Drink: Earl Grey Tea feat. Bubble Tea

Chatime drinks
Image Ngoc L.

Sorry about the delay, been busy and busy with a few clutches with my internet connection, but here's the new entry.

Some time ago, I was quite into Taiwanese bubble tea, and I would at least drink once a week if I happened to walk past a shop, usually going for the original milk tea with pearls (in fact, sweetened tapioca). But then I found an article on CNNGO.com and it recommended two drinks: Brown roasted green tea at Tea Time House from Chatime and Earl Grey milk tea with pearls at Gong Cha from Gong Cha.

Genmaicha
Image from Wikipedia

I like the first one so much! The taste of Genmaicha (toasted rice tea) was really rich as it really was brewed from the original Genmaicha and not from powder. Each cup of tea takes about 5 mins to prepare as sufficient time has to be given to the Genmaicha to steam, soak, press and extract. I can't say this is comparable to Japanese Chado, but it is definitely not a cup of speed tea.

Earl Grey milk tea with pearls at Gong Cha
Image from

The second one, disappointingly, isn't a really good recommendation. Despite the superior fame of the shop, Gong Cha's Earl Grey milk tea with pearls is way below par. I can't taste any of the unique flavours of the Earl Grey. Unsatisfied, I must switch on my radar for a cup of splendid Earl Grey.

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Image from wikipedia

Earl Grey is in fact " a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1806 for General Charles Grey, 1st Baron Grey,"[1] and the tea is "named after 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830s and author of the Reform Bill of 1832, who sold Chinese tea under the brand name Earl Grey tea."[2]

Bergamot Orange
Image from Wikipedia

Traditionally, Earl Grey tea is a tea blend of black tea with the oil extract from the rind (peel) of the bergamot orange. [2] However, there are other brands such as Twinings which will add other tastes into the tea.

And because of the extra tastes that is added to the Twinings's Earl Grey tea, the bergamot aroma is weakened and cannot meet my standard, so I must search for something of a much stronger and original taste.

Marks & Spencer Early Grey
Image from the-sun.on.cc

And this is my recommendation! Marks & Spencer's Earl Grey Teabags!

Addictively fragrant, rich, deep, grand yet mellow. Reasonably priced and highly presentable. Is this the best there is? I dare not say, but it is definitely a great bargain of great quality!




Vocabulary:
brew -- (vb) [I or T] If you brew tea or coffee, you add boiling water to it to make a hot drink, and if it brews, it gradually develops flavour in the container in which it was made
splendid -- (adj) FORMAL excellent, or beautiful and impressive
rind -- (n) [C or U] the hard outer layer or covering of particular fruits and foods
addictive -- (adj) describes an activity or food that you cannot stop doing or eating once you have started
fragrant -- (adj) with a pleasant smell
mellow -- (adj) smooth, soft or developed; not too sharp, bright, new or rough



Resources:
Hong Kong's best Taiwanese drinks stands serve tea you can eat @ CNNGo
http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/drink/drinks-chewy-things-hong-kong-bubble-tea-showdown-678870

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genmaicha

Japanese Tea Ceremony @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony

[1] Earyl Grey @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_grey

[2] Earyl Grey tea @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Grey_tea

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/brew_1?q=brew+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/splendid?q=splendid+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/rind?q=rind
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/addictive?q=addictive+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fragrant?q=fragrant+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/mellow_1?q=mellow+