Earl Grey tea is a black tea blend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit.

The blend is named after the 2nd Earl Grey, who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil. The legend usually involves a grateful Chinese mandarin whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men, although this blend of tea was first made from fermented black Indian and "Ceylonese" (Sri Lankan) teas. Green tea is much more popular in China than black. Thus, it seems somewhat unlikely that they would have had a recipe for what we now call Earl Grey to bestow on visitors, though over the years many other varieties of tea have been used. Also, Lord Grey never set foot in China.

The tea proved so popular in the Prime Minister's drawing room that his tea merchants, Twinings in the Strand, were given a sample and asked to come up with a close match. Twinings sold the first "Earl Grey's tea" in the British market. Twinings Earl Grey blend includes China tea, Indian Darjeeling, Ceylon, and a hint of Lapsang souchong, a strong, "smoky" black tea. It is traditionally served black (without milk).

Jacksons of Piccadilly claim that it was they who originated Earl Grey's Tea, Lord Grey having given the recipe to Robert Jackson & Co. partner George Charlton in 1830; according to Jacksons the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on China tea since the beginning. This rivalry between the two tea brands continues despite both being owned by the same parent company today.

Similar teas

• Twinings also has a similar tea called "Lady Grey" with Seville orange, lemon and bergamot. At the time it was believed the addition of fruits would counteract improper impulses that tea was widely believed to have upon the female temperament.
• "Earl Green" is a popular name given to Earl Grey-like green teas, such as the Earl Grey Green flavour offered by the Bigelow tea company.

Earl Grey tea trivia

• Earl Grey tea was the favourite tea of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.
• Fictional characters who prefer Earl Grey tea include Jean-Luc Picard of The Next Generation, Artemis Fowl of the Eoin Colfer books, Sir Leigh Teabing from the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, and the goddess Belldandy in the anime series Oh My Goddess.

External links

• Information on the value of Earl Grey Tea for the human health

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