Best Earl Grey Tea: Classic and Creamy Bergamot Blends
Updated How we research
Harney & Sons Black Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea, 4 Ounce
Harney & Sons' Black Earl Grey loose leaf tea in a 4 Ounce pack, from a well-regarded American tea house.
Twinings Earl Grey Tea, Loose Tea, 7.05 oz Tins
Twinings' Earl Grey loose tea in 7.05 oz Tins, a classic British Earl Grey in larger tin packaging.
Earl Grey is a black tea flavored with oil of bergamot, a fragrant citrus that gives the blend its signature perfumed, slightly floral lift. This guide is for home tea drinkers who love an aromatic classic and anyone exploring variations on the theme. Beyond the traditional version, you will find creamy Earl Grey with added vanilla, Lady Grey with extra citrus, and lavender-scented blends. When comparing, look at the quality of the black tea base, whether real bergamot oil is used rather than harsh artificial flavoring, and how balanced the citrus is against the tea. Whole-leaf loose blends usually taste rounder than bags. It brews well straight or with a little milk, so pick a style that matches how strong and fragrant you like your cup.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 6.0 to 8.7 out of 10.
- Best overall:Harney & Sons Black Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea, 4 Ounce. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.7/10.
- Also great value:Twinings Earl Grey Tea, Loose Tea, 7.05 oz Tins. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:English Tea Store Earl Grey Tea - 16oz Loose Leaf Black Tea, Scented with Real Bergamot Oil. Build and materials score of 7/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:Earl Grey Loose Leaf Black Tea - 100% Certified Organic - 1LB Pouch, 16OZ Resealable Kraft Bag. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Harney & Sons Black Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea, 4 Ounce8.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Twinings Earl Grey Tea, Loose Tea, 7.05 oz Tins8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.English Tea Store Earl Grey Tea - 16oz Loose Leaf Black Tea, Scented with Real Bergamot Oil8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Earl Grey Loose Leaf Black Tea - 100% Certified Organic - 1LB Pouch, 16OZ Resealable Kraft Bag7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.English Tea Store Earl Grey Tea, Loose Leaf Black Tea with Bergamot, 4oz Resealable Pouch7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Citrusy Earl Grey Loose Leaf Black Tea (50+ Cups), Assam India, 3.5 oz Gift Pouch7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Earl Grey Tea - Loose Leaf Black Tea Blend by Nature Tea (8 oz)7.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Earl Grey Loose Leaf Black Tea - 1 lb6.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Harney & Sons' Black Earl Grey loose leaf tea in a 4 Ounce pack, from a well-regarded American tea house.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Harney & Sons is a respected tea blender with a strong following
- + 4 Ounce size keeps the bergamot fresh while you finish it
- + Classic Earl Grey profile suits both plain and milky cups
- - Costs more per ounce than bulk Earl Grey bags
- - Bergamot strength may be too subtle for fans of strong citrus
#2Twinings' Earl Grey loose tea in 7.05 oz Tins, a classic British Earl Grey in larger tin packaging.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 7.05 oz tin is a generous amount with sturdy storage built in
- + Twinings Earl Grey is a familiar, consistent classic
- + Tin keeps bergamot aroma protected from light and air
- - Fine cut leaf needs a fine infuser to avoid sediment
- - Supermarket blend lacks the depth of specialty Earl Greys
#3English Tea Store's Earl Grey in a 16oz loose leaf black tea bag, scented with real bergamot oil.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Scented with Real Bergamot Oil for a brighter citrus aroma
- + 16oz bag is a value buy for daily Earl Grey drinkers
- + Same blend as the smaller pouch, so it is easy to scale up
- - Large bag should be split into tins to keep the scent
- - Strong bergamot may overwhelm people who like it subtle
#4A 100% certified organic Earl Grey loose leaf black tea in a 1LB Pouch, a 16OZ resealable kraft bag for heavy drinkers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + 1LB Pouch gives a large supply of organic Earl Grey
- + 16OZ Resealable Kraft Bag helps keep bergamot aroma from fading
- + 100% Certified Organic tea and flavoring suits organic shoppers
- - Bergamot fades in large bags that take months to finish
- - Check the listing photos for tea base quality before buying
#5English Tea Store's Earl Grey loose leaf black tea with bergamot in a 4oz resealable pouch, a smaller trial size.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 4oz Resealable Pouch keeps bergamot scent in between uses
- + Loose leaf Earl Grey with bergamot gives a classic citrus black tea
- + Small size lets you test before buying the larger bag
- - Pouch is less protective than a tin against light
- - Standard blend without extras like lavender or vanilla
#6A citrusy Earl Grey loose leaf black tea with Assam India base in a 3.5 oz gift pouch making 50+ Cups.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Assam base gives a stronger, maltier Earl Grey than Ceylon versions
- + 3.5 oz Gift Pouch is a nice size for gifting
- + Citrusy profile highlights the bergamot flavor
- - Tea sourcing details are limited, so try a small pouch first
- - Malty Assam base can compete with the delicate citrus notes
#7Nature Tea's Earl Grey loose leaf black tea blend in an 8 oz bag, a mid-size Earl Grey for regular drinkers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8 oz bag fits between trial pouches and bulk pounds
- + Earl Grey blend brews a fragrant, citrusy black tea
- + Good choice for mixing into milky tea lattes
- - Nature Tea is a smaller brand with little sourcing info
- - Blend description does not confirm natural bergamot oil
#8A plain Earl Grey loose leaf black tea in a 1 lb bag, a basic bulk listing without brand or flavoring details.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 4/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 8/10
- + 1 lb bag is economical for daily Earl Grey drinkers
- + Loose black tea with bergamot works hot or as iced tea
- + Bulk size is handy for making London Fog lattes often
- - Bergamot quality can vary, so try a small bag first
- - Large supply risks the citrus aroma fading before finished
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Costs more per ounce than bulk Earl Grey bags (Harney & Sons Black Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea,...)
- Fine cut leaf needs a fine infuser to avoid sediment (Twinings Earl Grey Tea, Loose Tea, 7.05 oz Tins)
- Large bag should be split into tins to keep the scent (English Tea Store Earl Grey Tea - 16oz Loose...)
- Bergamot fades in large bags that take months to finish (Earl Grey Loose Leaf Black Tea - 100%...)
- Pouch is less protective than a tin against light (English Tea Store Earl Grey Tea, Loose Leaf...)
- Tea sourcing details are limited, so try a small pouch first (Citrusy Earl Grey Loose Leaf Black Tea (50+...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among earl grey tea: classic and creamy bergamot blends?
Harney & Sons Black Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea, 4 Ounce is our top overall pick. Harney & Sons' Black Earl Grey loose leaf tea in a 4 Ounce pack, from a well-regarded American tea house. It earns our score of 8.7/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Twinings Earl Grey Tea, Loose Tea, 7.05 oz Tins is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Twinings' Earl Grey loose tea in 7.05 oz Tins, a classic British Earl Grey in larger tin packaging.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Tea Bar Hub independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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