Updated on November 11th, 2022
If you’re wondering, “What does Earl Grey tea taste like? “, you’re not alone. Many people have wondered the same thing. Traditionally, the brew is flavored with bergamot orange. This citrus-flavored tea is brewed from a mixture of black and green tea leaves. In addition, the rind of the bergamot orange is dried, which imparts a distinctive flavor to the drink.
The tea is made from black tea and bergamot, a citrus fruit from the Mediterranean. The berries are green or yellow, depending on the ripeness. The flavor is tart and floral, with notes of citrus. While you can find Earl Grey without the bergamot, if you purchase it, you will definitely find it to be a pleasant surprise. Those who are curious about the tea’s unique flavor will want to read on.
What Is Earl Grey Tea?
Like cookie dough with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate, and lime and tequila, bergamot and black tea combine to make Earl Grey, one of the world’s most popular teas.
Earl Grey tea, contrary to popular belief, does not belong to its own type of tea. It belongs to the flavored teas group. Any form of tea—white, green, oolong, or black—that has been perfumed or flavored with fruit, flowers, spices, oils, extracts, and natural or artificial flavors is considered flavored tea.
Earl Grey is one of the world’s most well-known flavored teas. The oil from the rind of the bergamot orange, citrus fruit with the appearance and flavor of an orange, and lemon with a bit of grapefruit and lime thrown in is used to flavor this very British tea. The modern bergamot orange is said to be a cross between the bitter Seville orange from the Mediterranean and a sweet lime/lemon from Southeast Asia.
What Does Earl Grey Tea Taste Like?
First, you should know that Earl Grey is a traditional blend of black tea, but today there are several variants. The most common brand is Lady Grey from Twinings, one of the largest tea producers in the world. Unlike its original name, Lady Gray has a distinct, smooth flavor. It’s perfect for those who are just getting into drinking tea. This tea is one of the best introductions to the world of tea.
In addition to the name, Earl Grey tea contains a bergamot flavor, a citrus flavor that gives the beverage its name. Although this tea is very strong, it can be blended with many other teas to add a unique flavor. In fact, Earl Grey is the most common black tea in the world. It has a malty flavor, and it is often described as a citrus-flavored tea.
Earl Grey tea is a familiar tea. The word “tea” is not necessary. It can simply refer to a brown beverage, rather than a nobleman. The name itself is not the only difference between these two teas. The flavor is the same in all seven. The most common difference between the two is bergamot. This flavor is in all seven varieties of Earl Grey. This variety is used to produce a blend with a distinctive flavor.
The main difference between Earl Grey tea and other black teas is that it has a slight citrus flavor. The fruity flavor of this tea is derived from bergamot oil. This citrus flavor is present in the first three leaves of the tea. The leaves are light brown and have a sweet, nutty flavor. In the second leaf, the bergamot oil has a floral flavor.
Health Benefits Of Earl Grey
Earl Grey tea has a number of health benefits in addition to the pleasant sensory experience that comes with drinking it. Earl Grey’s health advantages are derived from its black tea foundation, albeit these can vary depending on the Earl Grey variation you choose to enjoy.
These are just a few of the ways this healthy brew can help your body.
Antioxidants
While the antioxidant activity of green and white teas is substantially higher, black tea still packs a punch. Antioxidants derived from natural sources aid in the prevention and treatment of disease.
Anti-Inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory properties of black tea may benefit persons at high risk of cardiovascular events and inflammatory illnesses. Natural anti-inflammatory substances, such as tea, are less likely to cause unpleasant side effects than pharmaceuticals.
Preventing Bone Loss
Animal studies suggest that the black tea in Earl Grey may aid in bone regeneration and prevention.
Loss Of Weight
Earl Grey tea contains catechins, which help with weight loss by activating energy metabolism and fat burning.
Enhancement Of Energy
These catechins also help to prevent age-related decreases in endurance ability, making you feel younger even as you become older.
How Is Earl GreyTea Made?
A tea is flavored or scented near the end of the production process, usually after the tea leaves have dried. Teas can be flavored in a variety of ways, including by combining the final tea with flowers, herbs, and spices that are visually pleasing and softly infusing the tea leaves with their aroma and flavor.
The finished tea can also be flavored by spraying or coating it with extracts, essential oils, or flavoring agents during or after the drying process. This gives the tea a considerably stronger flavor and requires fewer ingredients. The flavoring-to-tea ratio is entirely up to the tea maker, and the flavors that come through in a brewed cup of flavored tea will differ from brand to brand.
Earl Grey is a black tea flavored with bergamot oil, according to most definitions. However, there is no one-size-fits-all method for making Earl Grey tea, which is why each Earl Grey tea you’ve ever eaten has likely tasted slightly different.
How To Purchase And Store Earl Grey Tea?
As with any green or black tea, properly storing flavored tea will guarantee that it stays fresh in your cupboard for as long as possible. Buying tea from a trustworthy source that can tell you when and how the tea was processed and packaged, as well as providing storage and freshness suggestions, is always a smart option.
In general, oxidized black tea has a longer shelf life than its delicate green tea counterpart. Teas that have been flavored, on the other hand, have a shorter shelf life than plain black tea. While your flavored tea will not go “bad,” if it sits around for too long, it will become stale and lose its taste power. Flavored teas can survive six months to a year if stored correctly in a cold, dark environment and in an opaque, sealed container away from light, moisture, and pantry goods like coffee and spices that can leech flavor into the tea leaves.
Types Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey was traditionally made with Chinese Keemun tea, while later versions included Assam and Ceylon. The most popular forms of Earl Grey still contain black tea, but various flavoring components and tea bases have been added to an ever-growing potpourri of new blends to enjoy.
1. Earl Grey White Tea
The white Earl Grey tea, made with Chinese white tea and zesty bergamot fragrance, puts an Eastern spin on a Western staple.
2. Lady Grey
The citrus fruit notes of bergamot, orange, and lemon are wonderfully blended in this milder version of Earl Grey, patented by Twinings. When comparing the flavors of Lady Grey with Earl Grey, Lady Grey is far more subtle and soft.
3. Green Earl Grey Tea
The green tea version keeps the bergamot and tea base composition but replaces the Keemun black tea blend with a milder green tea.
4. Earl Grey Rooibos Tea
If you don’t like the bitterness of Earl Grey tea, try rooibos Earl Grey tea instead. Tannins, the natural compounds that give teas, wines, and dark chocolates their bitter taste, are absent in Rooibos Earl Grey. Rooibos Earl Grey is also caffeine-free, making it a great late-night treat.
How To Drink Your Earl Grey?
Earl Grey tea can be consumed in a variety of ways, just like many other black teas. Each method of preparation has its supporters and detractors, so give these serving suggestions a try!
Drink straight from the bottle Pour in some cream or milk. A squeeze of lemon is a nice touch. Sugar is added.
When it comes to Earl Grey food and pastry pairings, we recommend a zesty delicacy to go along with your brew. Tea and sweet flavors should complement one another rather than compete. Instead, in terms of strength and flavor, they should be a nice match.
The accompaniments of citrus cakes, tarts, madeleines, and biscuits to Earl Grey tea are an exquisite pleasure. However, desserts aren’t the only foods that can be paired.
In the same way that wine has skilled tea-sommeliers who can expertly choose the ideal food to eat with your tea, the tea world now has talented tea-sommeliers. For the best flavor combination, these tea experts recommend mixing Earl Grey tea with baked items, chocolate, dairy, eggs, and spices.
Conclusion
Another variation of earl grey is Lady Grey. This tea is similar to the original but has a citrus flavor that is enhanced by the addition of lemon or orange peel. The name of the tea comes from the British Prime Minister Charles’ wife. This tea is very floral in its aroma. It is also rich in antioxidants. Its aroma is similar to that of the famous British blend. If you’re curious about how the original Earl Grey tea tastes, you’ll find it interesting to see that there are different variations available.
Earl Grey is one of the most popular types of tea in the western world. Its name comes from the bergamot orange, a citrus fruit that grows in southern Italy and the Mediterranean. The bergamot orange has a sweet and tangy flavor that combines well with the black tea. Its orange-flavored counterparts have a stronger flavor, but the bergamot-infused variety is a sweeter blend.
