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.
Although many people consider Earl Grey as a type of tea, any black tea with bergamot flavor added is in fact Earl Grey. Some manufacturers have sometimes used a lower quality of tea when producing Earl Grey, trusting that the powerful flavor of Bergamot will make up for the lack of quality of the tea itself. Earl Grey lovers often drink the tea black, sometimes adding a slice of lemon, and Earl Grey has become the most popular among all flavored teas.
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.
The story of course sounds wonderful, but chances are that it is just a story. In truth, Earl Charles Grey never went to China, and as far as we know, most Chinese prefer to drink green tea, so the origin of Earl Grey tea is largely unknown.
What is Bergamot?
Bergamot is a citrus tree that grows in the south of Italy. Also known as the Princes Pear, the fruit is inedible but the oil extracted from it is used to fragrance perfume as well as tea. Believe it or not, Bergamot was one of the ingredients of the first cologne that was ever created. (It is quite different from the herb called bergamot). The fruit of the Bergamot tree is a mix of orange, lemon and grapefruit, and it 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!
Is Lady Grey tea as flavorful?
Popular consensus in the time of Earl Grey held that tea made women over-excitable, causing impropriety in the female temperament. In order to tame the effect tea had on ladies, orange, lemon and Bergamot were added, and Lady Grey tea was born. Today many people still enjoy the taste; not limited to female drinkers!
Although many people consider Earl Grey as a type of tea, any black tea with bergamot flavor added is in fact Earl Grey. Some manufacturers have sometimes used a lower quality of tea when producing Earl Grey, trusting that the powerful flavor of Bergamot will make up for the lack of quality of the tea itself. Earl Grey lovers often drink the tea black, sometimes adding a slice of lemon, and Earl Grey has become the most popular among all flavored teas.
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.
The story of course sounds wonderful, but chances are that it is just a story. In truth, Earl Charles Grey never went to China, and as far as we know, most Chinese prefer to drink green tea, so the origin of Earl Grey tea is largely unknown.
What is Bergamot?
Bergamot is a citrus tree that grows in the south of Italy. Also known as the Princes Pear, the fruit is inedible but the oil extracted from it is used to fragrance perfume as well as tea. Believe it or not, Bergamot was one of the ingredients of the first cologne that was ever created. (It is quite different from the herb called bergamot). The fruit of the Bergamot tree is a mix of orange, lemon and grapefruit, and it 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!
Is Lady Grey tea as flavorful?
Popular consensus in the time of Earl Grey held that tea made women over-excitable, causing impropriety in the female temperament. In order to tame the effect tea had on ladies, orange, lemon and Bergamot were added, and Lady Grey tea was born. Today many people still enjoy the taste; not limited to female drinkers!
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