Offblak Future Is Pink Tea Review
Yes, it’s an Earl Grey week! My readers know that I love an Earl Grey. You can never go wrong with this cuppa. It can be delicate or robust, but always delicious. This week Offblak Rose Earl Grey is on the agenda – named ‘Future Is Pink’.
But before we begin, I want to clear up some confusion. In the UK, I see that Offblak Future Is Pink is described as ‘Earl Grey & Rose Flavour Black Tea’ but in the US it’s called ‘Black Tea with Lemongrass & Rose Petal’.
After a closer examination of the ingredients, I’m fairly confident that they are exactly the same tea. Perhaps Offblak found that naming it ‘Earl Grey’ wasn’t a hit with US tea drinkers? Who knows. One thing that is really bugging me, however, is that I’m not sure there’s even any bergamot in this tea.
I’ll get to the flavour in a moment, but just looking at the ingredients list, it really is just lemon, rose and black tea. Maybe bergamot is in the flavouring. But even if it is, can we really call this an Earl Grey if the bergamot is such a minor ingredient?
Offblak Future Is Pink Tea at a Glance
Izzy's Rating
3/5
- Blend: Black tea with lemongrass, rose petals, and flavouring
- Flavour: Slightly bitter, weak black tea with overpowering rose
This is one for the tea drinkers who love rose flavors! If you were expecting subtle or an Earl Grey citrus note, you’ll be sorely disappointed. There is so much rose in the aroma and flavour, it’s way too overpowering. As someone who strongly dislikes rose, this is an incredibly disappointing tea.
Full Review – Earl Grey with Rose Petals by Offblak
Izzy's Rating
3/5
- Type: Pyramid sachet
- Tea: Black tea
- Additives: Lemon peel, lemongrass, rose petals, flavouring
- Flavour Notes: Strong rose petals, hint of lemon, weak black tea
- Aroma: Rose, rose, rose, more rose
- Milk or Lemon: Lemon
- Where to Buy: Amazon
Each tea pyramid is individually wrapped, so when you open one you get a really strong hit of the aroma. For Offblak Future Is Pink, the aroma is just pure roses! I can’t detect any black tea or bergamot (or lemon for that matter) in the aroma coming from the dried tea leaves. It’s a shame, really.
I know that some people love rose in tea, but I can’t stand it! It’s just so strong and overpowering… like floral scented toilet cleaner.
When the tea brews, it doesn’t improve much. The rose aroma becomes a little more subtle and rounded, but it’s still the strongest aroma present. At least I can detect a smidge of lemon this time.
The flavour isn’t surprising, given the aroma. The black tea creates a dull and watery base, with very strong rose flavours (yes, it’s soapy) and a vague hint of lemon that you can just make out if you really try to find it.
Overall, this tea is really disappointing. It’s just black tea with rose, poorly balanced and mislabelled as Earl Grey. As an Earl Grey lover, this tea was a complete let down.
How to Brew Offblak Future Is Pink Earl Grey
Use 1 pyramid teabag per cup (or per serving, if you’re using a teapot) and brew it in freshly boiled water for 3+ minutes. This will create a very strong rose-flavoured tea. Typically, very floral teas like this are best without milk.
You can add a slice of lemon to refresh this tea. I think it really needs it.
Earl Grey makes a great afternoon tea, and even though Offblak Future Is Pink isn’t really an Earl Grey, the pungent floral notes make it a great afternoon tea, nonetheless. You could serve this at an afternoon tea party.
Why Offblak Tea?
This is my second Offblak tea review. I appreciate what the brand is trying to do – this is more of a Gen Z tea company, than the Yorkshire tea your grandma brews up. But I think they are trying too hard in the marketing department and not hard enough where it matters.
For example, on their website they highlight that Future Is Pink is vegan and vegetarian (as if most teas aren’t???), contains no artificial flavours, and is “almost” zero calories. Of these three things, only one is something that’s genuinely worth highlighting. No artificial flavours is great!
Of course, if their natural flavours were strong enough to power through the rose petals, it would be even better. Now if we take a look at the leaves inside the pyramid sachet, there’s nothing special here. It’s a mix of rose petal flecks and broken tea leaves.
In my previous Offblak tea review, I explain why I strongly disagree with their characterisation of their tea being “whole leaf”.
Summary
If you love the flavour of rose, then you will want to bathe in this tea. If you are on the fence about rose in tea, it will certainly help you pick a side! But if you dislike rose flavours, then this is not the tea for you. It is the loosest definition of an Earl Grey and the rose just overpowers everything. There are much better Earl Grey teas out there (use my Tea Review Index to find them).
Tea Recommendation
If you want to know what a real whole leaf tea looks like, and find out what a premium tea should taste like, then check out my recent review of Hebden Tea Fu Soonga. It’s an unusual rarity – a smoked Assam tea! It’s great to support small British tea businesses too.