Tea Poll Results: Earl Grey is Reader’s Favorite

The poll I posted for January was, What is your favorite tea?

Earl Grey won with- 6 votes

English Breakfast- 3 votes

Herbal, Green, Oolong, White-2 votes each

Irish Breakfast, Flavored, Other- 1 each

So, what is it about Earl Grey that people like so much?

History

First of all, Earl Grey is not a type of tea, but a black tea that is flavored with bergamot, a small type of orange. Because of this, the tea can actually be very low quality with the producers using the flavoring as an enhancer.

The blend is named after the 2nd Earl Grey, a British Prime Minister that served during the 1830’s. His major accomplishment while in office was abolishing slavery in the British Isles, however he will forever be associated with tea.

Legend has it that a Chinese Mandarin’s son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey’s men and the Mandarin gifted the Earl with this special tea, flavored with bergamot oil. Another legend says that it was actually an Indian Raja that was the grateful father, HIS son having been rescued from a tiger by one of the men.

The truth of either of those stories is questionable, but Jackson’s of Picadilly, a prominent British tea company (since the 1600’s), claims to have originated the manufacture of the tea, after Lord Grey gave them the recipe in 1830. The original recipe is said never to have left their hands, all other recipes only being based on it.

Lady Grey Tea was invented because, according to some, straight Earl Grey tea caused improper impulses in women. (If you know what I mean, shove, shove,  wink, wink, say no more, eh, say no more) and it is believed that the additional flavorings curbed these unusual appetites. I don’t know how true this is either, but I DO have 8 kids, and I DO like Earl Grey tea.

Types

There are numerous types of Earl Grey now. Other flavorings are added along with the bergamot, and Adagio even has a Green Earl Grey. Some of the best one’s I have personally tasted are:

• Mrs. Earl Grey by Teavana
• Numi Aged Earl Grey
• Tea Guys Earl Grey Cream
• Earl Grey Lavender, that my tea and coffee supplier came up with for me personally.

If you want to see reviews on numerous, and I do mean numerous Earl Grey Teas check out Tending Toward Tea

Earl Grey Tea Drinkers in Fiction

• Jean -Luc Picard
• Bruce Wayne
• James Bond
• Frasier
• Piglet
• Bertie Wooster

London Fog

London Fog is a drink made with Earl Grey. It is most often made with whole milk, but I like it best with half and half or full cream. Why? Because I am depraved when it comes to things like cream and butter. I like the luxury of it!

Steep 1 Tbs Earl Grey in 1/2 c water. Strain and add it to a warmed cup. Pour steamed milk or heated cream into the cup to fill it and add 1 tbs vanilla syrup. Sip while reading Carry On, Jeeves by P.G.Wodehouse.