Earl Grey tea explained

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 Web site, 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 .[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. 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.

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."[23]

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 isinfused.[31] [32] [33]

Tea research and possible drug interaction

See also: Health effects of tea. 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]

Notes and References

  1. News: Bergamot growers get whiff of success. Ben. Richardson. 6 April 2006. BBC News. 7 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126110923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4883068.stm. 26 November 2010. live.
  2. Book: D'Offay, Timothy . Leaf Tea . 11 April 2023 . Ryland Peters & Small . 978-1-78879-534-0 . en.
  3. Web site: Should You Put Milk in Earl Grey Tea? . 8 March 2023 . The Tea Haus . en.
  4. Book: Tea Classified: A Tealover's Companion. Jane Pettigrew. Pavilion Books. 7 March 2014.
  5. Web site: Early Grey: The results of the OED Appeal on Earl Grey tea. 21 January 2022. public.oed.com/. 3 April 2013. en.
  6. Web site: 28 October 2013. A Brief History of Earl Grey. 20 October 2020. World Tea News. en-US.
  7. Book: Pettigrew, Jane . The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Connoisseur's Guides) . Running Press Book Publishers . Philadelphia, Pa . 2004 . 0-7624-2150-9.
  8. Web site: Earl Grey . Twiningsusashop.com . 7 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100815034140/http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html . 15 August 2010 . live .
  9. Kramer, Ione. All the Tea in China. China Books, 1990. . Pages 180-181.
  10. Web site: Charles, Earl Grey (1764-1845). 20 October 2020. www.historyhome.co.uk.
  11. Web site: Earl Grey Tea House at Howick Hall Gardens. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20101227051451/http://www.howickhallgardens.org/earlgreyteahouse.php. 27 December 2010. 28 January 2011. Howick Hall Gardens.
  12. News: Philippine Daily Inquirer. 24 July 2008. More Than Just A Pot Of Tea. Micky. Fenix. 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.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130120184519/http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080723-150279/More-than-just-a-pot-of-tea. 20 January 2013.
  13. News: The Guardian (London). 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. Margareta . Pagano. 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. Web site: History of Earl Grey Tea Bergamot and Black Tea Blend. 20 October 2020. www.teaforte.com. en.
  15. Web site: Want to seem posh? Employ a cleaner and drink Earl Grey. The Telegraph. 4 June 2010 . 2 April 2018. 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. 27 May 2018. live.
  16. Web site: Survey Results. 20 May 2010. 15 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170104162348/http://opinium.co.uk/take-the-opinium-posh-test/. 4 January 2017. live.
  17. Web site: Sorry, Captain Picard, Your Taste in Tea Sucks. Gizmodo. 16 June 2020. James. Whitbrook. 26 July 2023.
  18. Web site: It's Captain Picard Day, celebrate with some tea, Earl Grey, hot. CNET. 26 July 2023.
  19. Web site: Review: Twinings Earl Grey tea . 14 April 2011 . 1 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141222105855/http://thehourfortea.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/review-twinings-earl-grey-tea/ . 22 December 2014 . live .
  20. Curk . Franck . Ollitrault . Frédérique . Garcia-Lor . Andres . Luro . François . Navarro . Luis . Ollitrault . Patrick . March 4, 2016 . Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers . Annals of Botany . en . 117 . 4 . 565–583 . 10.1093/aob/mcw005 . 26944784 . 0305-7364. 4817432 .
  21. Web site: Italy: Responsibly sourcing bergamot from Calabria Givaudan . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027091954/https://www.givaudan.com/sustainability/sourcing-for-shared-value/working-together/italy-bergamot . 27 October 2020 . 24 February 2024.
  22. Web site: 23 May 2018. 5 Secrets to the Perfect Cup of Earl Grey Tea. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920081736/https://www.teaforte.com/teanotes/5-secrets-to-the-perfect-cup-of-earl-grey-tea . 20 September 2020 . 3 November 2020. Tea Forte.
  23. Web site: 26 December 2016. How To Steep A Perfect Cup Of Earl Grey Tea. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918135746/https://www.goodwyntea.com/blogs/news/how-to-steep-a-perfect-cup-of-earl-grey-tea . 18 September 2020 . 3 February 2021. Goodwyn Tea. en.
  24. Web site: Justicia trademark database. 1 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141204172506/http://trademarks.justia.com/745/70/lady-grey-74570886.html. 4 December 2014. live.
  25. Book: Nye . Valerie . 2009 . Breakfast New Mexico Style . Barco . Kathy . Sunstone Press . 978-0-86534-716-8 . 48 . 7 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170110161101/https://books.google.com/books?id=tZIrG99D9lUC . 10 January 2017 . live .
  26. News: Tea for 2 or 2 for tea . Cooper. Nathanael. 18 October 2008. Sunshine Coast Daily. 13 November 2009.
  27. Web site: Johnson. David. 14 August 2020. The Best Black Tea for When Coffee Won't Do. live. 20 February 2021. Robb Report. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20200927235239/https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/product-recommendations/best-black-tea-amazon-2943983/ . 27 September 2020 .
  28. Web site: Lai . Katty . 18 June 2020 . BUBBLE TEA CRAZE in Southeast Asia . 3 August 2023 . mise en place . en-US.
  29. Book: Joachim, David . 2001 . Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks: 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions . Rodale . 978-1-57954-301-3 . registration . 502 . Earl Grey shallot sauce. . 23 September 2016 .
  30. News: Why tea is the new spice rack must-have . Miller . Norman . 11 April 2009 . The Times .
  31. Book: Boyle, Tish . 2002 . The good cookie: over 250 delicious recipes from simple to sublime . John Wiley and Sons . 978-0-471-38791-6 . 124 . Chocolate dipped Earl Grey shortbread wedges. . 23 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170110202931/https://books.google.com/books?id=H1MZ08dB4LUC . 10 January 2017 . live .
  32. News: Cooking With Tea; "As for pears, I poached them in Earl Grey, a tea with impeccable prime ministerial credentials.". Schneider. Edward. 16 January 2002. The Washington Post. 13 November 2009. 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. 25 July 2012. dead.
  33. Web site: Earl Grey tea cream and Eccles cakes. Marcus . Wareing. 7 March 2008 . 13 November 2009 . BBC . https://web.archive.org/web/20080307064429/http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/earlgreyteacreamande_86363.shtml . 7 March 2008 .
  34. Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, Clarke A, Stranges S, Hooper L, Rees K . Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013. 6. CD009934. June 2013. 23780706. 10.1002/14651858.CD009934.pub2. 7433290. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
  35. Web site: Black tea: How effective is it?. MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. 29 July 2022. 27 July 2023.

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