| Earl Grey tea is variety of black tea, blended from | | | | in the tea-loving British Empire. Today most of the |
| different cultivators. The flavor of Earl Grey is | | | | bergamot oil used in this tea is cultivated in Calabria, |
| sweeter than that of standard back tea because of | | | | Italy, where it is also employed by perfumers! |
| the addition of a certain ingredient - bergamot oil! | | | | The versatility of bergamot flavoring in this tea can |
| Bergamot is a small and sour variety of orange-like | | | | be seen in the special brew called London Fog tea. By |
| citrus fruit. | | | | adding a heavy dose of steamed milk tothis tea and |
| It is native to Asia, and was commonly added to | | | | sweetening it with a drop or two of vanilla, you get |
| foods for its strong and citrus flavor. When the peel | | | | a wonderful and wakeful beverage that is probably |
| or rind of the bergamot orange is pressed, the | | | | the best blend of dairy and citrus flavors in the |
| resulting oil is often used in cooking. Was there a real | | | | world, dominated by the rosy flavor of black tea in |
| Earl, and did he invent this version of tea? Yes, there | | | | the foreground. |
| was an Earl Grey, but, no, he didn't invent the drink. | | | | In fact, the use of bergamot has dramatically |
| He was Charles Grey, the Second Earl Grey, and he | | | | increased in many different teas, as various American |
| was the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1830 to | | | | markets have become open to new food products. |
| 1834. It isn't known how he came by the recipe for | | | | Today the label "Earl Grey tea" tends to indicate the |
| this tea, which he gave to the owners of the | | | | presence of bergamot rather than the blending of |
| Jacksons of Piccadilly tea company in 1830. It is | | | | Chinese black teas. |
| almost certain that Chinese diplomats sent the recipe | | | | Jacksons of Picadilly has always insisted that the |
| to Grey as a gift after he won the position of Prime | | | | truest Earl Grey tea has been their own product |
| Minister. | | | | since they received the recipe in 1830, and that it has |
| A tall tale arose around the recipe, which was said to | | | | been a constant seller since that date. They also |
| be a present from a grateful Chinese mandarin, | | | | assert that although the tea is a blend, it is |
| whose son was rescued from drowning in a river by | | | | composed entirely of Chinese leaves. In 1985, the |
| the Earl himself (or one of his men). This would have | | | | recipe for the blend was sold with the Jacksons of |
| been an extraordinary feat, because the Earl never | | | | Picadilly business to the British food conglomerate, |
| traveled to China throughout his life. | | | | Fitch Lovell. Fitch took especial care to assure the |
| The tinting of tea with fruit flavors was common in | | | | British public that the secret recipe would remain a |
| China, but the unique strength of bergamot oil was | | | | national treasure, and today Earl Grey tea is more |
| perfect for the rosy sweetness of black tea. The | | | | popular than ever! |
| brand took off and became one of the most popular | | | | |