Earl Grey is a very unique blend of tea many people cannot get enough of. The smooth, spicy flavor of Earl Grey is so unique that it cannot be forgotten when one has tried it. It is said that Captain Picard of Star Trek will not accept anything but Earl Grey.
While Earl Grey has grown a reputation of being a type of tea, in reality, Earl Grey is simply black tea with Bergamot. Some Earl Grey manufacturers have sometimes used lower qualities of black tea, hoping that the strong flavor of Bergamot will cover the less-than-desirable flavor of the tea. Earl Grey is often drunk black, at most with a slice of lemon, and it has gradually grown to become the most popular of all flavored teas available on the market.
Where does Earl Grey come from?
Earl Charles Grey served as prime Minister of England in 1830. The story is that while on a diplomatic trip to China, he saved the life of a mandarin. To show his gratitude, the mandarin gifted Earl Grey a special tea, which the Prime Minister took back to England with him. The tea quickly became a favorite in the Earls drawing room, and he asked his personal tea supplier to reproduce the same flavor for him. The new tea became fashionable and eventually spread throughout England and the rest of the world.
It is a good story, but unlikely to contain much truth! In reality, Earl Grey never traveled to China, and most Chinese don't even drink much black tea, so the truth behind how Earl grey tea made it to us is still shrouded in mystery.
What exactly is Bergamot?
Bergamot is a citrus tree native of the south of Italy. Bergamot is sometimes called the Princes Pear, and although the fruit cannot be eaten, its oil is used in many fragrances. The oil of Bergamot was the main ingredient in the first cologne ever produced. (There is no relation between the oil of Bergamot, and the herb called Bergamot.) The fruit itself is a hybrid between lemon, orange and grapefruit, and it almost looks like an orange blossom.
In the winter months, before it ripens, the fruit harvest is picked by hand. The essence is extracted with cold presses and then stored away for over a year. The oil is widely used to treat depression with aromatherapy, and also to strengthen the immune system. Perhaps Earl Grey tea is a good remedy for winter sniffles!
What about Lady Grey tea?
At some point, it was a popular belief that women could not drink tea and maintain a proper behavior. Orange, lemon and bergamot were added to tea to calm these impulses, and Lady Grey tea was invented. Lady Grey is still a favorite today, and it is almost comical that many of the people that cherish it aren't women after all.
While Earl Grey has grown a reputation of being a type of tea, in reality, Earl Grey is simply black tea with Bergamot. Some Earl Grey manufacturers have sometimes used lower qualities of black tea, hoping that the strong flavor of Bergamot will cover the less-than-desirable flavor of the tea. Earl Grey is often drunk black, at most with a slice of lemon, and it has gradually grown to become the most popular of all flavored teas available on the market.
Where does Earl Grey come from?
Earl Charles Grey served as prime Minister of England in 1830. The story is that while on a diplomatic trip to China, he saved the life of a mandarin. To show his gratitude, the mandarin gifted Earl Grey a special tea, which the Prime Minister took back to England with him. The tea quickly became a favorite in the Earls drawing room, and he asked his personal tea supplier to reproduce the same flavor for him. The new tea became fashionable and eventually spread throughout England and the rest of the world.
It is a good story, but unlikely to contain much truth! In reality, Earl Grey never traveled to China, and most Chinese don't even drink much black tea, so the truth behind how Earl grey tea made it to us is still shrouded in mystery.
What exactly is Bergamot?
Bergamot is a citrus tree native of the south of Italy. Bergamot is sometimes called the Princes Pear, and although the fruit cannot be eaten, its oil is used in many fragrances. The oil of Bergamot was the main ingredient in the first cologne ever produced. (There is no relation between the oil of Bergamot, and the herb called Bergamot.) The fruit itself is a hybrid between lemon, orange and grapefruit, and it almost looks like an orange blossom.
In the winter months, before it ripens, the fruit harvest is picked by hand. The essence is extracted with cold presses and then stored away for over a year. The oil is widely used to treat depression with aromatherapy, and also to strengthen the immune system. Perhaps Earl Grey tea is a good remedy for winter sniffles!
What about Lady Grey tea?
At some point, it was a popular belief that women could not drink tea and maintain a proper behavior. Orange, lemon and bergamot were added to tea to calm these impulses, and Lady Grey tea was invented. Lady Grey is still a favorite today, and it is almost comical that many of the people that cherish it aren't women after all.
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