Earl Grey tea

Earl Grey tea is a tea blend which has been flavoured with oil of bergamot. The rind's fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste.[1] However, many if not most Earl Greys use artificial bergamot flavour.[2]

Hot Earl Grey tea made in a teapot, and decanted into a teacup

Traditionally, Earl Grey was made from black teas such as Chinese keemun, and therefore intended to be served without milk.[3] Some blend the tea with lapsang souchong tea which lends a smoky character. Other varieties have been introduced as well, such as green or oolong.[4]

History

The earliest reference to tea flavoured with bergamot dates to 1824; however the article in question makes no mention of Earl Grey. Bergamot seems to have been used to enhance the taste of low-quality teas.[5] In 1837, charges were laid against a company accused of secretly adding bergamot to misrepresent their tea as a superior product (and sell it at a higher price).[5]

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, likely namesake of Earl Grey tea

It has been suggested that the Earl Grey blend, or "Earl Grey's Mixture", may have been named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830s.[6] However, the fact that adding bergamot to tea was being done in a disreputable manner near the time of his death suggests that, while it is possible that the second Earl Grey encountered tea flavoured with bergamot, it seems rather unlikely that he would have championed it.[5] Nonetheless, there have been a number of theories attempting to link the tea to the earl.

One legend claims that a grateful Chinese mandarin whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men first presented the blend to the Earl in 1803. The tale appears to be apocryphal, as Lord Grey never travelled to China[7] and the use of bergamot oil to scent tea was then unknown in China. However, this tale is subsequently told (and slightly corrected) on the Twinings website, as "having been presented by an envoy on his return from China".[8]

Another legend claims that he received as a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, tea flavoured with bergamot oil,[9] perhaps as a result of his ending the monopoly held by the East India Company on trade between Britain and China.[10]

According to the Grey family, the tea was specially blended by a Chinese mandarin for Lord Grey, to suit the water at Howick Hall, the family seat in Northumberland, using bergamot in particular to offset the preponderance of lime in the local water. Lady Grey used it to entertain in London as a political hostess, and it proved so popular that she was asked if it could be sold to others, which was how Twinings came to market it as a brand.[11]

Jacksons of Piccadilly claim they originated Earl Grey's Tea, Lord Grey having given the recipe to George Charlton, partner at Robert Jackson & Co., in 1830. According to Jacksons, the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on Chinese black tea since the beginning.[12][13]

Alternative theories

Other theories for the provenance of the tea suggest that its development had nothing to do with any Earl, and that the title was added at a later date.

References have been found in old advertisements dating to the 1850s and 1860s (after the death of the second Earl of Grey) to "Grey's Tea" or "Grey's mixture", with the earliest being attributed to a tea merchant named William Grey in 1852. The first known published references to an "Earl Grey" tea are advertisements by Charlton & Co. of Jermyn Street in London in the 1880s.[14] It has been suggested that the "Earl" title was added to make the tea seem more posh, or alternately that it became associated with Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey, who was alive when the "Earl" title began to be attributed to the tea.[5]

Modern Impressions

A 2010 survey found that a significant number of people in the United Kingdom associate drinking Earl Grey tea with being "posh" or "middle class".[15][16] Earl Grey tea has also been associated with Patrick Stewart's character Jean-Luc Picard, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation.[17][18]

Preparation and variations
Earl Grey tea leaves

"Earl Grey" as applied to tea is not a registered trademark,[19] and numerous tea companies produce their own versions of Earl Grey tea, using a wide variety of tea leaves and additives.

Bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) is a small citrus tree which blossoms during the winter and is grown commercially in Calabria, Italy.[20][21] It is probably a hybrid of Citrus limetta (sweet lime) and Citrus aurantium (bitter orange).[22]

Like other black teas, the tea leaves used in Earl Grey are green when harvested, and undergo oxidation during processing. This results in a change in their chemical composition, a darker colour, and a stronger flavour.[23] Occasionally, green tea leaves or oolong leaves are used in place of the black tea leaves. When this is the case, the oxidation process is shortened or skipped. There are two methods of flavouring tea leaves to get Earl Grey tea.[23] The first, which is said to result in a stronger citrus flavour, is the coating or spraying of the black tea leaves with bergamot essential oils. The second method is the addition of dried bergamot orange rinds to the Earl Grey tea blend. With this method, the citrus flavour infuses the black tea leaves during the brewing process.[23]

The process of brewing the tea to drink it varies significantly, depending on personal preference. Opinions vary on the preferred method of boiling the water, as well as the ideal steeping time. Steeping tea for too long results in a bitter flavour; two to three minutes is a common recommendation, although some recommend as long as five minutes in order to "enjoy the full benefit of the citrus aroma."[23][24]

  • There are different varieties of a tea known as Lady Grey; the two most common kinds are cornflower Lady Grey and citrus Lady Grey, which combine Earl Grey tea with cornflower and Seville oranges, respectively. "Lady Grey" is a trademark of Twinings.[25]
  • A beverage called "London fog" is a combination of Earl Grey, steamed milk and vanilla syrup.[26]
  • There are variations available including such ingredients as jasmine, as well as various flowers.[27] A blend with added rose petals is known as French Earl Grey, which has become the most popular blend at Australian tea store T2.
  • A variety called Russian Earl Grey often contains ingredients such as citrus peels and lemon grass in addition to the usual black tea and bergamot.
  • A variety called Earl Grey Crème contains ingredients or flavours such as black tea, lavender, bergamot, and vanilla.[28]
  • Several companies make a tea called Earl Grey Green or "Earl Green" tea, replacing black tea with green tea leaves. A similar variation called Earl Grey White or "Earl White" tea combines white tea leaves with bergamot flavouring.
  • Rooibos Earl Grey is a variation using this South African herbal tea as a substitute for black tea.
  • Earl Grey milk tea is a popular boba tea flavoured drink in many Asian countries[29]

Use as a flavouring
Mug of Earl Grey tea

Earl Grey tea is used as a flavouring for many types of cakes and confectionery, such as chocolates, as well as savoury sauces.[30][31] Flavouring a sauce with tea is normally done by adding tea bags to the basic stock, boiling for a few minutes, and then discarding the bags. For sweet recipes, loose tea is often added to melted butter or hot cream and strained after the flavour is infused.[32][33][34]

Tea research and possible drug interaction
See also: Health effects of tea and Black tea § Research

There is no conclusive evidence of any health effects specific to Earl Grey tea; consumption of black tea (which includes Earl Grey) may help improve alertness.[35][36]

The caffeine in black tea may interfere with the intended therapeutic effects of various prescription drugs.[36]

References
  1. Richardson, Ben (6 April 2006). "Bergamot growers get whiff of success". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  2. D'Offay, Timothy (11 April 2023). Leaf Tea. Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN 978-1-78879-534-0.
  3. "Should You Put Milk in Earl Grey Tea?". The Tea Haus. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  4. Jane Pettigrew (7 March 2014). Tea Classified: A Tealover's Companion. Pavilion Books.
  5. "Early Grey: The results of the OED Appeal on Earl Grey tea". public.oed.com/. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  6. "A Brief History of Earl Grey". World Tea News. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  7. Pettigrew, Jane (2004). The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Connoisseur's Guides). Philadelphia, Pa: Running Press Book Publishers. ISBN 0-7624-2150-9.
  8. "Earl Grey". Twiningsusashop.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  9. Kramer, Ione. All the Tea in China. China Books, 1990. ISBN 0-8351-2194-1. Pages 180-181.
  10. "Charles, Earl Grey (1764-1845)". www.historyhome.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. "Earl Grey Tea House at Howick Hall Gardens". Howick Hall Gardens. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  12. Fenix, Micky (24 July 2008). "More Than Just A Pot Of Tea". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Stephen Twining traced back his family's business to the 1700s, when coffee houses as meeting places were the vogue. How ironic that it was in the company's coffee house where tea was introduced. Earl Grey tea makes Stephen Twining wish he could move back time because the company did not lay claim to the formula, or the name, when they had produced the blend for the British Prime Minister who was known as the second Earl Grey.
  13. Pagano, Margareta (3 July 1985). "The secret of Earl Grey tea is changing hands at last / Sale of Jacksons of Piccadilly to Fitch Lovell food manufacturing group". The Guardian (London). The original secret formula for Earl Grey tea is changing hands after 155 years with its sole proprietors, the Jacksons of Piccadilly tea merchants... with the sale goes the special recipe of the Earl Grey blend which was entrusted to Robert Jackson's partner, George Charlton, in 1830 by the second Earl Grey. To this day the formula—which mixes black China tea with other unknown teas—has remained unaltered.
  14. "History of Earl Grey Tea | Bergamot and Black Tea Blend". www.teaforte.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. "Want to seem posh? Employ a cleaner and drink Earl Grey". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  16. "Survey Results". 20 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  17. Whitbrook, James (16 June 2020). "Sorry, Captain Picard, Your Taste in Tea Sucks". Gizmodo. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  18. "It's Captain Picard Day, celebrate with some tea, Earl Grey, hot". CNET. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  19. "Review: Twinings Earl Grey tea". 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  20. Houston, Muiris (30 September 2002). "Have your cuppa, but go easy on the Earl Grey". The Irish Times. ...Bergamot contains the psoralen derivatives bergapten and bergamottin. The adverse effects of bergamot oil in this patient are explained by the action of bergapten as a potassium channel blocker within muscle cells. By interrupting the normal flow of potassium, the cells become hyperexcitable, leading to the visible movements and cramps within the muscles. By drinking four litres a day of Earl Grey (equivalent to at least 16 cups of tea), the Austrian man was simply overdosing on essence of bergamot.
  21. "Citrus bergamia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  22. "RFLP Analysis of the Origin of Citrus Bergamia, Citrus Jambhiri, and Citrus Limonia". International Society for Horticultural Science. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  23. "5 Secrets to the Perfect Cup of Earl Grey Tea". Tea Forte. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  24. "How To Steep A Perfect Cup Of Earl Grey Tea". Goodwyn Tea. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  25. "Justicia trademark database". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  26. Nye, Valerie; Barco, Kathy (2009). Breakfast New Mexico Style. Sunstone Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-86534-716-8. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  27. Cooper, Nathanael (18 October 2008). "Tea for 2 or 2 for tea". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  28. Johnson, David (14 August 2020). "The Best Black Tea for When Coffee Won't Do". Robb Report. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  29. Lai, Katty (18 June 2020). "BUBBLE TEA CRAZE in Southeast Asia". mise en place. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  30. Joachim, David (2001). Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks: 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions. Rodale. p. 502. ISBN 978-1-57954-301-3. Retrieved 23 September 2016. Earl Grey shallot sauce.
  31. Miller, Norman (11 April 2009). "Why tea is the new spice rack must-have". The Times.
  32. Boyle, Tish (2002). The good cookie: over 250 delicious recipes from simple to sublime. John Wiley and Sons. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-471-38791-6. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2016. Chocolate dipped Earl Grey shortbread wedges.
  33. Schneider, Edward (16 January 2002). "Cooking With Tea; "As for pears, I poached them in Earl Grey, a tea with impeccable prime ministerial credentials."". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  34. Wareing, Marcus (7 March 2008). "Earl Grey tea cream and Eccles cakes". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  35. Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, Clarke A, Stranges S, Hooper L, Rees K (June 2013). "Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis). 2013 (6): CD009934. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009934.pub2. PMC 7433290. PMID 23780706.
  36. "Black tea: How effective is it?". MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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