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Earl Grey tea is a tea blend which has been flavoured with oil of bergamot. The rind's fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste.^[1] However, many if not most Earl Greys use artificial bergamot flavour.^[2]

Traditionally, Earl Grey was made from black teas such as Chinese keemun, and therefore intended to be served without milk.^[3] Sometimes it is blended with lapsang souchong tea, which lends a smoky character. Other varieties have been introduced as well, such as green or oolong.^[4]

History

The earliest reference to tea flavoured with bergamot dates to 1824; however the article in question makes no mention of Earl Grey. Bergamot seems to have been used to enhance the taste of low-quality teas.^[5] In 1837, charges were laid against a company accused of secretly adding bergamot to misrepresent their tea as a superior product and thus selling it at a higher price.^[5]

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey

It has been suggested that the Earl Grey blend, or "Earl Grey's Mixture", may have been named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830s.^[6] However, the fact that adding bergamot to tea was being done in a disreputable manner near the time of his death suggests that, while it is possible that the second Earl Grey encountered tea flavoured with bergamot, it seems rather unlikely that he would have championed it.^[5] Nonetheless, there have been a number of theories attempting to link the tea to the earl.

One legend claims that a grateful Chinese mandarin, whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men, first presented the blend to the Earl in 1803. The tale appears to be apocryphal, as Lord Grey never travelled to China^[7] and the use of bergamot oil to scent tea was then unknown in China. However, this tale is subsequently told (and slightly corrected) on the Twinings website, as "having been presented by an envoy on his return from China".^[8]

Another legend claims that he received as a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, tea flavoured with bergamot oil,^[9] perhaps as a result of his ending the monopoly held by the East India Company on trade between Britain and China.^[10]

According to the Grey family, the tea was specially blended by a Chinese mandarin for Lord Grey, to suit the water at Howick Hall, the family seat in Northumberland, using bergamot in particular to offset the preponderance of lime in the local water. Lady Grey used it to entertain in London as a political hostess, and it proved so popular that she was asked if it could be sold to others, which was how Twinings came to market it as a brand.^[11]

Jacksons of Piccadilly claim they originated Earl Grey's Tea, Lord Grey having given the recipe to George Charlton, partner at Robert Jackson & Co., in 1830. According to Jacksons, the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on Chinese black tea since the beginning.^[12]^[13]

Alternative theories

Other theories for the provenance of the tea suggest that its development had nothing to do with any Earl, and that the title was added at a later date.

References have been found in old advertisements dating to the 1850s and 1860s (after the death of the second Earl of Grey) to "Grey's Tea" or "Grey's mixture", with the earliest being attributed to a tea merchant named William Grey in 1852. The first known published references to an "Earl Grey" tea are advertisements by Charlton & Co. of Jermyn Street in London in the 1880s.^[14] It has been suggested that the "Earl" title was added to make the tea seem more posh, or alternately that it became associated with Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey, who was alive when the "Earl" title began to be attributed to the tea.^[5]

Modern impressions

A 2010 survey found that a significant number of people in the United Kingdom associate drinking Earl Grey tea with being "posh" or "middle class".^[15]^[16] Earl Grey tea has also been associated with Patrick Stewart's character Jean-Luc Picard, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation.^[17]^[18]

Preparation and variations

"Earl Grey" as applied to tea is not a registered trademark,^[19] and numerous tea companies produce their own versions of Earl Grey tea, using a wide variety of tea leaves and additives.

Bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia), a probable hybrid of the lemon and bitter orange,^[20] is a small citrus tree which blossoms during the winter. It is grown extensively in Calabria, Italy, accounting for 90% of the world's bergamot oil production.^[21]

Like other black teas, the tea leaves used in Earl Grey are green when harvested, and undergo oxidation during processing. This results in a change in their chemical composition, a darker colour, and a stronger flavour.^[22] Occasionally, green tea leaves or oolong leaves are used in place of the black tea leaves. When this is the case, the oxidation process is shortened or skipped. There are two methods of flavouring tea leaves to get Earl Grey tea.^[22] The first, which is said to result in a stronger citrus flavour, is the coating or spraying of the black tea leaves with bergamot essential oils. The second method is the addition of dried bergamot orange rinds to the Earl Grey tea blend. With this method, the citrus flavour infuses the black tea leaves during the brewing process.^[22]

The process of brewing the tea to drink it varies significantly, depending on personal preference. Opinions vary on the preferred method of boiling the water, as well as the ideal steeping time. Steeping tea for too long results in a bitter flavour; two to three minutes is a common recommendation, although some recommend as long as five minutes in order to "enjoy the full benefit of the citrus aroma."^[22]^[23]

There are different varieties of a tea known as Lady Grey; the two most common kinds are cornflower Lady Grey and citrus Lady Grey, which combine Earl Grey tea with cornflower and Seville oranges, respectively. "Lady Grey" is a trademark of Twinings.^[24]
A beverage called "London fog" is a combination of Earl Grey, steamed milk and vanilla syrup.^[25]
There are variations available including such ingredients as jasmine, as well as various flowers.^[26] A blend with added rose petals is known as French Earl Grey, which has become the most popular blend at Australian tea store T2.
A variety called Russian Earl Grey often contains ingredients such as citrus peels and lemon grass in addition to the usual black tea and bergamot.
A variety called Earl Grey Crème contains ingredients or flavours such as black tea, lavender, bergamot, and vanilla.^[27]
Several companies make a tea called Earl Grey Green or "Earl Green" tea, replacing black tea with green tea leaves. A similar variation called Earl Grey White or "Earl White" tea combines white tea leaves with bergamot flavouring.
Rooibos Earl Grey is a variation using this South African herbal tea as a substitute for black tea.
Earl Grey milk tea is a popular boba tea flavoured drink in many Asian countries.^[28]

Use as a flavouring

Earl Grey tea is used as a flavouring for many types of cakes and confectionery, such as chocolates, as well as savoury sauces.^[29]^[30] Flavouring a sauce with tea is normally done by adding tea bags to the basic stock, boiling for a few minutes, and then discarding the bags. For sweet recipes, loose tea is often added to melted butter or hot cream and strained after the flavour is infused.^[31]^[32]^[33]

Tea research and possible drug interaction

There is no conclusive evidence of any health effects specific to Earl Grey tea; consumption of black tea, which includes Earl Grey, may help improve alertness.^[34]^[35]

The caffeine in black tea may interfere with the intended therapeutic effects of various prescription drugs.^[35]

References

^ Richardson, Ben (6 April 2006). "Bergamot growers get whiff of success". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
^ D'Offay, Timothy (11 April 2023). Leaf Tea. Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN 978-1-78879-534-0.
^ "Should You Put Milk in Earl Grey Tea?". The Tea Haus. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
^ Jane Pettigrew (7 March 2014). Tea Classified: A Tealover's Companion. Pavilion Books.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Early Grey: The results of the OED Appeal on Earl Grey tea". public.oed.com/. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
^ "A Brief History of Earl Grey". World Tea News. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ Pettigrew, Jane (2004). The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Connoisseur's Guides). Philadelphia, Pa: Running Press Book Publishers. ISBN 0-7624-2150-9.
^ "Earl Grey". Twiningsusashop.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
^ Kramer, Ione. All the Tea in China. China Books, 1990. ISBN 0-8351-2194-1. Pages 180-181.
^ "Charles, Earl Grey (1764-1845)". www.historyhome.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ "Earl Grey Tea House at Howick Hall Gardens". Howick Hall Gardens. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
^ Fenix, Micky (24 July 2008). "More Than Just A Pot Of Tea". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Stephen Twining traced back his family's business to the 1700s, when coffee houses as meeting places were the vogue. How ironic that it was in the company's coffee house where tea was introduced. Earl Grey tea makes Stephen Twining wish he could move back time because the company did not lay claim to the formula, or the name, when they had produced the blend for the British Prime Minister who was known as the second Earl Grey.
^ Pagano, Margareta (3 July 1985). "The secret of Earl Grey tea is changing hands at last / Sale of Jacksons of Piccadilly to Fitch Lovell food manufacturing group". The Guardian (London). The original secret formula for Earl Grey tea is changing hands after 155 years with its sole proprietors, the Jacksons of Piccadilly tea merchants... with the sale goes the special recipe of the Earl Grey blend which was entrusted to Robert Jackson's partner, George Charlton, in 1830 by the second Earl Grey. To this day the formula—which mixes black China tea with other unknown teas—has remained unaltered.
^ "History of Earl Grey Tea | Bergamot and Black Tea Blend". www.teaforte.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ "Want to seem posh? Employ a cleaner and drink Earl Grey". The Telegraph. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
^ "Survey Results". 20 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^ Whitbrook, James (16 June 2020). "Sorry, Captain Picard, Your Taste in Tea Sucks". Gizmodo. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
^ "It's Captain Picard Day, celebrate with some tea, Earl Grey, hot". CNET. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
^ "Review: Twinings Earl Grey tea". 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
^ Curk, Franck; Ollitrault, Frédérique; Garcia-Lor, Andres; Luro, François; Navarro, Luis; Ollitrault, Patrick (4 March 2016). "Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers". Annals of Botany. 117 (4): 565–583. doi:10.1093/aob/mcw005. ISSN 0305-7364. PMC 4817432. PMID 26944784.
^ "Italy: Responsibly sourcing bergamot from Calabria | Givaudan". Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "5 Secrets to the Perfect Cup of Earl Grey Tea". Tea Forte. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
^ "How To Steep A Perfect Cup Of Earl Grey Tea". Goodwyn Tea. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
^ "Justicia trademark database". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
^ Nye, Valerie; Barco, Kathy (2009). Breakfast New Mexico Style. Sunstone Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-86534-716-8. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
^ Cooper, Nathanael (18 October 2008). "Tea for 2 or 2 for tea". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
^ Johnson, David (14 August 2020). "The Best Black Tea for When Coffee Won't Do". Robb Report. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^ Lai, Katty (18 June 2020). "BUBBLE TEA CRAZE in Southeast Asia". mise en place. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^ Joachim, David (2001). Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks: 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions. Rodale. p. 502. ISBN 978-1-57954-301-3. Retrieved 23 September 2016. Earl Grey shallot sauce.
^ Miller, Norman (11 April 2009). "Why tea is the new spice rack must-have". The Times.^{[dead link‍]}
^ Boyle, Tish (2002). The good cookie: over 250 delicious recipes from simple to sublime. John Wiley and Sons. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-471-38791-6. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2016. Chocolate dipped Earl Grey shortbread wedges.
^ Schneider, Edward (16 January 2002). "Cooking With Tea; "As for pears, I poached them in Earl Grey, a tea with impeccable prime ministerial credentials."". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
^ Wareing, Marcus (7 March 2008). "Earl Grey tea cream and Eccles cakes". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
^ Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, Clarke A, Stranges S, Hooper L, Rees K (June 2013). "Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis). 2013 (6): CD009934. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009934.pub2. PMC 7433290. PMID 23780706.
^ ^a ^b "Black tea: How effective is it?". MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2023.

External links

Media related to Earl Grey tea at Wikimedia Commons

[1] Richardson, Ben (6 April 2006). "Bergamot growers get whiff of success". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.

[2] D'Offay, Timothy (11 April 2023). Leaf Tea. Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN 978-1-78879-534-0.

[3] "Should You Put Milk in Earl Grey Tea?". The Tea Haus. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

[4] Jane Pettigrew (7 March 2014). Tea Classified: A Tealover's Companion. Pavilion Books.

[public.oed.com-5] "Early Grey: The results of the OED Appeal on Earl Grey tea". public.oed.com/. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2022.

[:0-6] "A Brief History of Earl Grey". World Tea News. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[7] Pettigrew, Jane (2004). The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Connoisseur's Guides). Philadelphia, Pa: Running Press Book Publishers. ISBN 0-7624-2150-9.

[8] "Earl Grey". Twiningsusashop.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.

[9] Kramer, Ione. All the Tea in China. China Books, 1990. ISBN 0-8351-2194-1. Pages 180-181.

[10] "Charles, Earl Grey (1764-1845)". www.historyhome.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[11] "Earl Grey Tea House at Howick Hall Gardens". Howick Hall Gardens. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2011.

[Twining-12] Fenix, Micky (24 July 2008). "More Than Just A Pot Of Tea". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Stephen Twining traced back his family's business to the 1700s, when coffee houses as meeting places were the vogue. How ironic that it was in the company's coffee house where tea was introduced. Earl Grey tea makes Stephen Twining wish he could move back time because the company did not lay claim to the formula, or the name, when they had produced the blend for the British Prime Minister who was known as the second Earl Grey.

[secret-13] Pagano, Margareta (3 July 1985). "The secret of Earl Grey tea is changing hands at last / Sale of Jacksons of Piccadilly to Fitch Lovell food manufacturing group". The Guardian (London). The original secret formula for Earl Grey tea is changing hands after 155 years with its sole proprietors, the Jacksons of Piccadilly tea merchants... with the sale goes the special recipe of the Earl Grey blend which was entrusted to Robert Jackson's partner, George Charlton, in 1830 by the second Earl Grey. To this day the formula—which mixes black China tea with other unknown teas—has remained unaltered.

[14] "History of Earl Grey Tea | Bergamot and Black Tea Blend". www.teaforte.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[15] "Want to seem posh? Employ a cleaner and drink Earl Grey". The Telegraph. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.

[16] "Survey Results". 20 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2016.

[17] Whitbrook, James (16 June 2020). "Sorry, Captain Picard, Your Taste in Tea Sucks". Gizmodo. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

[18] "It's Captain Picard Day, celebrate with some tea, Earl Grey, hot". CNET. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

[19] "Review: Twinings Earl Grey tea". 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[20] Curk, Franck; Ollitrault, Frédérique; Garcia-Lor, Andres; Luro, François; Navarro, Luis; Ollitrault, Patrick (4 March 2016). "Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers". Annals of Botany. 117 (4): 565–583. doi:10.1093/aob/mcw005. ISSN 0305-7364. PMC 4817432. PMID 26944784.

[21] "Italy: Responsibly sourcing bergamot from Calabria | Givaudan". Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

[:1-22] "5 Secrets to the Perfect Cup of Earl Grey Tea". Tea Forte. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.

[23] "How To Steep A Perfect Cup Of Earl Grey Tea". Goodwyn Tea. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

[24] "Justicia trademark database". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

[Nye2009-25] Nye, Valerie; Barco, Kathy (2009). Breakfast New Mexico Style. Sunstone Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-86534-716-8. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2010.

[26] Cooper, Nathanael (18 October 2008). "Tea for 2 or 2 for tea". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 13 November 2009.

[27] Johnson, David (14 August 2020). "The Best Black Tea for When Coffee Won't Do". Robb Report. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.

[28] Lai, Katty (18 June 2020). "BUBBLE TEA CRAZE in Southeast Asia". mise en place. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

[Joachim2001-29] Joachim, David (2001). Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks: 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions. Rodale. p. 502. ISBN 978-1-57954-301-3. Retrieved 23 September 2016. Earl Grey shallot sauce.

[Miller2009-30] Miller, Norman (11 April 2009). "Why tea is the new spice rack must-have". The Times.^{[dead link‍]}

[Boyle2002-31] Boyle, Tish (2002). The good cookie: over 250 delicious recipes from simple to sublime. John Wiley and Sons. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-471-38791-6. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2016. Chocolate dipped Earl Grey shortbread wedges.

[32] Schneider, Edward (16 January 2002). "Cooking With Tea; "As for pears, I poached them in Earl Grey, a tea with impeccable prime ministerial credentials."". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2009.

[BBC1507-33] Wareing, Marcus (7 March 2008). "Earl Grey tea cream and Eccles cakes". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2009.

[Hartley2013-34] Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, Clarke A, Stranges S, Hooper L, Rees K (June 2013). "Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis). 2013 (6): CD009934. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009934.pub2. PMC 7433290. PMID 23780706.

[medline-35] "Black tea: How effective is it?". MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2023.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Tea blend flavoured with oil of bergamot}}
-{{double image|right|Earl Grey Tea.jpg|200|Cup of Earl Gray.jpg|200|Earl Grey tea leaves|A cup of the brewed tea}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
-'''Earl Grey tea''' is a [[tea]] blend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the [[peel (fruit)|rind]] of the [[bergamot orange]], a fragrant citrus fruit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4883068.stm|first=Ben |last=Richardson |title=Bergamot growers get whiff of success|date=6 April 2006|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
+{{Use Oxford spelling|date=January 2021}}
+[[File:Frisch aufgebrühter EarlGrey Tee.jpg|300px|thumb|Hot Earl Grey tea made in a [[teapot]], and decanted into a [[teacup]]]]
+'''Earl Grey tea''' is a [[Tea blending and additives|tea blend]] which has been flavoured with [[Bergamot essential oil|oil of bergamot]]. The rind's fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4883068.stm|first=Ben|last=Richardson|title=Bergamot growers get whiff of success|date=6 April 2006|work=BBC News|access-date=7 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126110923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4883068.stm|archive-date=26 November 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> However, many if not most Earl Greys use artificial bergamot flavour.<ref>{{Cite book |last=D'Offay |first=Timothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pUuWEAAAQBAJ |title=Leaf Tea |date=11 April 2023 |publisher=Ryland Peters & Small |isbn=978-1-78879-534-0 |language=en}}</ref>
+Traditionally, Earl Grey was made from [[black tea]]s such as Chinese [[keemun]], and therefore intended to be served without milk.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Should You Put Milk in Earl Grey Tea? |url=https://theteahaus.com/teajournal1/post/should-you-put-milk-in-earl-grey-tea.html |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=The Tea Haus |language=en}}</ref> Sometimes it is blended with [[lapsang souchong]] tea, which lends a smoky character. Other varieties have been introduced as well, such as [[Green tea|green]] or [[oolong]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Tea Classified: A Tealover's Companion|author=Jane Pettigrew|publisher=Pavilion Books|date=7 March 2014}}</ref>
-Traditionally, the term "Earl Grey" has applied only to [[black tea]]s that contain [[Bergamot essential oil|oil of bergamot]] as a flavouring.
 ==History==
+The earliest reference to tea flavoured with bergamot dates to 1824; however the article in question makes no mention of Earl Grey. Bergamot seems to have been used to enhance the taste of low-quality teas.<ref name="public.oed.com">{{Cite web|title=Early Grey: The results of the OED Appeal on Earl Grey tea|url=https://public.oed.com/blog/early-grey-the-results-of-the-oed-appeal-on-earl-grey-tea/|access-date=21 January 2022|website=public.oed.com/|date=3 April 2013|language=en}}</ref> In 1837, charges were laid against a company accused of secretly adding bergamot to misrepresent their tea as a superior product and thus selling it at a higher price.<ref name="public.oed.com"/>
-[[File:Bergamotfruit.jpg|thumb|A [[bergamot orange]] from Calabria, Italy]]
-Tea flavoured with bergamot to imitate the more expensive types of Chinese tea has been known in England at least since the 1820s. In 1837 there is a record of court proceedings against Brocksop & Co. who were found to have supplied tea "artificially scented, and, drugged with bergamot in this country", but there is no known published reference to an 'Earl Grey' tea before advertisements by Charlton & Co. of Jermyn Street in London in the 1880s, though 'Grey's Tea' is known from the 1850s <ref>{{cite web|title=Foods of England|url=http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/earlgreytea.htm|accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref>
+=== Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey ===
-The Earl Grey blend, or "Earl Grey's Mixture", is assumed to be named after the [[Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey|2nd Earl Grey]], British [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] in the 1830s and author of the [[Reform Bill of 1832]], who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic [[Employee benefit|perquisite]], of tea flavoured with [[Bergamot essential oil|bergamot oil]].<ref>Kramer, Ione. ''All the Tea in China''. China Books, 1990. ISBN 0-8351-2194-1. Pages 180-181.</ref> [[Bergamot orange]] (''Citrus bergamia'') is a small [[citrus]] tree which blossoms during the winter and is grown commercially in [[Italy]].<ref name=bergamottin>{{cite news|publisher=The Irish Times|date=30 September 2002|title=Have your cuppa, but go easy on the Earl Grey|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2002/0930/1033174037304.html|first=Muiris |last=Houston|quote=...Bergamot contains the psoralen derivatives bergapten and bergamottin. The adverse effects of bergamot oil in this patient are explained by the action of bergapten as a potassium channel blocker within muscle cells. By interrupting the normal flow of potassium, the cells become hyperexcitable, leading to the visible movements and cramps within the muscles. By drinking four litres a day of Earl Grey (equivalent to at least 16 cups of tea), the Austrian man was simply overdosing on essence of bergamot.}}</ref><ref name="grin">{{cite web | url = http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?10698 | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network | title = Citrus bergamia Risso & Poit. }}</ref> It is likely a hybrid of ''[[Citrus limetta]]'' and [[bitter orange|''Citrus aurantium'']].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actahort.org/books/535/535_6.htm |title=RFLP Analysis of the Origin of Citrus Bergamia, Citrus Jambhiri, and Citrus Limonia |publisher=International Society for Horticultural Science |accessdate=18 February 2012}}</ref>
+[[File:Grey2.JPG|thumb|''[[Portrait of Earl Grey]]'' by [[Thomas Phillips]], 1820. [[Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey]], the most likely namesake of Earl Grey tea.]]
+It has been suggested that the Earl Grey blend, or "Earl Grey's Mixture", may have been named after [[Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey]], British [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] in the 1830s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=28 October 2013|title=A Brief History of Earl Grey|url=https://worldteanews.com/market-trends-data-and-insights/brief-history-earl-grey|access-date=20 October 2020|website=World Tea News|language=en-US}}</ref> However, the fact that adding bergamot to tea was being done in a disreputable manner near the time of his death suggests that, while it is possible that the second Earl Grey encountered tea flavoured with bergamot, it seems rather unlikely that he would have championed it.<ref name="public.oed.com"/> Nonetheless, there have been a number of theories attempting to link the tea to the earl.
-According to one legend, a grateful [[China|Chinese]] [[Mandarin (bureaucrat)|mandarin]] whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men first presented the blend to the Earl in 1803. The tale appears to be [[Apocrypha|apocryphal]], as Lord Grey never set foot in China<ref>{{cite book |author=Pettigrew, Jane |title=The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Connoisseur's Guides) |publisher=Running Press Book Publishers |location=Philadelphia, Pa |year=2004 |isbn=0-7624-2150-9}}</ref> and the use of bergamot oil to scent tea was then unknown in China.  However, this tale is subsequently told (and slightly corrected) as on the [[Twinings]] website, as "having been presented by an envoy on his return from China".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html |title=Earl Grey |publisher=Twiningsusashop.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-07}}</ref>
+One legend claims that a grateful [[Mandarin (bureaucrat)|Chinese mandarin]], whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men, first presented the blend to the Earl in 1803. The tale appears to be [[apocrypha]]l, as Lord Grey never travelled to China<ref>{{cite book |author=Pettigrew, Jane |title=The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Connoisseur's Guides) |publisher=Running Press Book Publishers |location=Philadelphia, Pa |year=2004 |isbn=0-7624-2150-9}}</ref> and the use of bergamot oil to scent tea was then unknown in China. However, this tale is subsequently told (and slightly corrected) on the [[Twinings]] website, as "having been presented by an envoy on his return from China".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html |title=Earl Grey |publisher=Twiningsusashop.com |access-date=7 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815034140/http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html |archive-date=15 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Another legend claims that he received as a gift, probably a diplomatic [[Employee benefits|perquisite]], tea flavoured with [[Bergamot essential oil|bergamot oil]],<ref>Kramer, Ione. ''All the Tea in China''. China Books, 1990. {{ISBN|0-8351-2194-1}}. Pages 180-181.</ref> perhaps as a result of his ending the monopoly held by the East India Company on trade between Britain and China.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Charles, Earl Grey (1764-1845)|url=http://www.historyhome.co.uk/pms/grey.htm|access-date=20 October 2020|website=www.historyhome.co.uk}}</ref>
-[[Jacksons of Piccadilly]] claim they originated Earl Grey's Tea, Lord 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<!--Chinese black tea?--> since the beginning.<ref name=Twining>{{cite news|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=24 July 2008|url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080723-150279/More-than-just-a-pot-of-tea|title=More Than Just A Pot Of Tea|first=Micky |last=Fenix|quote=Stephen Twining traced back his family's business to the 1700s, when coffee houses as meeting places were the vogue. How ironic that it was in the company's coffee house where tea was introduced. Earl Grey tea makes Stephen Twining wish he could move back time because the company did not lay claim to the formula, or the name, when they had produced the blend for the British Prime Minister who was known as the second Earl Grey.}}</ref><ref name=secret>{{cite news|publisher=The Guardian (London)|date=3 July 1985|title=The secret of Earl Grey tea is changing hands at last / Sale of Jacksons of Piccadilly to Fitch Lovell food manufacturing group|first=Margareta |last=Pagano|quote=The original secret formula for Earl Grey tea is changing hands after 155 years with its sole proprietors, the Jacksons of Piccadilly tea merchants... with the sale goes the special recipe of the Earl Grey blend which was entrusted to Robert Jackson's partner, George Charlton, in 1830 by the second Earl Grey. To this day the formula—which mixes black China tea with other unknown teas—has remained unaltered.}}</ref>
-According to the Grey family, the tea was specially blended by a Chinese mandarin for Lord Grey, to suit the water at [[Howick Hall]], the family seat in Northumberland, using bergamot in particular to offset the preponderance of [[lime (material)|lime]] in the local water. Lady Grey used it to entertain in London as a political hostess, and it proved so popular that she was asked if it could be sold to others, which is how Twinings came to market it as a brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howickhallgardens.org/earlgreyteahouse.php |title=Howick Hall website |publisher=Howickhallgardens.org |date= |accessdate=2011-01-28}}</ref>
+According to the Grey family, the tea was specially blended by a Chinese mandarin for Lord Grey, to suit the water at [[Howick Hall]], the family seat in Northumberland, using bergamot in particular to offset the preponderance of [[lime (material)|lime]] in the local water. Lady Grey used it to entertain in London as a political hostess, and it proved so popular that she was asked if it could be sold to others, which was how Twinings came to market it as a brand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Earl Grey Tea House at Howick Hall Gardens|url=http://www.howickhallgardens.org/earlgreyteahouse.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227051451/http://www.howickhallgardens.org/earlgreyteahouse.php|archive-date=27 December 2010|access-date=28 January 2011|publisher=Howick Hall Gardens}}</ref>
+[[Jacksons of Piccadilly]] claim they originated Earl Grey's Tea, Lord Grey having given the recipe to George Charlton, partner at Robert Jackson & Co., in 1830. According to Jacksons, the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on Chinese black tea since the beginning.<ref name="Twining">{{cite news|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=24 July 2008|url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080723-150279/More-than-just-a-pot-of-tea|title=More Than Just A Pot Of Tea|first=Micky|last=Fenix|quote=Stephen Twining traced back his family's business to the 1700s, when coffee houses as meeting places were the vogue. How ironic that it was in the company's coffee house where tea was introduced. Earl Grey tea makes Stephen Twining wish he could move back time because the company did not lay claim to the formula, or the name, when they had produced the blend for the British Prime Minister who was known as the second Earl Grey.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120184519/http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080723-150279/More-than-just-a-pot-of-tea|archive-date=20 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="secret">{{cite news|publisher=The Guardian (London)|date=3 July 1985|title=The secret of Earl Grey tea is changing hands at last / Sale of Jacksons of Piccadilly to Fitch Lovell food manufacturing group|first=Margareta |last=Pagano|quote=The original secret formula for Earl Grey tea is changing hands after 155 years with its sole proprietors, the Jacksons of Piccadilly tea merchants... with the sale goes the special recipe of the Earl Grey blend which was entrusted to Robert Jackson's partner, George Charlton, in 1830 by the second Earl Grey. To this day the formula—which mixes black China tea with other unknown teas—has remained unaltered.}}</ref>
-==Variations==
-[[File:TwiningsLadyGrey low.jpg|thumb|left|Lady Grey tea leaves]]
+=== Alternative theories ===
-*There are different varieties of a tea known as [[Lady Grey (tea)|Lady Grey]]; the two most common kinds (Lavender Lady Grey and Citrus Lady Grey), which combine Earl Grey tea with lavender and Seville oranges, respectively.
-*A beverage called "[[b:London Fog (beverage)|London Fog]]" is a combination of Earl Grey, steamed [[milk]] and [[vanilla]] syrup.<ref name=Nye2009>{{Cite book |last1=Nye |first1=Valerie |year=2009 |title=Breakfast New Mexico Style |last2=Barco |first2=Kathy |publisher=Sunstone Press |isbn=978-0-86534-716-8 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=tZIrG99D9lUC |page=48 |accessdate=2010-12-07}}</ref>
-*There are variations available including such ingredients as [[jasmine]], as well as various flowers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2008/10/18/tea-2-or-2-tea/|title=Tea for 2 or 2 for tea |last=Cooper|first=Nathanael|date=18 October 2008|publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily|accessdate=13 November 2009}}</ref> A blend with added [[rose]] petals is known as French Earl Grey.
-*A variety called Russian Earl Grey often contains ingredients such as citrus peels and [[lemon grass]] in addition to the usual black tea and bergamot.
-*Also, several companies make a tea called Earl Grey Green or "Earl Green" tea, combining [[green tea]] leaves rather than the traditional black tea leaves with bergamot flavoring.  A similar variation called Earl Grey White or "Earl White" tea combines [[white tea]] leaves with bergamot flavoring.
-*[[Rooibos]] Earl Grey is a variation using this [[South Africa]]n [[tisane]] as a substitute for the conventional form made with black tea. This variation may have originated from [[Malaysia]].
+Other theories for the provenance of the tea suggest that its development had nothing to do with any Earl, and that the title was added at a later date.
-===Twinings reformulation===
-[[Twinings]] reformulated their Earl Grey tea in April 2011, claiming to have added "an extra hint of bergamot and citrus".<ref>{{cite web|last=Jeffery|first=Katherine|title=Calling all Earl Grey lovers...|url=http://www.twinings.co.uk/tea-talk/calling-all-earl-grey-lovers---/|work=Twinings Website|publisher=Twinings|accessdate=28 August 2011}}</ref> The overwhelmingly negative comments on the website were picked up by the press,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lusher|first=Adam|title=Customers revolt as Twinings changes the flavour of its Earl Grey tea - Telegraph|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/8727175/Customers-revolt-as-Twinings-changes-the-flavour-of-its-Earl-Grey-tea.html|accessdate=28 August 2011|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Watkins|first=Alan|title=We're pining for our old Twinings: Furious Earl Grey drinkers dismiss new recipe as 'an affront to tea'  {{!}} Mail Online|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2030922/Were-pining-old-Twinings-Furious-Earl-Grey-drinkers-dismiss-new-recipe-affront-tea.html?ito=feeds-newsxml|accessdate=28 August 2011|newspaper=The Daily Mail|date=27 August 2011}}</ref> who drew attention to the establishment of a related protest group on [[Facebook]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bring back the original Twinings Earl Grey tea|url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-back-the-original-Twinings-Earl-Grey-tea/120766778003307?sk=wall|publisher=facebook|accessdate=28 August 2011}}</ref>
+References have been found in old advertisements dating to the 1850s and 1860s (after the death of the second Earl of Grey) to "Grey's Tea" or "Grey's mixture", with the earliest being attributed to a tea merchant named William Grey in 1852. The first known published references to an "Earl Grey" tea are advertisements by Charlton & Co. of [[Jermyn Street]] in [[London]] in the 1880s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Earl Grey Tea {{!}} Bergamot and Black Tea Blend|url=https://www.teaforte.com/tealiving/the-mysterious-history-of-earl-grey-tea/|access-date=20 October 2020|website=www.teaforte.com|language=en}}</ref> It has been suggested that the "Earl" title was added to make the tea seem more posh, or alternately that it became associated with [[Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey]], who was alive when the "Earl" title began to be attributed to the tea.<ref name="public.oed.com"/>
-===Use as a flavouring===
-Earl Grey tea is used as a flavouring for many types of cakes and confectionery, such as chocolates, as well as savoury sauces.<ref name=Joachim2001>{{Cite book |last=Joachim |first=David |year=2001 |title=Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks: 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions |publisher=Rodale |isbn=978-1-57954-301-3 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=H6Jt42PIqQQC |page=502|quote=Earl Grey shallot sauce.}}</ref><ref name=Miller2009>{{cite news |title=Why tea is the new spice rack must-have |last=Miller |first=Norman |date=11 April 2009 |newspaper=The Times |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article6072842.ece}}</ref> For sauces, the flavour is normally created by adding tea bags to the basic stock, boiling for a few minutes and then discarding the bags. For sweet recipes, loose tea is often added to melted butter or hot cream and strained after the flavour is infused.<ref name=Boyle2002>{{Cite book |last=Boyle |first=Tish |year=2002 |title=The good cookie: over 250 delicious recipes from simple to sublime |publisher=John Wiley and Sons |isbn=978-0-471-38791-6 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=H1MZ08dB4LUC |page=124 |quote=Chocolate dipped Earl Grey shortbread wedges.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/99891436.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+16%2C+2002&author=Edward+Schneider&pub=The+Washington+Post&edition=&startpage=F.01&desc=Cooking+With+Tea%3B+%22As+for+pears%2C+I+poached+them+in+Earl+Grey%2C+a+tea+with+impeccable+prime+ministerial+credentials.%22|title=Cooking With Tea; "As for pears, I poached them in Earl Grey, a tea with impeccable prime ministerial credentials."|last=Schneider|first=Edward|date=16 January 2002|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=13 November 2009}}</ref><ref name=BBC1507>{{cite web |title=Earl Grey tea cream and Eccles cakes|first=Marcus |last=Wareing|date=7 March 2008 |accessdate=13 November 2009 |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/earlgreyteacreamande_86363.shtml |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080307064429/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/earlgreyteacreamande_86363.shtml |archivedate=2008-03-07}}</ref>
+=== Modern impressions ===
-==Toxicology==
-[[File:Lipton Earl Grey in tin.jpg|thumb|Tin of ''Earl Grey'' tea]]
-In several studies, application of high concentrations of some brands of bergamot oil directly to the skin was shown to [[Phytophotodermatitis|increase redness]] after exposure to [[ultraviolet]] light;<ref>{{cite pmid|428611}}</ref><ref>{{cite pmid|17669618}}</ref> however, this should not apply to ordinary oral consumption of Earl Grey tea.  Bergamot is a source of [[bergamottin]] which, along with the chemically related compound [[6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin]], is known to be responsible for the [[grapefruit juice effect]] in which the consumption of the juice affects the metabolism of a variety of pharmaceutical drugs.<ref name=bergamottin/><ref>{{cite pmid|9723817}}</ref>
+A 2010 survey found that a significant number of people in the United Kingdom associate drinking Earl Grey tea with being "posh" or "[[social class in the United Kingdom#Middle_class_2|middle class]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Want to seem posh? Employ a cleaner and drink Earl Grey|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7801272/TEA-DRINKING-PIX-to-seem-posh-employ-a-cleaner-and-drink-Earl-Grey.html|website=The Telegraph|date=4 June 2010 |access-date=2 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527022942/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7801272/TEA-DRINKING-PIX-to-seem-posh-employ-a-cleaner-and-drink-Earl-Grey.html|archive-date=27 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://opinium.co.uk/take-the-opinium-posh-test/|title=Survey Results|date=20 May 2010|access-date=15 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104162348/http://opinium.co.uk/take-the-opinium-posh-test/|archive-date=4 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Earl Grey tea has also been associated with [[Patrick Stewart]]'s character [[Jean-Luc Picard]], introduced in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/sorry-captain-picard-your-taste-in-tea-sucks-1844018296|work=[[Gizmodo]]|date=16 June 2020|title=Sorry, Captain Picard, Your Taste in Tea Sucks|first=James|last=Whitbrook|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/its-captain-picard-day-celebrate-with-some-tea-earl-grey-hot/|work=[[CNET]]|title=It's Captain Picard Day, celebrate with some tea, Earl Grey, hot|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>
-In one case study, a patient who consumed four litres of Earl Grey tea per day reported muscle cramps, which were attributed to the function of the [[bergapten]] in bergamot oil as a [[potassium channel]] blocker.  The symptoms subsided upon reducing his consumption of Earl Grey tea to one litre per day.<ref name=bergamottin/><ref>{{cite pmid|11988248 }}</ref>
+==Preparation and variations==
-==Footnotes==
+[[File:Earl Grey Tea.jpg|thumb|Earl Grey blend of tea leaves and bergamot orange rinds]]
-{{Reflist|2}}
+"Earl Grey" as applied to tea is not a registered trademark,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehourfortea.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/review-twinings-earl-grey-tea/ |title=Review: Twinings Earl Grey tea |date=14 April 2011 |access-date=1 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222105855/http://thehourfortea.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/review-twinings-earl-grey-tea/ |archive-date=22 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and numerous tea companies produce their own versions of Earl Grey tea, using a wide variety of tea leaves and additives.
+[[Bergamot orange]] (''Citrus bergamia''), a probable hybrid of the [[lemon]] and [[bitter orange]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Curk |first1=Franck |last2=Ollitrault |first2=Frédérique |last3=Garcia-Lor |first3=Andres |last4=Luro |first4=François |last5=Navarro |first5=Luis |last6=Ollitrault |first6=Patrick |date=March 4, 2016 |title=Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers |journal=Annals of Botany |language=en |volume=117 |issue=4 |pages=565–583 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcw005 |pmid=26944784 |issn=0305-7364|pmc=4817432 }}</ref> is a small [[citrus]] tree which blossoms during the winter. It is grown extensively in [[Calabria]], Italy, accounting for 90% of the world's bergamot oil production.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Italy: Responsibly sourcing bergamot from Calabria {{!}} Givaudan |url=https://www.givaudan.com/sustainability/sourcing-for-shared-value/working-together/italy-bergamot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027091954/https://www.givaudan.com/sustainability/sourcing-for-shared-value/working-together/italy-bergamot |archive-date=27 October 2020 |access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref>
+Like other black teas, the tea leaves used in Earl Grey are green when harvested, and undergo [[Redox|oxidation]] during processing. This results in a change in their [[chemical composition]], a darker colour, and a stronger flavour.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=23 May 2018|title=5 Secrets to the Perfect Cup of Earl Grey Tea|url=https://www.teaforte.com/teanotes/5-secrets-to-the-perfect-cup-of-earl-grey-tea|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920081736/https://www.teaforte.com/teanotes/5-secrets-to-the-perfect-cup-of-earl-grey-tea |archive-date=20 September 2020 |access-date=3 November 2020|website=Tea Forte}}</ref> Occasionally, green tea leaves or oolong leaves are used in place of the black tea leaves. When this is the case, the oxidation process is shortened or skipped. There are two methods of flavouring tea leaves to get Earl Grey tea.<ref name=":1" /> The first, which is said to result in a stronger citrus flavour, is the coating or spraying of the black tea leaves with bergamot [[essential oil]]s. The second method is the addition of dried bergamot orange rinds to the Earl Grey tea blend. With this method, the citrus flavour [[Infusion|infuses]] the black tea leaves during the brewing process.<ref name=":1" />
+The process of brewing the tea to drink it varies significantly, depending on personal preference. Opinions vary on the preferred method of boiling the water, as well as the ideal [[steeping]] time. Steeping tea for too long results in a bitter flavour; two to three minutes is a common recommendation, although some recommend as long as five minutes in order to "enjoy the full benefit of the citrus aroma."<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=26 December 2016|title=How To Steep A Perfect Cup Of Earl Grey Tea|url=https://www.goodwyntea.com/blogs/news/how-to-steep-a-perfect-cup-of-earl-grey-tea|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918135746/https://www.goodwyntea.com/blogs/news/how-to-steep-a-perfect-cup-of-earl-grey-tea |archive-date=18 September 2020 |access-date=3 February 2021|website=Goodwyn Tea|language=en}}</ref>
+*There are different varieties of a tea known as [[Lady Grey (tea)|Lady Grey]]; the two most common kinds are cornflower Lady Grey and citrus Lady Grey, which combine Earl Grey tea with [[Centaurea cyanus|cornflower]] and [[Bitter orange|Seville oranges]], respectively. "Lady Grey" is a trademark of [[Twinings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trademarks.justia.com/745/70/lady-grey-74570886.html|title=Justicia trademark database|access-date=1 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204172506/http://trademarks.justia.com/745/70/lady-grey-74570886.html|archive-date=4 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
+*A beverage called "[[London fog (beverage)|London fog]]" is a combination of Earl Grey, steamed [[milk]] and [[vanilla]] syrup.<ref name=Nye2009>{{Cite book |last1=Nye |first1=Valerie |year=2009 |title=Breakfast New Mexico Style |last2=Barco |first2=Kathy |publisher=Sunstone Press |isbn=978-0-86534-716-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZIrG99D9lUC |page=48 |access-date=7 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110161101/https://books.google.com/books?id=tZIrG99D9lUC |archive-date=10 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+*There are variations available including such ingredients as [[jasmine]], as well as various flowers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2008/10/18/tea-2-or-2-tea/|title=Tea for 2 or 2 for tea |last=Cooper|first=Nathanael|date=18 October 2008|publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily|access-date=13 November 2009}}</ref> A blend with added [[rose]] petals is known as French Earl Grey, which has become the most popular blend at Australian tea store [[T2 (company)|T2]].
+*A variety called Russian Earl Grey often contains ingredients such as citrus peels and [[Cymbopogon|lemon grass]] in addition to the usual black tea and bergamot.
+*A variety called Earl Grey Crème contains ingredients or flavours such as black tea, lavender, bergamot, and vanilla.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=David|date=14 August 2020|title=The Best Black Tea for When Coffee Won't Do|url=https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/product-recommendations/best-black-tea-amazon-2943983/|url-status=live|access-date=20 February 2021|website=Robb Report|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927235239/https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/product-recommendations/best-black-tea-amazon-2943983/ |archive-date=27 September 2020 }}</ref>
+*Several companies make a tea called Earl Grey Green or "Earl Green" tea, replacing black tea with [[green tea]] leaves. A similar variation called Earl Grey White or "Earl White" tea combines [[white tea]] leaves with bergamot flavouring.
+*[[Rooibos]] Earl Grey is a variation using this South African [[herbal tea]] as a substitute for black tea.
+*Earl Grey [[milk tea]] is a popular [[Bubble tea|boba tea]] flavoured drink in many Asian countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lai |first=Katty |date=18 June 2020 |title=BUBBLE TEA CRAZE in Southeast Asia |url=http://miseenplaceasia.com/bubble-tea-craze-in-southeast-asia/ |access-date=3 August 2023 |website=mise en place |language=en-US}}</ref>
+==Use as a flavouring==
+[[File:Mug of Earl Grey tea, Cafe Express, York Way, London, England 02.jpg|thumb|upright|Mug of Earl Grey tea]]
+Earl Grey tea is used as a flavouring for many types of cakes and confectionery, such as [[chocolate]]s, as well as savoury sauces.<ref name=Joachim2001>{{Cite book |last=Joachim |first=David |year=2001 |title=Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks: 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions |publisher=Rodale |isbn=978-1-57954-301-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/brilliantfoodtip0000joac |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/brilliantfoodtip0000joac/page/502 502] |quote=Earl Grey shallot sauce. |access-date=23 September 2016 }}</ref><ref name=Miller2009>{{cite news |title=Why tea is the new spice rack must-have |last=Miller |first=Norman |date=11 April 2009 |newspaper=The Times |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article6072842.ece}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Flavouring a sauce with tea is normally done by adding tea bags to the basic stock, boiling for a few minutes, and then discarding the bags. For sweet recipes, loose tea is often added to melted butter or hot cream and strained after the flavour is
+infused.<ref name="Boyle2002">{{Cite book |last=Boyle |first=Tish |year=2002 |title=The good cookie: over 250 delicious recipes from simple to sublime |publisher=John Wiley and Sons |isbn=978-0-471-38791-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H1MZ08dB4LUC |page=124 |quote=Chocolate dipped Earl Grey shortbread wedges. |access-date=23 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110202931/https://books.google.com/books?id=H1MZ08dB4LUC |archive-date=10 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/99891436.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+16%2C+2002&author=Edward+Schneider&pub=The+Washington+Post&edition=&startpage=F.01&desc=Cooking+With+Tea%3B+%22As+for+pears%2C+I+poached+them+in+Earl+Grey%2C+a+tea+with+impeccable+prime+ministerial+credentials.%22|title=Cooking With Tea; "As for pears, I poached them in Earl Grey, a tea with impeccable prime ministerial credentials."|last=Schneider|first=Edward|date=16 January 2002|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=13 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725102532/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/99891436.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+16%2C+2002&author=Edward+Schneider&pub=The+Washington+Post&edition=&startpage=F.01&desc=Cooking+With+Tea%3B+%22As+for+pears%2C+I+poached+them+in+Earl+Grey%2C+a+tea+with+impeccable+prime+ministerial+credentials.%22|archive-date=25 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="BBC1507">{{cite web |title=Earl Grey tea cream and Eccles cakes|first=Marcus |last=Wareing|date=7 March 2008 |access-date=13 November 2009 |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/earlgreyteacreamande_86363.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307064429/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/earlgreyteacreamande_86363.shtml |archive-date=7 March 2008 }}</ref>
+==Tea research and possible drug interaction==
+{{see also|Health effects of tea|Black tea#Research}}
+There is no conclusive evidence of any health effects specific to Earl Grey tea; consumption of black tea, which includes Earl Grey, may help improve alertness.<ref name="Hartley2013">{{cite journal|vauthors=Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, Clarke A, Stranges S, Hooper L, Rees K |title=Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease|journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev|volume=2013|issue=6|pages=CD009934|date=June 2013|pmid=23780706|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009934.pub2|pmc=7433290|type=Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis}}</ref><ref name="medline">{{cite web|url=https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/997.html#Effectiveness|title=Black tea: How effective is it?|publisher=MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine|date=29 July 2022|access-date=27 July 2023}}</ref>
+The caffeine in black tea may interfere with the intended therapeutic effects of various [[prescription drug]]s.<ref name=medline/>
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
-{{Commons category|Earl Grey tea}}
+* {{Commons category-inline|Earl Grey tea}}
-{{wikiquote}}
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+before including link to a commercial website, especially if it's your own website. Almost none such links are relevant enough and will be deleted. Wikipedia is intended neither as a web guide, nor as a device to improve pagerank in search engines. External links included in such high-profile article as Tea have to be very relevant to the topic. -->
-*[http://www.tendingtowardtea.com/ Tending Toward Tea – an Earl Grey tea review site]
 {{Teas}}
+{{portal bar|Drink}}
+[[Category:Food and drink introduced in 1824]]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Earl Grey Tea}}
 [[Category:Blended tea]]
-[[Category:English beverages]]
+[[Category:English drinks]]
+[[Category:Tea in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey]]