Earl Grey Tea: who was Earl Grey?

Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey Tea is Much favoured in Downton Abbey as well as being the favourite drink of the English USS Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard but who was Earl Grey and why way this tea blend named after him?

On Monday we revealed our winning combination of English Breakfast tea with Classic Gingerbread Biscuits from Fiona Cairns. Then yesterday we pulled out the energy packed superfood, super breakfast of blueberry, quinoa and oat porridge with white tea – which might help keep you looking young! Today we’re trying to repeat Monday’s wining combo of Rare Tea and Fiona Cairns, this time it’s Fiona’s Vanilla Shortbread with Earl Grey Tea.

What’s gives Earl Grey Tea it’s distinctive flavour?

The citrus flavour in Earl Grey tea comes from the added oil extract which is produced from the rind of bergamot oranges. The bergamot orange is a citrus fruit, similar in colour to lemon, but with a less bitter taste, closer to grapefruit. It is typically grown in southern Italy. Initially the bergamot extract was added to imitate the flavour of more expensive Chinese black teas. But later became favoured as an alternative to tea in its own right.
With that cleared up, who was Earl Grey? It is thought Earl Grey refers to a British Prime Minister in the 1830s, Charles Grey, the Second Earl Grey. That’s the only part that is clear, how he became associated with the tea is unclear. It might be that the Earl received a gift of tea flavoured with bergamot oil while in office, though there are many alternative accounts.

Earl Grey Tea Health Benefits

Earl Grey health benefits include improving digestion, fighting anxiety and depression, preventing cancer, weight loss and prevention of heart disease, according to this Lifehack post.

Fiona Cairns was established over 25 years ago and make luxury cakes in the heart of the UK. The vanilla shortbread is delicious, not too sweet, a good compliment to the Earl Grey. If Earl Grey is not your cup of tea – I would also recomend the Classic Gingerbread Biscuits – they are crunchy as you’d expect from gingerbread, but also very light. Crispy delights that melt in the mouth!

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