Earl Grey tea

Image:Lipton Earl Grey in pile.jpg Image:Lipton Earl Grey in tin.jpg Earl Grey tea is a black teablend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit.

The blend is named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil. The legend usually involves a grateful Chinesemandarinwhose son was rescued from drowning by one of Charles Grey's men, although this blend of tea was first made from fermented black Indianand "Ceylonese" (Sri Lankan) teas. The Chinese have never been black tea drinkers and are unlikely to have had a recipe for Earl Grey to bestow on visitors, although over the years many other varieties have been used. Also, Charles Earl Grey never set foot in China.

The tea proved so popular in the Prime Minister's drawing room that his tea merchants, Twinings in the Strand, were given a sample and asked to come up with a close match. Twinings sold the first "Earl Grey's tea" in the Britishmarket. Twinings Earl Grey blend includes China tea, Indian Darjeeling, Ceylon, and a hint of Lapsang souchong, a strong, "smoky" black tea. It is traditionally served black, without milk.

Twinings also has a similar tea called "Lady Grey" with Seville orange, lemonand bergamot. At the time it was believed the addition of fruits would counteract improper impulses that tea was widely believed to have upon the female temperament.

"Earl Green" is a popular name given to Earl Grey-like green teas, such as the Earl Grey Green flavour offered by the Bigelowtea company.

Earl Grey tea was the favourite tea of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Fictional characters who preferred the tea include Jean-Luc Picardof Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Sir Leigh Teabing from the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

Jacksons of Piccadilly claim that it was they who originated Earl Grey's Tea, the Second Earl Grey having given the recipe to Robert Jackson & Co. partner George Charlton in 1830; according to Jacksons the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on China tea since the beginning. This rivalry between the two tea brands continues despite both being owned by the same parent company today.

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It uses material from the Wikipedia article Earl Grey tea.