Earl Grey
Earl Grey, the British Prime Minister,
abolished in 1833 the price monopoly of the East Indian company
concerning the tea trade in China. The originally pure chinese tea
which was slightly flavoured with the fine oil of the bergamot (a
citrus plant) thus became its plant. And until today, the Earl Grey is
the embodiment of fine English tea. The additional scent, which was
supposed to originate from the Chinese themselves, acted as a good
protection from mouldiness and the taste of tar deep down in the
stowage of the ship. A different, similarly fine tea variety that is
also refined with other citrus aromas carries the name Lady Grey.
Today however, Earl Grey is usually not blended from Chinese tea
varieties anymore but from Indian ones, mainly from Darjeeling. Also,
the typical bergamot aroma does now not solely come from the Bergamot
oil. Earl Grey is, hence, not a specific tea variety or brand, but
rather the aroma that is used. Likewise, green Earl Grey exists and
even Earl Grey with an additional (fine) smoke aroma.