Earl Grey is one of the all-time greats of the tea world - now available with the convenience of tea bags.
Earl Grey is made from the highest-quality black China teas, which are blended with Bergamot oil to create a delicate, aromatic and amazingly refreshing tea.
The 2nd Earl Grey was a well-known British tea enthusiast of the 19th century. He was also Prime Minister so his ideas on tea were influential.
There are various accounts of how he came to discover his eponymous tea but it seems that one of his staff rescued the Chinese ambassador's son from drowning. The grateful father gave Lord Grey (though not the member of staff!) some fine Chinese tea scented with Bergamot as a reward.
Grey liked the tea so much that he asked his tea merchants to copy the blend. They did so, and "Earl Grey's tea" became very popular.
Bergamot, or Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia, is a citrus fruit that grows in Italy. Small and pear-shaped, it is a cross between the grapefruit and the pear lemon. (The oil is also used in aromatherapy to treat depression.)
To enjoy at its best simply pop a bag into a mug and add fresh, boiling water. Leave for slightly longer than you think. About a minute would be good, or even slightly longer. Remove the tea bag. You can also make the tea in a tea pot but if you're doing this I can't understand why you wouldn't use loose-leaf tea! Earl Grey can be enjoyed with or without milk. Purists would prefer it without, perhaps adding a slice of orange or lemon, which do both seem to go very well with the Bergamot.
If you love Earl Grey Tea Bags you may also enjoy our China Jasmine Green Tea Bags, another wonderful aromatic tea.
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