There is a particular flavor to Earl Grey tea that makes it a favorite of many people. Slightly smoky, fragrantly scented and spicy, it is a unique taste that you will not find anywhere else. Famous drinkers of Earl Grey tea include Captain Picard of Star Trek.
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 will even use their lower quality black tea to make Early Grey in the belief that the strong flavor of bergamot will mask the poor taste of the tea. Mostly taken black with maybe a slice of lemon added, Earl Grey is nevertheless one of the most popular of all the flavored teas in the world.
The Origin of Earl Grey Tea
The legend is that Earl Grey (Charles Grey, prime minister of Britain from 1830 to 1834) saved the life of a mandarin while on a diplomatic mission to China. In return, the mandarin gave him a gift of some tea which he took back to the UK with him. Earl Grey apparently developed such a taste for the tea that when it started to run out he took some to the tea merchants and demanded they make him a special blend. The new, intriguing flavor subsequently spread throughout the country and then the world.
Unfortunately, this story is unlikely to have any truth to it! Charles Grey never set foot in China, and the mystery of the origin of Earl Grey tea remains unsolved.
What is Bergamot
The bergamot used to flavor Earl Grey comes from a tree that is grown in the south of Italy. A citrus fruit, somewhat like lemon, orange and grapefruit mixed together, the scent is often likened to orange blossom. The oil of the fruit is added to perfume including the original Eau de Cologne from Germany. It is sometimes called The Princes Pear although it is inedible. There is also an herb called bergamot with totally different properties.
The extraction process is very particular: fruit is hand picked in the winter and the essence is crushed out of the bergamot fruit using cold presses purpose built for the process. The oil must be kept in storage for a year or more before it is used. Among its health-giving properties, bergamot is reputed to ease depression, stave off colds and flu, and aid digestion. The oil is used in aromatherapy; perhaps a cup of Earl Grey will help keep you healthy as well as taste delicious!
Lady Grey
Popular consensus in the time of Earl Grey held that tea made women over-excitable, causing impropriety in the female temperament. Orange, lemon and bergamot were added to tea to calm these impulses, and Lady Grey tea was invented. Today many people still enjoy the taste; not limited to female drinkers!
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