17 Best Earl Grey Tea Brands To Try in 2025
The quest to make and sell the best Earl Grey tea on the market is not a new one. It’s enjoyed widespread acclaim since its introduction in the early decades of the 19th century, when British Earl Charles Grey popularized it during his tenure as Prime Minister.
To many, its contrasting notes of bright bergamot (a type of citrus fruit), sweet vanilla and floral notes of the tea-maker’s choice make for the quintessential morning drink. Besides the distinct flavor profiles, the health benefits of black tea, which is the base of Earl Grey tea, are also worth mentioning. Regular consumption of this powerhouse ingredient could reduce the risk of chronic conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health.
But where do you go when you want a sip of this most venerable of teas? Everybody’s selling it, so who makes the best Earl Grey on the market? Those are excellent questions. Start finding your answer among the 17 best Earl Grey teas found here.
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The 17 Best Earl Grey Tea Brands
1. Numi
It seems only right to start a list of the best Earl Grey teas with a very classic version. Numi’s Aged Earl Grey doesn’t do anything new, but its balance of black tea, bergamot and vanilla gives it a pleasantly traditional flavor. It can pull that standard formula off thanks to its high-quality ingredients, like single-source Assam black tea and real bergamot.
2. Harney and Sons
This one, on the other hand, is one of the best Earl Grey teas because it offers something very different. A traditional Earl Grey is, of course, made with black tea. Harney and Sons eschews the typical formula by adding white tea to the base mix of one of its variants.
Whether you like white tea or not, it adds a layer of nuance to this unique Earl Grey that no other brand seems to be experimenting with. It might not be the best Earl Grey to choose as the base of your London fog, but if you’re looking for a sophisticated pick, Harney and Sons delivers.
3. Trader Joe’s
You’d best not be sleeping on the tea selections offered by America’s favorite quirky grocery store. Trader Joe’s might feel like the kind of place your likable but slightly oddball hippie uncle would dream up, but it’s no slouch when it comes to tea.
This is one of the best Earl Grey teas on the market if you’re looking for a (relatively) budget-friendly option. Also, an insider hint: Trader Joe’s variant is a bit basic and occasionally bitter, but that makes it one of the best Earl Grey teas to use as a base for iced tea and lattes.
4. Sama Tea
Sama Tea’s Awaken and Energize Earl Grey has a bit less of a pronounced bergamot flavor than many other options on this list. While some find that off-putting, it’s welcome news to anyone who prefers only muted citrus notes in their tea. Its balance of sweet and bitter is excellent, and it is easily one of the best Earl Grey teas for anyone who’s avoided the flavor out of an aversion to citrus.
5. T2
Quite simply, T2 makes an exemplary cup of Earl Grey. Every note is perfectly proportioned for a tea that’s full-bodied but not overpowering, and you won’t find any of the bitterness that plagues even the best Earl Grey teas at times. Subtlety is the name of T2’s game, and if you’d rather not have to bother with milk, that will serve you very well.
6. Bigelow
As it is a widely known and accessible brand, you might not expect Bigelow to appear on a list of the best Earl Grey teas when there are so many specialty retailers out there. But sometimes you need a tea that won’t break the bank, and in those moments, Bigelow’s Earl Grey is your go-to.
What it lacks in panache, it makes up for by hitting all the right notes (if subtly), and the resulting tea makes for pleasant sipping. It’s not world-class, but it’s a tasty and accessible option when ordering in your favorite specialty tea from the furthest corners of the planet is just not going to happen.
7. Whittard
Even some of the best Earl Grey teas often run the risk of tasting bitter. With ingredients like bergamot and black tea, the line between just enough and way too much is often perilously thin, leading to sips that leave an unpleasant taste on your tongue.
Not so at Whittard: this British retailer makes one of the best Earl Grey teas in the business simply by keeping things simple and subtle. Flavors are light and smooth, and this tea goes down remarkably easily.
8. Adagio Teas
This is one of the best Earl Grey teas for relaxing and unwinding as it's considered a gentle tea. That’s thanks to both its mild, balanced flavor and its use of lavender, an aroma we near-universally associate with relaxation.
The flavors are gentle and proportionate, and you’ll never find yourself wincing at the bitterness or tartness of your sip when you drink Adagio Teas Earl Grey. Simply put, it's the best Earl Grey tea for a bubble bath or a slow-paced “I-guess-I-really-am-an-adult-now” Friday night in with your favorite show.
9. Twinings
Twinings is one of the most ubiquitous tea brands on the market. As such, it’s no surprise that it claimed one of the coveted spots on this list of the best Earl Grey teas. Is it likely to be the favorite of many true Earl Grey snobs? Probably not. The flavor is bergamot-forward and fairly standard. But it’s accessible, affordable and gives you just about everything you could want in a cup of Earl Grey.
10. Novus
For an earthy taste or one of the best loose-leaf Earl Grey teas on the market, turn to Novus. You’ll get more bitter black tea flavor and floral earthiness in this Earl Grey than in almost any other, but don't let that deter you.
If you’re the type who quickly becomes bored of a mild flavor, or if you want something bracing to wake you up, Novus is likely going to be one of the best Earl Grey flavors for you. Don’t love that acerbic flavor, though? Then you may want to look elsewhere.
11. Stash Tea
Stash Tea’s Double Bergamot Earl Grey delivers on its titular promise: it really does bring the bergamot. Even so, it isn’t overpowering, making for a balanced tea that deserves more attention than it’s been getting. Stash Tea undoubtedly sells one of the best Earl Grey teas for fans of a fruitier taste without sacrificing the delicate balance of flavors that makes this blend so popular.
12. Rishi Tea and Botanicals
Count this among the best Earl Grey teas for tea drinkers who like floral notes best. Why? Rishi Tea and Botanicals has the added flavors of rose and geranium thanks to its bergamot essential oil.
It makes for a nice complement to the brand’s unusually strong citrus notes, keeping the lemony flavor from totally overpowering the tea. (Many comment that its aroma is more like lemon than bergamot, but either way, the citrus flavor comes through loud and clear.) Rather than the muted flavors of, say, a Twinings, Rishi’s Earl Grey is bold. It’s a great choice if it bugs you when you can’t taste every single flavor in a cup of tea.
13. Ministry of Tea
If it’s the best Earl Grey tea for the environment that you seek, end your search at Ministry of Tea. This certified-organic product uses natural ingredients with a focus on sustainability, so if that’s something that matters to you when you shop, this may be your best option. There’s a bit more of the bitterness of black tea here, too, if your perfect cup of Earl Grey has a stronger black tea flavor.
14. Tea-Adora
Tea-Adora’s Posh Earl Grey deviates from the expected formula in one very significant way: instead of the traditional bergamot, it gets its tartness from orange and lime. The effect is still marvelous, and if we’re going by taste alone, this is easily one of the best Earl Grey teas on the market.
But that unorthodox touch might inspire a little bit of debate about the merits of this unique Earl Grey. We personally think the presence of any citrus at all is enough — focus on the quality of its ingredients and the balance of its flavors instead, and you’ll likely agree.
15. Art of Tea
Art of Tea’s Earl Grey Crème is notably one of the best Earl Grey teas for those who like sweeter flavors. That vanilla really does give the whole cup a creamier mouthfeel, and the sharper citrus notes taste more muted in contrast. We could see this one making a superb latte. It’s like dessert in a teacup, just without any of the calories — what’s not to love?
16. Taylors of Harrogate
If you’re looking for the best loose-leaf Earl Grey tea, this venerable British brand is a strong contender. It’s bright, refreshing and much more citrus-forward than some of the other teas on this list.
For a morning wake-up call in your Earl Grey of choice, Taylors is an excellent option — this is not one of those easy-sipping, vanilla-heavy Earl Greys. Though it doesn’t emphasize quality ingredients the way some competitors do (Taylors doesn’t use single-source black tea or real bergamot), the end result is an energizing cup of citrusy Earl Grey.
17. The Tea Keepers
Although The Tea Keepers offers a traditional variant as well, the real reason for its inclusion on a list of the best Earl Grey teas is its vanilla flavor. It may seem nonsensical — there’s vanilla in every proper Earl Grey blend, after all — but that extra vanilla makes a significant difference. Thus, this particularly vanilla-forward drink is a perfect choice for tea drinkers who like their sips leaning sweet rather than tart or earthy.
The Tea Keepers also gets points for the quality of its ingredients. In keeping with many of the best Earl Grey tea sellers, the company uses real bergamot oil instead of an extract or imitation flavor, and the Assam black tea base is of the highest caliber — a classy but inviting choice for any Earl Grey fan.
What Is the Best Earl Grey Tea?
While your preference will vary based on the flavor profile you like best, T2 and Art of Tea are widely agreed-upon as two of the best Earl Grey teas in the business. Harney and Sons wins for presentation if you’re buying it as a gift, or even if you just prefer your tea in a beautiful package. Of the least-expensive and most-accessible brands, Twinings is the most well-regarded budget option.
Trying to determine the best Earl Grey tea is an impossible task: every customer is looking for something different, and with a flavor so long-beloved, opinions are bound to be ironclad. Appropriately, the same is true of tea manufacturers, so you’ll be able to find an Earl Grey suitable for just about every preference or occasion. With all these options at your disposal, you’re bound to discover the best Earl Grey tea for your pantry.
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