What Does Earl Grey Tea Taste Like?
What does Earl Grey tea taste like? If you are here to know more about this, you should go through this post right now. For one thing, in this blog post, I am going to discuss the taste of earl grey tea, where it originates from and all other relevant information you might be interested in. Read on for more.
What exactly is Earl Grey tea?
Earl Grey tea is an essential part of British tea selections. It is widely adored for its distinctive floral aroma and bold flavor.
This beloved traditional tea blends the strength of black tea with a distinctive undertone of essential oil of bergamot. In addition to gaining a foothold in the world of drinks, Earl Grey tea flavoring is also becoming a popular ingredient in pastries.
If you’re a tea lover I’m sure you’ve had the pleasure of hearing about Earl Grey tea anywhere in the world but what’s the truth about this beverage?
What exactly is Earl Grey tea made of?
The main ingredient responsible for this delightful beverage is, naturally the ingredients. Its Earl Grey tea ingredients list is a great source of black tea as well as Bergamot, which is a delicious citrus fruit.
Since Earl Grey is black tea, its leaves are derived from camellia sinensis. It is the exact plant where all other the teas (not herb-based) are made. This is right, there isn’t any specific Earl Grey tea plant! After being harvested, tea leaves are left to wilt, and then oxidized to give it a more pronounced flavor.
The next ingredient to be a must-have, the bergamot (citrus bergamia) is quite tart. If you’re hoping for a sweet and sour fruit such as orange being mixed, then you’ll be amazed. Instead of being consumed fresh, the tea makers extract vital oils out of bergamot rinds and mix it with leaves of black tea to make Earl Grey tea.
What does Earl Grey tea taste like?
Pure and unadulterated, without any milk, sugar lemon, sugar or other ingredients, in its purest form, the Earl Grey tea taste leans heavily towards floral and has a most distinctive aroma.
Earl Grey tea get sits distinctive flavor from the blend of essential oils
Earl Grey’s distinctive flavor originates from the blend of essential oils of bergamot and black tea blends. It gives the drink a distinctive taste: very bitter. When you think about your tea flavor as “pleasantly bitter”, it may not be at the forefront of your mind. However, you are likely to get the refreshing citrus flavor and a reasonable amount of caffeine– just the thing you need to get through the day.
The distinctive flavor may cause a lot of people to be adamantly opposed to the popular. Yet, Twinings, the popular tea company that claims to have created Earl Grey tea, states that it is their top selling tea variety around the globe.
Earl Grey health benefits
Beyond the wonderful sensory experience of sipping it, Earl Grey tea offers numerous health benefits. The health advantages of Earl Grey are due to the black tea that it is made from, but they can differ based on the kind in Earl Grey you choose to try.
Here are a few of ways that this drink can help your body.
Antioxidants: While white and green teas are more antioxidant capacity, but black tea packs quite punch. Natural antioxidants improve overall health and help fight disease.
Anti-inflammatory: Black tea is a natural anti-inflammatory which could benefit people who are who are at risk of heart ailments. Utilizing natural anti-inflammatory products like tea instead of drugs can reduce undesirable adverse negative effects.
Bone loss prevention: Animal studies suggest the black tea contained in Earl Grey playing a big role in the prevention and restoration of bone loss.
Weight loss: Catechins present in Earl Grey tea activate energy metabolism and fat oxidation aiding in weight loss.
Enhances energy: These catechins also help prevent the decline in endurance that comes with age and make you feel more active in the later years of your life.
Anti-cancer effects: The black tea of Earl Grey is high in phytochemicals. It has suggested a strong link between drinking tea and a decreased chance of getting cancer through a variety of studies.
Similar to most teas, unless adding sugar, milk or any other add-ins that contain calories, Earl Grey tea calories are at a minimum of zero.
One health benefit that is unique that is unique to Earl Grey is the aromatherapy benefits of the essential oil bergamot. There are a variety of human and clinical studies have proven that inhaling bergamot oil can be beneficial for mental health and reduces depression, anxiety blood pressure as well as heart beat. There’s a reason taking a relaxing tea cup Earl Grey tea is so comforting!
Potential side effects
Of course, excessive amounts of anything can be detrimental to health and Earl Grey tea is no exception. There are reports of bergamot oil-related intoxication when a large amount is consumed via tea.
In this case, extract of bergamot could “induce muscles spasms, paraesthesias, fasciculations as well as blurred vision.” But it’s important to know that the reaction observed on the case of an Austrian man who was reported to be drinking as much as 4 Liters tea per day, which is more than 20 cups.
Do you know if Earl Grey tea has caffeine?
The amount of caffeine of Earl Grey depends on many aspects, such as the kind of Earl Grey (black tea base, green, rooibos or any other) as well as the time of steeping the brand, the quality of the tea leaf.
When you take a look at a glass of Earl Grey tea, the amount of caffeine is the same as other teas made from black. An article published by the Journal of Analytical Toxicology compared Earl Grey brands Stash and Twinings. The study found that the amount of caffeine varies between 19 grams and 47 grams for 6oz dependent on the steepness of the time.
Where did Earl Grey tea originated from?
The roots the origins Earl Grey tea have been a hotly debated topic and, while we don’t have the full story tea drinkers confirm that the Earl’s ancestor lived in the late 18th or the early 19th century. Although Earl Grey tea is assumed to have its origins in Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey of Britain, how exactly it was able to become linked to him remains in the debate.
East India Company Version
One version of the story of Earl Grey tea holds that the Earl received a present of tea that was flavored with bergamot oil in reward for breaking the monopoly that the East India Company had in the trade between Britain and China during his time as Premier. A twist on the present story of the gift acknowledges this, but it says that the bergamot scent was not a deliberate mix, but it was it was the result of an accidental mix during the long trip from China.
The Twinings version
Twinings who is believed to be the author of the first Earl Grey Tea recipe recounts a story about that Earl having the original recipe handed to him by an ambassador who returned from a journey to China. Twinings’ story is different from a popular legend described by The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur’s Guideto Tea, which describes the tea as the product of his heroic actions in China. The story is distorted when one considers the fact that the Earl did not even step foot in China and the usage of oil from bergamot as a flavoring was not yet developed in China.
This is the Grey family version
The Grey family has its own unique set of events regarding Earl Grey tea’s origins, according to which a Chinese mandarin invented the blend to serve the Earl, particularly using bergamot to counterbalance the lime’s flavor in the spring on the estate of the Earl at Howick.
Lady Grey then used the mix to entertain in London, and was astonished by its popularity, to the point that she inquired if it could be made available to other companies. It was the result that led to Twinings being able to market it internationally. However, the Greys didn’t have registered trademarks, and did not earn a single cent in royalty payments.
A conversation of Stephen Twining echoes the Grey family’s plight of not having a claim to the formula or blend while making this tea for Earl. Imagine having the monopoly over an extremely-loved tea brand around the globe!
How do you enjoy your Earl Grey
As with other black teas, you can find many different methods to drink Earl Grey tea. Every method of making Earl Grey tea is a favorite with its own critics, so you’ll want to test these suggestions to see for yourself!
- Drink as you like
- Make sure to add cream or milk
- A splash of lemon is a good idea.
- Add sugar
In terms of dessert and food pairings with Earl Greys, we recommend an equally refreshing treat to pair with your beverage. Flavors of teas and sweets should not clash with each other. Instead, they should complement one another in strength and taste.
How do you serve Earl Grey tea with food?
If you’re looking for Earl Grey tea, you’ll discover a delicious indulgence with the combination of citrus tarts, cakes, madeleines and biscuits. The pairing isn’t limited to desserts!
Like wine, the tea industry has now apex tea-sommeliers who can choose the best foods to accompany your tea. Actually, the tea experts recommend that you pair the Earl Grey tea with baked products chocolate, dairy eggs, spices, and eggs for the perfect mix of taste.
Different varieties in Earl Grey tea
Traditionally, the tea makers utilized Chinese Keemun in Earl Grey, but later, they added the likes of Assam and Ceylon too. There is still some black teas in top-rated varieties that are Earl Grey, but additional flavoring ingredients and bases are now added to create an ever-growing variety of exciting new blends.
- White Earl Grey tea
It is made from Chinese White Tea and a citrusy bergamot The White Earl Grey tea takes an Eastern twist on an old Western most loved.
- Lady Grey
This less sour flavor of Earl Grey, trademarked by Twinings it is perfect with the citrus fruits of bergamot, orange and lemon. In comparison to Lady Grey vs Earl Grey, Lady Grey has a more subtle and delicate flavor.
- Green Earl Grey tea
The green tea blend is based on the well-known combination of bergamot with a basis of tea. However, it substitutes for the Keemun blended black tea to make an easier green tea.
- Rooibos Earl Grey tea
In the event that you’re not a lover or Earl Grey tea’s trademark bitterness it is possible to choose a Rooibos Earl Grey tea. Rooibos Earl Grey tea is completely free of tannins, the chemical compounds that give wines, teas as well as dark chocolates, their distinctive bitter flavor. In addition, Rooibos Earl Grey is non-caffeinated, which makes it an ideal nighttime indulgence.
Other top Earl Grey types to spice up your teatime include the creme-flavored lavender, jasmine.
London Fog – The Earl Grey Latte
If you’re looking to be creative with your Earl Grey, we recommend making the London Fog Earl Grey latte that is a hit innovation for simple Earl Grey tea.
The recipe is quite simple:
Drink a cup Earl Grey tea for the amount of time indicated on the packaging, while adding only a small quantity of lavender.
When it is it is ready to drink, strain the tea, and then mix it with warm, foamed milk and the amount you prefer of sweetener or vanilla.
We guarantee to make sure that you would not feel cloudy after a cup of this deliciously amazing tea!
Related Questions
Does Earl Grey have Lavender?
The drinking of Earl Grey tea with lavender is the French way to drink it. A lot of tea brands promote Earl Grey with lavender, which boosts the sweet and perfumy flavor.
It is possible to add dried or fresh lavender (the kind that’s intended to be eaten) to your cup of Earl Grey tea at home, if there isn’t any other tea blend. It usually gives stronger lavender flavors.
Do you put milk in Earl Grey tea?
If you conduct the poll to discover the way people drink the Earl Grey, you’ll get many different responses. For the British, milk is an ingredient that is popular and may even contain a tiny portion of sugar.
Consuming Earl Grey with lemon is one of the most popular methods of enjoying it. You can also add agave syrup or any other sweetener you prefer in this instance and don’t be afraid to add almond milk.
What is the main difference between the Earl Grey Breakfast and the English Breakfast?
There’s a vast distinction between the two teas. English breakfast tea is hefty mix of several teas that are black, such as the rich Ceylon as well as Assam teas.
Earl Grey’s most prominent characteristic is its strong floral quality. It’s made of black tea, however, the kind that is used take an offence to the Bergamot. There are even spins of Earl Grey in herbal tea varieties.
What is the best way to sip Earl Grey Tea?
The time has come to get into the delicious cocktail recipes you can prepare using Earl Grey. Have you ever heard of London Fog? It’s a very popular tea latte; it’s even in an entirely separate category.
This is the most straightforward method to get the London fog. There is only a number of components: Earl Grey tea, vegan milk and culinary lavender, as well as the most popular liquid sweetener along with vanilla extract.
Here’s a method of making Earl Grey iced tea with one more ingredient and that is hibiscus. That is all you need (dried hibiscus flower petals)in addition to the tea. Simple, right?
Wrapping Up
So, what does Earl Grey tea taste like? There’s nothing quite like the aroma of Bergamot-scented Earl Grey tea. Enjoy it with lemon, sweetener, or any other milk that you enjoy. In summer, it’s a delicious iced tea made with lavender, hibiscus, and citrus fruits such as oranges, limes and lemons. Try it and thank me later, if you are a true tea lover!