Earl Grey All Day
You may have heard of Earl Grey tea and its distinct bergamot flavor, but have you ever wondered about its origins? Well, grab a cup of Earl Grey and sit tight because we're about to dive into the history of this delicious tea.
All About Earl
First things first, let's talk about the man behind the name. Earl Grey is "likely" named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey and British Prime Minister in the 1830s. But, how did this politician become the face of a tea?
Legend has it that the recipe for Earl Grey was gifted to Charles Grey by a Chinese mandarin (a high public official of imperial China, not the small citrus) as a thank you for saving his son's life. And just like that, a tea with a story was born.
Speaking of legend, there are many legends surrounding how Earl Grey actually got its name (I mean, we didn’t put those quotations around “likely" for no reason). But basically there are some flaws in the story he was associated with it. First, bergamot was grown in Italy at the time, so it seems very unlikely to have been on the radar in Chinese tea-blending at the time. Also, during Earl Grey’s lifetime, the mere idea of flavouring tea with bergamot would have been kinda scandalous in the tea-drinking world, so would a man of such high political standing be a cheerleader for a tea blend that wouldn’t have been socially acceptable in his circles?
Here’s some of the other theories:
Something’s off in the water. Rumour has it that the water at the family estate contained high amounts of lime (the inorganic calcium material, not the other small citrus). So the family had a Chinese mandarian (again, not the small citrus) specially blend the tea with bergamot to counterbalance the mineral flavour. And because Lady Grey was the hostess with the mostest, her special tea spread in popularity while she entertained London’s high society.
Tea on the sea. Is Earl Grey’s namesake a ship full of tea-loving sailors? This theory suggests that the tea was named after a ship named the Earl Grey, and that it was a popular tea among sailors and passengers on board the ship.
Short and Sweet. A London tea house called Jacksons of Piccadilly claims they came up with the blend in 1830.
All In the name of marketing. Some people believe that the name Earl Grey was simply a marketing ploy, used to make the tea sound more exotic and high-end.
And as most theories go, it’s impossible to know the true origin for certain, it’s steeped in the archives of history…or in a deep google hole for you to sleuth yourself!
WTF Is Bergamot
One of the world's favourite tea blends, Earl Grey is known for its distinctive flavour, which comes from the essential oil of the bergamot citrus fruit.
Bergamot (citrus bergamia) grows in the Mediterranean and looks like a cross between a lime and orange.
This citrus fruit, similar to an orange, is what gives Earl Grey its unique and refreshing flavour. It's often said that the bergamot used in Earl Grey comes from the Calabria region of Italy, but it's also grown in other parts of the world like Argentina, Turkey, and Egypt.
The essential oil is extracted from the fruit's peel and gets added to tea leaves during their drying process, and becomes the star of the show when you drink the tea.
The Evolution of a Tea
Earl Grey has come a long way since its creation in the 1830s.
The blend was originally made with a black tea, such as Keemun from China and later with Ceylons from Sri Lanka.
Since then, new varieties have emerged using other types of tea (which all come from the camellia sinensis plant) - including green, oolong, and white, as well as tisanes (herbal infusions made from other plants) blended with bergamot. Other botanicals are often added for pizazz, including the commonly seen blue cornflowers in most Earl Grey blends.
It's now a staple in tea shops and households around the world and has even inspired other delicious variations like Earl Grey Lavender and Earl Grey Creme.
So, next time you're sipping on a cup of Earl Grey, remember its rich history and raise a glass to the mystery of how this tea got its name. Cheers!
