Earl Grey tea is a popular Tea in the West. This black tea has hints of citrus and is an excellent introduction to tea. It can be enjoyed hot or cold and is a great match for food. This aspect is why Earl Grey is a popular choice for afternoon tea and a favorite of many tea drinkers worldwide. Discover its history and the wide range of Earl Greys available.
Earl Grey’s Flavor
Earl Grey is a dark tea. This category means it has a strong flavor. Unlike orange pekoe, a tea grade named for Orange-Nassau (the Dutch royal House of Orange-Nassau), Earl Grey has a citrusy flavor.
Earl Grey’s citrusy flavor is due to synthetic or natural bergamot oil. Bergamot orange is an aromatic citrus fruit often grown in the Mediterranean. Bergamot oil comes from the skin of the bergamot orange. As a result, Earl Grey tastes different from producer to producer. However, it is known for its bright, fresh, and bold taste.
Earl Grey’s history
Earl Grey is named after Earl Charles Grey (England), who served as Prime Minister between 1830 and 1834. While he was able to abolish slavery during his tenure in office, his most notable achievement was his namesake tea.
The familiar story behind Earl Grey’s naming is that the politician gave the recipe as a thank you. According to legend, he saved the Chinese tea blender’s son from drowning. The blender shared his gratitude for the good deed by distributing this recipe for black tea flavored using bergamot oils.
It’s doubtful that Earl Charles Grey ever traveled to China, let alone saved a drowning boy. While no one knows why Grey was awarded this honor, it is possible that the tea was named as an official in Charles Grey’s time. On the other hand, it is entirely possible that the name was simply an ode to an influential political leader.
Earl Grey tea has been making an appearance in popular culture more recently. It’s the favorite tea of Captain Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” as well as Sir Leigh Teabing in “The Davinci Code.”
Although Earl Grey is often spelled Earl Gray in America, it is not an accepted spelling.
Caffeine in Earl Grey
While the caffeine content in Earl Grey may vary from one tea to another, it is generally comparable to other black teas.
- Regular Earl Grey tea: 55 to 90 mg of caffeine per cup (sometimes mistakenly called caffeinated Earl Grey).
- Earl Grey – 2-10mg per cup
Different types of Earl Grey Tea
There are many variants of Earl Grey teas. Lady Grey is one of the most well-known teas; it is usually a mix of Earl Grey flowers and blue cornflower blooms.
Some other Earl Grey variants are:
- Russian Earl Grey – Earl Grey with a little bit of citrus peel.
- Decaf Earl Grey
- Earl Red / Red Earl Grey / Earl Rooibos – A bergamot-flavored rooibos
- Earl Green – A bergamot flavor green tea, or in some cases, a bergamot pouchong/baozhong
Tea companies also offer stately names like Mademoiselle Grey, Lord Grey, and other states. You can mix these teas with spices, flowers (such as rose petals or lavender), or other ingredients.
London fog may be available at certain coffee shops and tea shops. You can make this tea latté from Earl Grey, hot milk, and vanilla syrup.
If you want to drink Earl Grey milk bubble tea in Bossier City but don’t want the hassle, try to look for nearby bubble tea cafes with various options of Earl Grey variants for you to choose from.
How to make Earl Grey
Earl Grey, like many teas, is easy to prepare. A teapot, Earl Grey tea leaves, and water at the boiling point are all you need to make this tea. However, some prefer to heat their teapots with hot water before steeping. You can do this by pouring boiling water into your teapot and waiting for it to heat up before you dispose of the water.
Earl Gray:
- For every cup of hot liquid, you should use about one teaspoon of tea leaves (or one regular-sized bag)
- You can steep the tea in boiling or near-boiling water for up to four to five minutes, depending on the tea you choose and your taste preferences.
- Take out the teabags or leaves.
Some people love sugar and lemon in Earl Grey. Some Americans like milk in Earl Grey, even though it’s not a tradition to add milk to citrusy teas.
Earl Grey tea is the most popular choice for afternoon coffee. It is an excellent pairing with sweets such as Madeleine and Scones. In addition, Earl Grey makes a perfect choice for brunch pairings.
How to Purchase Earl Grey Tea
You can purchase Earl Grey in Western grocery shops, tea shops, gourmet foods stores, and most online tea retail websites.
- Earl Grey Teabags are recommended over Loose Leaf Earl Grey.
- You may prefer intense black tea flavors, so a base tea made from Assam, Ceylon, or Kenya is a good option.
- You may choose a milder taste of black tea, so a Darjeeling or Nilgiri base tea will work better.
- You can enjoy this tea with a Yunnan base or Keemun if you prefer a smooth, rich flavor of black tea.
Check out Earl Grey samplers to get a wide variety of Earl Grey.
