Earl Grey Black Tea with Bergamot

Earl Grey is considered one of the most refined aromatic black teas ever, a prized variety also due to its aristocratic origins. It gives the palate a delicate and elegant flavour, and an intensely perfumed effect to the nose, with a seductive note of bergamot. Historically it is prepared with black tea leaves as a base, which is why the Earl Grey tea we offer combines the leaves collected and expertly oxidized from Ceylon South India and Assam. They are combined, as usual, with the natural aroma of bergamot and the subtle and elegant hint of cornflower. Thus a tea rich in citrus properties is born, an addition to balance the malty and woody notes of Indian black tea, without overpowering its taste. This “sunny” blend of flavours gives harmonious joy to every cup of “grey” black tea. Excellent to enjoy without sweeteners, to appreciate its qualities, you can serve Earl Grey in British style with a drop of milk; some people prefer to add a slice of lemon, to strengthen the citrus tone of the tea.

What are the benefits of Earl Grey with bergamot?

Not only is it delicious, but this black tea is also rich in benefits for our body. Rich in antioxidant properties, tea leaves contain substances such as polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as some vitamins and precious mineral salts. Compounds that help reduce cell oxidation and the damage that could result.
Like any black tea, Earl Grey also allows you to obtain an excellent dose of energy thanks to the presence of natural caffeine. It is an excellent tonic tea, which combats physical and mental tiredness, increasing attention and concentration, promoting a good vital awakening in the morning and an invigorating dose at other times of the day.
The caffeine content of Earl Grey is similar to that of any other cup of black tea, but lower than that of coffee, so it can also be enjoyed as an afternoon tea. The presence of L-theanine, an amino acid in tea, also helps balance the stimulating effect of caffeine, making it less immediate - allowing for a prolonged effect over time. Thanks to the properties of black tea, it is possible to obtain an energetic stimulus without the nervous side effects typical of coffee. Does Early Grey make you lose weight? The infusion can help with weight management, as it acts like black tea: it contains caffeine, which can stimulate the metabolism, and polyphenols can help reduce the accumulation of lipids.
Black tea helps in the digestive process, promoting normal intestinal function, as a natural remedy to increase healthy bacteria in the intestine. It also promotes the drainage of body fluids and helps combat swelling from water retention. Earl Grey black tea: nutrients and antioxidants Bergamot black tea has antioxidant components such as polyphenols - flavonoids, catechins, flavanols.
It makes minerals (fluoride, calcium, zinc, magnesium and potassium), B vitamins, enzymes, tannins and amino acids available, including L-theanine. It provides the body with methylxanthines, alkaloids that include caffeine (theine) and theophylline.

What does Earl Grey tea mean? How did bergamot black tea come about

Its name comes from Earl Charles Grey, who was also British Prime Minister (1830-1834), and it is said that it was the favourite infusion on special occasions. Therefore, it was born as a tea of ​​the aristocracy. Its origin, in any case, has at least three legends. In the first, during a trip to China the Earl of Grey saved the life of the son of a nobleman who, in gratitude, gave him a precious recipe for black tea scented with bergamot oil. It was appreciated by the Earl, who also recommended it to the Royal House.
In the second legend, the tea was created by a dignitary, a Chinese mandarin friend of Grey. He was in Northumberland and, since the water of these northern coasts was rich in limestone, he added bergamot to better balance the flavors of the tea. A parallel variant of this story says that the Prime Minister himself asked a tea importing company in 1836 for a recipe that could compensate for the bitterness of the water from his estate.
In the third legend about Earl Grey tea, it comes from a mistake: the blend was born from an accidental mix of bergamot fruits and tea, during an expedition from China to England. When flavored tea arrived, it was a success and was adopted as a recipe.

In reality, according to some, its history is that of a mixture already known: usually the addition of bergamot or citrus fruits was considered a way to cover the poor quality of the black tea base, or to avoid the formation of mold during the trip to England. Since the bergamot citrus fruit was present in the Mediterranean, another hypothesis is that thisflavoured tea may have been a gift to the Earl of Grey after the end of the British East India Company's trade monopoly (Reform Act 1832).

The visual vibrancy of the blue cornflowers also recalls part of the history of this traditional English tea. It is said that when Earl Grey was first sold at auctions in London, traders sprinkled it with cornflower petals to highlight the best quality Earl Grey teas.
From this tradition, however it originated, tea lovers all over the world are now enthusiastic about this result: the quintessential English drink perfect for tea time. Earl Grey blend is usually prepared with the leaves of Camellia Sinensis (in particular the var. assamica), left to oxidize according to the traditional process of black tea. The blend can also be created with green tea or Oolong as a base. The bergamot orange that is added to the tea blend can be in essential oil or peel. The bergamot citrus fruit, which comes from the Citrus bergamia trees, shows an appearance similar to that of limes. It is believed to be a hybrid tree born from the cross between the Spanish Seville orange and the Southeast Asian lemon, and that from Spain it spread particularly in Calabria.

How to buy our black tea with bergamot?

Our online tea shop allows you to get this high quality Earl Grey blend. You can buy it in convenient freshness-saving packs of 25 g, 50 g, 75 g, 100 g, 150 g, 300 g. The Earl Grey loose tea package allows you to calculate exactly how many grams of product you need for each cup or teapot.

How to prepare Earl Grey black tea

Bring the water to the boil and then wait until it reaches a temperature of 90-95 °C (or use a kettle with temperature regulation). Pour the water into a cup (250 ml) and add about 3-5 grams of the bergamot black tea blend with a filter. Leave the tea to infuse in the hot water for 3 to 5 minutes. Drink plain, add a cloud of milk or a slice of lemon.

Bergamot black tea side effects and contraindications

Earl Grey tea is safe to drink for most people, but some side effects may appear due to the caffeine content. Excessive consumption of bergamot tea can lead to an excessive intake of caffeine, potentially harmful to the body. It can cause states of agitation, changes in heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, nausea and stomach pain, muscle cramps, diarrhea. For these reasons, therefore, it is useful to keep the intake at moderate levels (1-2 cups per day).