| Blended and specialty teas are very popular right | | | | and flavorful, yet it goes with everything. It's a great |
| now. You'll find endless combinations of tea varieties | | | | tea to drink with food, but it's also wonderful on its |
| with any number of flavorings, including fruit flavors, | | | | own. The unique ability of this tea to appeal to |
| spices and herbs. And with this new popularity, you | | | | everyone is what has made it one of the world's |
| can expect to see many new flavors coming out in | | | | best selling teas for many years. |
| the future. Everybody is getting in on the flavored | | | | High quality Tippy Earl Grey is one of the finest Earl |
| tea market. Many tea producers have broadened | | | | Grey's you'll ever find. Quality producers produce a |
| their product lines considerably, and even some | | | | better tasting Earl Grey than many other |
| coffee purveyors are getting in on the flavored tea | | | | manufacturers because of two important factors: |
| market; offering new and exciting combinations. | | | | - They use the best quality tea |
| But, some of the very best blended teas have been | | | | - They have the expertise to blend tea |
| around forever. Consider, for example, Earl Grey Tea. | | | | Many other Earl Grey teas you'll find are made from |
| Nearly everyone has heard of Earl Grey tea, and | | | | low quality black teas. But, quality Earl Grey is made |
| most of us have had a cup now and again. However, | | | | from tea leaves that contain extra tips; the finest |
| many people don't really know what Earl Grey tea is | | | | black tea leaves you can buy. |
| or where it came from, though this blended tea is | | | | After choosing the best tea leaves for this Earl Grey, |
| one of the most popular in both the US and England. | | | | A good blender blends it with natural bergamot oil, |
| Earl Grey tea started out as a blend of Chinese black | | | | not an artificial flavoring. With some other Earl Grey |
| teas, which had not been steamed, mixed with oil | | | | teas, the bergamot flavor is overwhelming. These |
| from the rind of the Bergamot orange. The | | | | tea producers use a very large dose of bergamot to |
| Bergamot orange is a small orange that is shaped | | | | cover up the inferior tea they've used. But, with |
| more like a pear. It is grown primarily in Italy. It is | | | | quality suppliers, the bergamot flavor is more |
| grown on an evergreen tree called a Bergamot, | | | | balanced, letting the great tea flavor come through. |
| which is created by crossing the pear lemon with the | | | | Some high quality Earl Grey teas also contain |
| Seville orange or the grapefruit. Today, most Earl | | | | lavender, which is not common in most Earl Grey's. |
| Grey is made with Indian or Sri Lankan black tea. But | | | | The lavender is calming and relaxing, toning down the |
| it is the addition of the Bergamot oil that gives it the | | | | citrus intensity. The lavender provides a wonderful |
| special flavor. The flavor is distinctly citrus, but not as | | | | aroma and just a hint of additional flavor to the tea. |
| sweet as the flavor of a navel or other traditional | | | | Creating great flavored and specialty teas is all about |
| orange. | | | | balance. Tea producers must work long and hard to |
| This tea is named for Earl Charles Grey, who was a | | | | find exactly the right recipe to create the perfect |
| diplomat for Britain. Earl Grey went on a diplomatic | | | | flavor. If the balance of tea to flavoring is not right, |
| mission to China, where legend has it that he saved | | | | the flavor and the quality are compromised. That's |
| the life of the son of a local Mandarin Chinese man. | | | | why choosing a tea purveyor who uses only the |
| The boy was drowning and the Earl pulled him from | | | | best tea leaves blended in just the right amounts |
| the water. The man gave the Earl the recipe for the | | | | with the highest quality natural ingredients is so critical. |
| tea as a gift of gratitude. The Earl passed the recipe | | | | If you choose anything less, you're not getting the |
| on to his tea merchant, who began to blend the tea | | | | cup of tea you deserve. |
| for his private use. However, the tea flavor soon got | | | | Flavored and specialty teas are a dime a dozen |
| out to the public, and became an instant hit. | | | | today. Some of them are excellent, using inventive |
| Earl Grey later went on to become the Prime Minister | | | | combinations of high quality teas with spices, fruits |
| of England from 1830-1834. During his tenure as Prime | | | | and herbs. Some of them, on the other hand, are |
| Minister, he passed the act to abolish slavery in the | | | | mediocre and expected. |
| British Empire. He is also credited with ending the | | | | But, it's certain that you'll enjoy the adventure of |
| monopoly on tea imports long held by the East India | | | | trying many of these new combinations. But, while |
| Company. Yet, he is most remembered for being the | | | | you're at it - don't forget the Earl Grey. It's the |
| person who brought this delicious tea to England. | | | | original blended tea - and it's still one of the very |
| Earl Grey's flavor is so popular because it is distinct | | | | best. |