Earl Grey tea and our creations inspired by this recipe

How did this English recipe - the source of a worldwide craze - originate?

Earl Grey is said to have been created in 19th-century England, a period marked by the expansion of the British Empire and the craze for tea from faraway lands. There are several versions of its genesis.

It is said to owe its name to Charles Grey, the 2ᵉ Earl Grey and British Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834. Earl Grey is said to have received a bergamot-scented tea from a British diplomat returning from China. Charmed by the tea's unique taste, the Earl asked the East India Company to recreate the blend.

Another version has it that, while he was Foreign Secretary, Earl Grey went to China on a diplomatic trip. During his stay, he saved a young Chinese man from drowning, and the latter's father decided to give him the recipe for a bergamot-scented tea as a thank-you.

Back in England, Charles Grey enjoyed the recipe with his wife. They decided to give the recipe to several British tea companies, asking them to reproduce it.

But no documents have been found to prove that Charles Grey ever visited China. What's more, the black teas imported into England were mainly made in India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Doubt is therefore permitted..

A final, more plausible version is that the famous recipe was created by a Chinese servant working for the Grey family and accustomed to flavoring teas in the Chinese manner with flowers or fruit. Noting that the very mineral water at Howick Hall, the Grey estate, did not enhance the natural teas, he decided to add a slice of bergamot to the tea and served it to his masters, who appreciated it and got into the habit of drinking bergamot tea.

For the record, and given the many uncertainties surrounding its creation, researchers at the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) launched an appeal in 2012 to find the earliest official reference to a bergamot-flavored tea.

This dates back to 1824, when the Italian citrus fruit was used to enhance the taste of lower-end teas. This led the OED to conclude that it was "rather unlikely" that the 2nd Earl, Charles Grey, was actually the inventor of Earl Grey. So the mystery continues..

Bergamot, the aromatic citrus on which Earl Grey's charm rests

Traditional Earl Grey is made from black tea flavored with the essential oil of Bergamot, a highly aromatic citrus fruit with a thick, rough skin that varies from green to yellow depending on its degree of ripeness. It is this fruit of the bergamot tree of the Citrus family (Citrus bergamia), mainly grown in Calabria in south-western Italy, that makes this recipe so interesting.

Its powerful, refreshing taste is reminiscent of a harmonious blend of different citrus fruits, with notes of lemon, bitter orange and mandarin blended with a distinctive floral sweetness. A unique combination that makes bergamot a highly prized ingredient in both culinary and perfumery applications. The essential oil is extracted from the thick, fragrant skin of the fruit. It is blended with tea, resulting in a superb balance between the deep tannins of black tea and the bright, complex notes of citrus.

In addition to this traditional recipe, which we offer in two variations, Earl Grey can be enjoyed in any number of ways. Discover also our recipes with green tea, black tea and even rooibos for those who want an inspired, caffeine-free version.