All About Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey is a fragrant, citrus-flavored tea blend made by adding bergamot oil or essence to black tea. Bergamot is a citrus fruit, a cousin of the orange, grown primarily in the Mediterranean region.

History

The tea is named after Charles Grey, who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the 1800s. One story suggests that Charles Grey ordered tea from a Chinese merchant, but during its long sea voyage, the black tea became over-fermented and developed a sour taste. To save the batch, the Chinese merchant added bergamot oil to mask the off flavors before presenting it to Charles Grey. Grey enjoyed the aroma and taste, and the merchant turned his problem into an opportunity to sell flavored tea.

Another tale claims that the bergamot oil accidentally infused the tea during shipment, leading to the discovery of this aromatic blend.

Earl Grey Black Tea Blend

After production, black tea is blended with bergamot oil or essence. The blending methods and the amount of aroma used vary by country and producer. It is important to note that excessive bergamot flavor can overpower the tea's taste, often used to mask inferior-quality tea. Therefore, choosing a good-quality Earl Grey is no easy task.

A moderately fragrant Earl Grey that can be brewed on its own reduces the risk of ending up with a poor-quality tea.

Varieties of Earl Grey Tea

Since its origin in England in the 1820s, Earl Grey has spread worldwide and evolved into a popular tea with several variations.

• Lady Grey Tea – Named after Lady Mary Elizabeth Grey, the wife of Earl Charles Grey. It is blended with orange peel or lavender, resulting in two distinct varieties: Orange Earl Grey and Lavender Earl Grey.
• French Earl Grey Tea – A classic Earl Grey tea infused with rose petals, giving it a fruitier flavor.
• Russian Earl Grey Tea – A blend of classic Earl Grey with orange peel and lemongrass.

Conclusion

A good Earl Grey tea is truly delightful but differs from traditional black tea. Unfortunately, in many cafes and restaurants in Turkey, Earl Grey is often served when regular black tea is requested, and most proprietors fail to recognize the distinction. This practice does a disservice to black tea. Moreover, using Earl Grey to cover up poor-quality tea or improper brewing is equally unfair to Earl Grey itself.

With warm regards,
Lazika