English Tea Store Earl Grey Tea - 16oz Loose Leaf Black Tea, Scented with Real Bergamot Oil Review (2026)

What it is

This is English Tea Store's Earl Grey in loose leaf form, sold in a 16 ounce resealable pouch rather than a small tin or box of bags. According to the brand's own product page, the base is a blend of Chinese and Indian black teas built on a classic Ceylon foundation, sourced from high altitude regions of Sri Lanka such as Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva. The bergamot flavor comes from real bergamot oil rather than flavoring crystals, which the maker says helps keep the citrus note closer to natural bergamot fruit instead of a candy-like approximation. The result is a bright, floral cup with the coppery liquor typical of high grown Ceylon black tea, meant to be steeped to taste since loose leaf gives more control over strength than a pre-portioned bag.

Bergamot strength and flavor

The defining feature here is how forward the bergamot is. Because the tea is scented with real oil rather than a light natural flavoring, the citrus aroma tends to be noticeable as soon as the pouch is opened, and it carries through into the steeped cup. For people who already enjoy a classic, assertive Earl Grey this is a plus, since it delivers the floral, slightly perfumed character the style is known for without needing a splash of milk or sugar to notice it. For anyone who prefers a subtler bergamot note, or who has been drinting a supermarket Earl Grey with a lighter scent, this blend can come across as strong on the first few steeps until the leaf ratio is dialed in.

Format and value

Buying in loose leaf lets a household control both portion size and steep strength, and the 16 ounce bag is a meaningfully larger quantity than the brand's own 4 ounce resealable pouch of the same blend, which makes it a better per-ounce value for anyone who drinks Earl Grey regularly rather than occasionally. The tradeoff is that a bag this size is not built for long-term airtight storage on its own, so the tea inside will fade in aroma faster once opened and exposed to air and light than it would in a proper canister. Splitting the bag into one or two smaller tins after opening is a simple way to protect the scent for the months it takes to work through 16 ounces.

Who should buy it

This is a good fit for someone who already knows they like a traditional bergamot-forward Earl Grey and wants to stop repurchasing small pouches every few weeks. It also suits anyone assembling a home tea station who wants one reliable black tea base that can be dressed up with milk, a Earl Grey Cream variant, or simply drunk plain. It is a weaker match for someone who has never tried Earl Grey, or who specifically dislikes strong citrus and floral notes, since there is no way to sample a smaller amount before committing to a full pound-plus bag. Iced tea drinkers should also note this is a black tea blend meant to be steeped hot, though it can be chilled afterward.

Bottom line

As a straightforward, real-bergamot Earl Grey sold in bulk loose leaf form, this hits the basics well and the brand's own sourcing claims line up with what the blend delivers in the cup. The main things to plan around are storage, since a 16 ounce bag benefits from being moved into airtight tins, and intensity, since the bergamot is meant to be noticeable rather than background. Anyone shopping this listing specifically for a strong, classic Earl Grey at a reasonable per-ounce price is buying the right blend, while anyone wanting a mellow, barely-there citrus note may prefer a milder Earl Grey elsewhere in the same brand's lineup.

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