to drink the “proper” way – black with a slice of lemon.
H. R. Higgins are a British tea brand based in London, and if any British tea brand could get it right, it’s this one. Today, let’s brew up some H. R. Higgins Earl Grey to see if it’s any good. Spoiler, it is.
H. R. Higgins Earl Grey at a Glance
Izzy’s Rating
- Blend: Chinese black tea with bergamot oils from Calabria, Italy
- Flavour: Mellow and refreshing black tea with light and fragrant bergamot
The aroma of this tea is magnificent, and the flavour isn’t bad either! H.R. Higgins do an excellent job making this classic tea and it’s now one of the highest rated on my blog.
Full Review – Earl Grey by H. R. Higgins
- Type: Loose leaf
- Tea: Chinese black tea
- Additives: Bergamot oils from Calabria, Italy
- Flavour Notes: Soft, mellow, refreshing, fragrant bergamot
- Aroma: Exceptionally bright, clean, citrusy, fragrant, brisk
- Milk or Lemon: Slice of lemon
- Where to Buy: H. R. Higgins Teashop
Popping open the metal tea caddy (which is so airtight I almost broke a nail), the initial aroma is exceptionally bright. It’s clean and citrusy with fragrant bergamot, plus there’s this smooth quality that’s hard to describe. Overall, gorgeous! I rated the aroma 10 out of 10.
Once brewed, it’s just as you’d expect. The tea colour is a crystal-clear light amber and the steam swirling up is scented with soft black tea – slightly malty, slightly brisk – and a hint of bergamot. This is what an earl grey should be.
As for the flavour… yes. Just yes. It’s soft, mellow and refreshing with every sip. There’s just enough briskness to leave a drying, cleansing feel but not so much that it draws from the delightful citrusy-ness of the bergamot.
With a slice of cake (or raspberry Bakewell-inspired cupcake, as pictured), it’s the perfect afternoon cup of tea. I highly recommend purchasing the entire caddy, so you don’t run out by the end of the week!
How to Brew a Classic Earl Grey
Brew your H. R. Higgins tea in 95°C water – let the kettle cool for a minute before you pour your cup to achieve this. I used one heaped teaspoon of the loose leaf tea in 200ml of water. Let the tea steep for at least three and half minutes, longer if you want to add milk.
A good earl grey isn’t too overwhelming when it’s served black with a slice of lemon – and that’s how I prefer this tea. Add something sweet on the side and you’ll be ready for a delicious afternoon tea break.
Why H. R. Higgins?
I adore this tea brand. They really put a lot of effort into sourcing high-quality ingredients that blend well together to create a delicious tea. I’ve also heard some very good things about their coffee. You can find both tea and coffee on their website.
As you can see from my photography, this loose leaf is very uniform and is absent the little white flecks you see in other earl grey teas (like Lichfields Earl Grey). That’s a good thing. Those white flecks are a tell-tale sign of flavouring, either natural or artificial. True bergamot oils are notoriously pricey, so you know H. R. Higgins has pulled out all the stops to make this earl grey blend.
Mr Higgins sources these tea leaves from China and his bergamot oils from the Calabria area of Italy. This is what you should expect from a genuine high-quality tea brand – details of the ingredient origins.
Summary
This is a high scorer and there’s no doubt about it. H. R. Higgins Earl Grey tea is a masterful blend that pulls out the best flavours from a slightly brisk and smooth black tea by pairing it with extravagantly fragrant bergamot oils.
To buy this tea, visit H. R. Higgins website or find their brick-and-mortar store in Mayfair, London.
Tea Recommendation
Looking for another classic tea that’s perfectly executed? I’ve got the perfect cuppa. From the same brand, H. R. Higgins Afternoon Tea is a mellow, soft and more malty option for your late afternoon cup of tea. Serve it with a slice of something sweet for the ultimate satisfying experience.