Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea

This isn't a straightforward Earl Grey, and that distinction matters. While it has bergamot like a classic Earl Grey, the addition of Fujian jasmine and a multi-origin base (Ceylon, Assam, Kenyan) creates something quite different. Traditional Earl Grey drinkers have noted it 'tastes more like the garden than tea' — the floral character is much more prominent here. If you love Earl Grey and want to explore a more complex, floral cousin, this could be exciting. If you want classic, no-surprises Earl Grey, look elsewhere.

This tea is ideal for enthusiasts who appreciate complex, floral black tea blends and enjoy the ritual of afternoon tea. It's named after the Queen's garden party for a reason — it pairs beautifully with scones, finger sandwiches, and light pastries. It also appeals to tea ceremony enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys experimenting with brewing parameters. It's not the best choice for beginners unfamiliar with strong floral teas, families looking for an everyday breakfast tea, or anyone who likes their tea simple with milk and sugar.

Proceed with caution. As one reviewer put it, 'if one is used to drinking popular brand tea bags, best to sample this brew first.' The bold floral profile and the steeping sensitivity make it challenging for newcomers. If you're a beginner who wants to try it, start with less leaf and shorter steeping, and consider adding a bit of honey to soften the intensity. But honestly, a more straightforward black tea might be a better starting point for building your palate before graduating to something this complex.

You can, but reviewers suggest you probably shouldn't. This blend isn't designed for the milk-and-sugar treatment. The delicate jasmine and bergamot notes get muddled by dairy rather than complemented, and the result is generally disappointing. This tea is meant to be appreciated on its own — think of it like a fine wine you wouldn't mix with soda. A touch of honey is fine if you need to soften the edges, but let the floral complexity speak for itself.

For this particular blend, brewing technique really matters — and several reviewers learned that the hard way. Because of its bold, complex profile (jasmine, bergamot, and strong black tea bases), oversteeping can make it overwhelmingly bitter and astringent. Start with water just off the boil (around 200-205°F), steep for 3 minutes, and taste before going longer. Many reviewers who initially found it too strong had much better results once they dialed back the steeping time. This tea rewards a careful, attentive approach rather than a set-it-and-forget-it brew.

With this Garden Party blend, timing is everything. Don't boil the tea itself — bring your water to a full boil, then pour it over the leaves. For steeping, start at 3 minutes and work up from there. Multiple reviewers found this tea becomes overwhelmingly bitter with standard 5-minute steeping, so a shorter brew time is your friend here. The jasmine and bergamot notes come through beautifully at shorter steeps without the harsh astringency that longer steeping can bring out.

The number one mistake with this Garden Party blend is oversteeping. Several reviewers described it as 'overwhelmingly bitter and astringent' with standard steeping times, which is a classic sign of brewing too long or with water that's too hot. Other common pitfalls: using too much leaf (this is a bold blend, so a level teaspoon is plenty), expecting it to taste like a traditional Earl Grey (the jasmine changes the profile significantly), and adding milk and sugar to try to tame it — reviewers say that approach doesn't work well here. Start gentle and adjust up.

If you find this Garden Party blend too intense or bitter, there are a few tricks. First, shorten your steep time — 2.5 to 3 minutes maximum. Reviewers found this makes a dramatic difference. A touch of honey or sugar also helps balance the bold floral notes without masking them. If the jasmine feels overpowering, try using slightly less leaf — this is a strong blend and a little goes a long way. That said, skip the milk route; reviewers specifically note this tea doesn't work well brewed hard with milk and sugar.

This is worth mentioning honestly — one reviewer notes the leaves are somewhat granulated and broken rather than full whole leaves, with some noticeable dust. That said, broken leaf doesn't necessarily mean bad tea; it brews faster and often stronger, which tracks with how bold this blend tastes. For a 16oz bag at this price point, you're getting reasonable quality for the money. If you're accustomed to premium whole-leaf teas, adjust your expectations. Use a fine mesh infuser to keep the smaller particles out of your cup.

No. Reviewers specifically note this blend uses pure ingredients with no fillers — it's genuine Ceylon, Assam, and Kenyan black tea with real jasmine and bergamot. For tea enthusiasts who care about ingredient purity, this is a selling point. You're getting actual tea leaves and natural flavoring, not the synthetic bergamot oil or artificial jasmine flavoring found in some cheaper blends.

Yes — and multiple reviewers agree. This is a polarizing tea. People either call it 'one of the most flavorful British teas' they've had or describe it as 'more garden than tea.' The strong jasmine, the bergamot, the bold base — it's a lot of personality in one cup. If you can find a smaller sample size, try it first. If you can't, be prepared that this is a love-it-or-hate-it blend and keep your receipt handy. The 16oz bag is great value if you love it, but it's a lot of tea to be stuck with if you don't.

The aroma is arguably this tea's strongest asset — multiple reviewers rave about the 'amazing fragrance' even when they have mixed feelings about the flavor. The jasmine and bergamot create a beautiful, complex scent that fills the room as it brews. The taste follows the aroma's lead but hits harder — the bold, floral character that smells inviting can become overwhelming in the cup if you oversteep. Think of the aroma as the tea's best first impression; the taste requires a bit more skill to get right.

Afternoon, hands down. This blend was specifically designed as an elegant afternoon tea, and that's where it really shines — especially paired with scones, sandwiches, or pastries. It also works well as an evening tea or after meals (postprandial). While you can drink it in the morning if you like a strong, floral start to your day, reviewers suggest it's not ideal as a grab-and-go breakfast tea. Give it the attention and occasion it deserves.

This is an afternoon tea blend through and through, so think classic British tea service: scones with clotted cream and jam, cucumber finger sandwiches, petit fours, and light pastries. The floral jasmine and bergamot notes complement delicate, lightly sweet foods beautifully. It also works well after meals as a digestif-style tea. Avoid pairing it with heavy, savory foods — the floral character can clash with strong flavors. Keep the food elegant and light to match the tea's personality.

Honestly, this probably isn't the best choice for milk tea. Reviewers specifically note that brewing this hard with milk and sugar doesn't work well — the floral jasmine and bergamot notes clash with dairy rather than complementing it. If you're set on trying it, brew strong (2 teaspoons per cup, 4-5 minutes) and use a small amount of milk. But you'd likely get better results with a straightforward Assam or Ceylon CTC tea for milk tea. This Garden Party blend really shines on its own, where you can appreciate the complex floral character.

This English Tea Store blend is actually named after the Queen's annual Buckingham Palace Garden Party, and it's designed to evoke that elegant afternoon tea experience. It's a complex blend of Ceylon, Assam, and Kenyan black teas with Earl Grey bergamot and Fujian jasmine notes — the kind of sophisticated, medium-bodied tea you'd expect at a formal British garden party. Whether it's the exact tea served at the real event is another matter, but the blend is clearly crafted to capture that refined, ceremonial character.

While visiting the Palace for afternoon tea is reserved for special occasions and invited guests, this Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea is designed to bring that experience home. It's a loose leaf blend of Ceylon, Assam, and Kenyan teas with jasmine and bergamot notes — specifically crafted for afternoon tea with scones and sandwiches. Reviewers describe it as 'one of the most flavorful British teas,' so it does deliver on that elegant afternoon tea promise.

Here's how to get the best cup from this Garden Party blend: Use about 1 teaspoon of loose leaf per 8oz of water. Bring fresh, filtered water to a rolling boil (212°F). Pour over the leaves in a teapot or infuser. Steep for 3 minutes — no more to start, as this blend turns bitter quickly if oversteeped. Taste, and add another 30 seconds if you want it stronger. You can add a touch of honey or sugar if the floral notes feel intense, but skip the milk on this one — reviewers suggest it's best enjoyed on its own to appreciate the jasmine and bergamot character.

Absolutely, though this particular blend has a specific personality in the morning. Reviewers note it works well as a morning tea if you prefer a strong taste, but it's really designed as an afternoon tea — that's its sweet spot. The bold jasmine and bergamot notes hit differently first thing in the morning versus after lunch. If you do drink it in the morning, pair it with food (toast, pastries) to balance the intensity. For a pure wake-up-and-go cup, this may be more complex than what most people want at 7 AM.

Since this is a 16oz bag of loose leaf, you'll want a good infuser or teapot with a built-in strainer. Note that reviewers mention the leaves are somewhat granulated with some dust, so a fine mesh infuser works better than one with large holes. Use 1 teaspoon per cup, boiling water, and steep 3 minutes. This blend is forgiving on leaf quantity but very unforgiving on time — an extra minute or two can push it from 'bold and flavorful' to 'bitter and astringent.' A timer is your best friend here.

This Garden Party blend can make an interesting iced tea, but you'll want to adjust your approach. Brew it concentrated — double the leaf, half the water — and steep for just 2-2.5 minutes to avoid bitterness. Pour over a full glass of ice immediately. The jasmine and bergamot notes actually translate quite nicely cold, giving you a floral, aromatic iced tea that's a step above the usual. Add a touch of honey if the floral notes are too forward. Just don't cold-brew this one overnight — the bold base and jasmine can get unpleasantly strong.