Earl Grey Tea: The Story Behind the World's Most Famous Flavored Tea
Of all the teas in the world, Earl Grey might be the most iconic. It's the tea that non-tea-drinkers know by name. The tea that appears in every hotel room, every office kitchen, every café menu. The tea that has inspired countless variations — London Fog lattes, Earl Grey cakes, bergamot-infused cocktails — and yet never loses its identity.
But what exactly is Earl Grey? Where does it come from? And what makes a great one?
What Is Earl Grey?
Earl Grey is a black tea flavored with oil of bergamot — a fragrant citrus fruit grown primarily in Calabria, southern Italy. The bergamot orange is too bitter and sour to eat on its own, but its essential oil has one of the most distinctive and beloved aromas in the world: floral, citrusy, and slightly sweet, with a complexity that's unlike any other citrus.
When bergamot oil is applied to black tea leaves, it transforms the tea entirely. The natural malty, robust character of the black tea base becomes something more refined and aromatic — a cup that's simultaneously bold and delicate, familiar and exotic.
The Legend of Earl Grey
The origin story of Earl Grey tea is one of the great legends of the tea world. According to tradition, the blend was created in the 1830s as a gift to Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey and Prime Minister of Britain, by a Chinese mandarin whose son had been rescued from drowning by one of Grey's men. The mandarin blended the tea with bergamot to suit the particular taste of the Earl's water at Howick Hall, his family estate in Northumberland.
Whether the story is entirely true is debated by historians — but it's a good story, and it gave the world one of its most beloved teas.
Our Earl Grey
Our Earl Grey is built on a foundation of high-quality black tea, scented with natural bergamot oil for the authentic floral-citrus character that defines the style. It's the Earl Grey that tastes the way Earl Grey is supposed to taste — aromatic, bold, and unmistakably itself.
What It Tastes Like
- Bergamot citrus and florals — the signature aroma and flavor of Earl Grey
- Malty black tea base — robust and satisfying
- Subtle sweetness — natural and clean
- Medium body — substantial enough to take milk, delicate enough to drink straight
- Bright, clean finish — refreshing and lingering
How to Brew It
Brew Earl Grey with water just off the boil (around 200°F) for 3-4 minutes. Longer steeping brings out more tannins and bitterness — if you like your Earl Grey strong, go 4 minutes; if you prefer it lighter and more floral, 3 minutes is ideal.
It's exceptional on its own, beautiful with a splash of milk, and the base for one of the great café drinks: the London Fog — Earl Grey steeped strong, topped with steamed milk and a touch of vanilla. If you haven't tried it, you're missing out.
The Tea That Started It All.
For many people, Earl Grey is the tea that made them a tea drinker. There's a reason it's been the world's most famous flavored tea for nearly two centuries — it's simply that good.
