Earl Grey tea

Earl Grey tea is a black tea blend, which gets a distinctive flavour and aroma from bergamot oil. (Bergamot is a fragrant citrus fruit; bergamot oil comes from the rind.)

Related Topics:
Black tea - Bergamot - Citrus

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The blend is named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil. The legend usually involves a grateful Chinese mandarin, but this blend of tea was first made from fermented black Indian and "Ceylon" (Sri Lankan) teas, though over the years many other varieties have been used.

Related Topics:
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey - Chinese - India - Sri Lanka

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The tea proved so popular in the Prime Minister's drawing room that his tea merchants, Twinings in the Strand, were given a sample and asked to come up with a close match. Twinings sold the first "Earl Grey's tea" in the British market. Twinings Earl Grey blend includes China tea, Indian Darjeeling, Ceylon, and a hint of Lapsang souchong, a strong, "smoky" black tea.

Related Topics:
Twinings in the Strand - British - Darjeeling - Lapsang souchong

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Twinings also has a similar tea called "Lady Grey" with Seville orange, lemon and bergamot.

Related Topics:
Seville orange - Lemon

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"Earl Green" is a popular name given to Earl Grey-like green teas, such as the Earl Grey Green flavour offered by the Bigelow tea company.

Related Topics:
Green tea - Bigelow

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Earl Grey tea was the favourite tea of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Fictional characters who preferred the tea include Jean-Luc Picard of ', Sir Leigh Teabing from the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, and James Bond, Agent 007 of MI6.

Related Topics:
Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Jean-Luc Picard - Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - James Bond - MI6

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Jacksons of Piccadilly claim that it was they who originated Earl Grey's Tea, the Second Earl Grey having given the recipe to Robert Jackson & Co. partner George Charlton in 1830; according to Jacksons the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on China tea since the beginning. This rivalry between the two tea brands continues despite both being owned by the same parent company today.

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