The Curious History of Earl Grey - The "Soul" Tea of British People

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Earl Grey is a firm favorite among tea drinkers across the UK. The origin of this traditional blend is shrouded in legend, but its delicate, fresh flavor has withstood the test of time. Earl Grey is one of the most recognized flavors of tea in the world. So how did we all fall in love with this citrus and floral infused black tea? It is highly aromatic and the perfect accompaniment with afternoon tea!

What is Earl Grey?

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Earl Grey is a black tea scented with the oil from the rind of bergamot orange. Bergamot is a citrus tree most commonly found on the coast of Italy and southern France. The rinds’ fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its signature zesty punch.

Earl Grey tea falls into the category of flavored teas. Flavored teas include any type of tea, white, green, oolong, black that has been scented or flavored with fruit, flowers, spices, oils etc.

The history of Earl Grey — The everyday tea with an aristocratic heritage

The history of Earl Grey tea is colored with intrigue and romance, and several theories have been put forward about how it evolved into one of the world’s favorite brews.

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What we know for certain is Earl Grey tea was named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl of Grey, a Cambridge and Eton educated aristocrat who was elected to parliament at the age of twenty-two, and eventually served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834. But just how did Charles Grey come to have a tea named after him? This is where history gets a little murky.

Pop the kettle on, brew yourself a nice cup of Madura Earl Grey — let it steep for three minutes to achieve the perfect balance of body and taste — and by the time you’ve read the following top three theories, you’ll be ready to relax with the perfect pondering companion.

The first theory of how Charles Grey became associated with tea relates to one of the Earl’s staff saving the life of a Chinese man’s son. This man was a tea blender, and legend has it he created Earl Grey tea and presented it to Charles as a “Thank You” gift. However, as Charles Grey never set foot in China, this theory is a little wobbly, and historians believe it was more likely delivered by an envoy on his return from China.

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Another theory suggests Earl Grey tea was crafted specifically to suit the water at the Earl’s Northumberland home. Apparently, the water contained such a high mineral content that it required a tea that complimented its taste, rather than clash with it, and the citrus taste of bergamot delivered the winning combination.

According to a third theory, the creation of Earl Grey tea was simply a happy accident! Apparently, when a shipment of black tea leaves and bergamot oranges were shipped together from diplomats in China as a gift to the Earl, the citrus flavor was absorbed by the tea, resulting in the much-loved Early Grey blend.

Several other theories abound as to Earl Grey’s true origin, but one thing historians agree on is that of them all, one of the top three is the most likely.

How is Earl Grey produced

Earl Grey is traditionally defined as a black tea that has been flavored with the oil of bergamot. But what is bergamot oil, where does it come from, and how does it blend with black tea to form a classic combination? Bergamot oil is extracted from the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit. The fruit is used to make marmalades and the scent is often used in fragrance shops as it is very popular in perfumes. The majority of bergamot oranges are grown in Italy’s Reggio di Calabria province. It takes about 100 oranges to produce just 3 ounces of oil! A classic, traditional Earl Grey tea starts with a base of black tea leaves, a Darjeeling or Ceylon for example. Once the tea leaves have been withered, dried and oxidized they are flavored with the bergamot oil extracted for a powerful aroma and rich flavor. Every blend of Earl Grey is different; the tea-to-bergamot ratio is dependent on each variety.

Tea is great for cooking and baking because at the core of the product there is flavor! You can use it in so many different ways; sauces, syrups, chocolate, cocktails, etc. Earl Grey has a unique, floral flavor that can really work well within food.

Types of Earl Grey Tea

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Earl Grey is so popular that it has spawned a number of similar teas. One of the most popular of these is Lady Grey, which is usually a blend of Earl Grey and blue cornflower blossoms.

Other popular Earl Grey variations include:

Russian Earl Grey: Earl Grey with pieces of citrus peel mixed in.

Decaf Earl Grey

Earl Red / Red Earl Grey / Earl Rooibos: A bergamot-flavored rooibos.

Earl Green: A bergamot-flavored green tea or, in some cases, a bergamot-flavored pouchong/baozhong.

Tea companies offer other stately names such as Mademoiselle Grey or Lord Grey. These are blended with spices, flowers (such as rose petals or lavender), or other ingredients.

You may see a drink called London fog at some coffee shops and tea shops. This is a tea latte made from Earl Grey, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup.

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