Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey is the name given to black teas that are flavored with oil of bergamot. Where jasmine tea is the most popular scented tea in the East, Earl Grey is the most popular scented tea in the West. There are many different blends that claim to be Earl Grey; many start with China Black, Indian or Ceylon tea and add oil of bergamot.

The origins of the teas name and its relation to Charles Earl Grey, Prime Minister of England under William IV are largely mysterious. One story goes that Charles Earl Grey received the recipe as a present while serving as a diplomat in China. This story is very unlikely as oil of bergamot is indigenous to the Mediterranean not China.