earl grey | Tea Blog September 16, 2016 in Foods and Candies , Resources and Information | Tags: Black Treacle , Caster Sugar , demerara , earl grey , earl grey cookies , gbbo , Great British Bake Off , muscovado , sugar , treacle , turbinado | by Online Stores | 1 comment If you have seen an episode of the Great British Bake Off, you will notice some of the contestants explaining their ingredients . If you hear names like “ caster sugar ”, treacle, or “ black treacle ”, you may be familiar with it or it may leave you scratching your head, depending on which side of the pond you are from. When I am not making or drinking tea, I am baking and I tend to bake A LOT. When I first started to bake British recipes, I noticed that in order to have the best results, British ingredients are the best. I tried to use American ingredients like granulated sugar in place of caster sugar and the difference is a huge one. The difference between caster sugar and granulated sugar is that caster sugar is much more fine than the granulated sugar. The crystals are much more easier to dissolve when being stirred in and baked.

Demerara sugar is a much different story. Demerara is much more coarse than caster sugar and looks much similar to Turbinado sugar, a certain sugar that we in America see in a little brown packet. This sugar has a toffee/molasses-like flavor. Other popular sugars in the UK are Muscovado sugars. Much like the brown sugars we have here in the US, there are light and brown versions. Muscovado sugar is a naturally brown sugar while brown sugar has molasses added to it. Muscovado sugar usually gets its color from sugar cane juice It is not just the traditional ingredients and flavors that the competitors have used. Contestants bring their own flavors from home, ones they or their family enjoy that bring them such sweet (or savory) memories. They have made their own flavors from simple fruits like Morello cherries to sweets like Pontefract Cakes , and even cola flavors. Some of these flavors are combined, such as mango, hazelnut, and rosemary and made into a sweet treat that you would not believe. These home cooks have such incredible skills that it is astonishing. You can also add tea to your baking, wet or dry!

Tea loaf cakes are a common bake in the UK, which involve actually BREWING tea, soaking dried fruits in it, and adding it to the batter! If you prefer to use dry tea leaves, Stash Tea has a recipe that you can use to make Earl Grey Tea Bag cookies ! -CD July 2, 2015 in Health Benefit Claims , Herbals , Tea - Black , Tea - Blends , Tea - Chinese , Tea - Indian , Tea - Other | Tags: Black Tea , discount tea , earl grey , earl grey tea , flavored tea , Mim Estate , tea , tea of the month | by Online Stores | 1 comment July has arrived! It may seem like the past few months have been flying by, but we’re here to give you a little bit of tea encouragement. The teas listed below offer special pricing that will last all month long (no code needed.) (c) English Tea Store – Earl Grey Teabags The first tea is our Regular Earl Grey Tea in Fine Loose Leaf or Teabags . The Earl Grey Tea blend from English Tea Store is a blend of Ceylon and Indian teas.

The tea receives its unusual and unique flavor from oil of Bergamot – which is a small acidic orange. The Bergamot orange is a cross between the sweet or pear lemon (Citrus Limetta) and the Seville or sour orange (Citrus Aurantium). The sour orange is native to Southern Vietnam. The Earl Grey Fine Loose Tea is available in 4 different sizes: 4 ounces, 8 ounces, 15 ounces, or 80 ounces. The Earl Grey Teabags are available in a 25 pouch, 25 tin, 50 pouch, 100 bulk, or 500 bulk. Curious about the benefits of drinking Earl Grey Tea? Good for your teeth – That’s right! Tea contains very high levels of catechin, which is an antioxidant that fights oral infection. Flouride is a naturally occurring component in Earl Grey. Promotes good digestion – Earl Grey can aid and relieve painful digestion, colic, and nausea. Fights anxiety and depression – Unfortunately, in today’s world many people suffer from anxiety, depression, or both. Maybe you’re looking for other routes instead of medicine?

The Bergamot in Earl Grey has a calming effect and has natural aromatherapy qualities. Weight loss – Like most teas citrus teas, Earl Grey an induce weight loss. It is thought that calories are broken down into food for your muscles or released through the metabolic process. Try adding some extra citrus like lemon! Hydration (It’s Key!) – Hydration is so important for your body…and it’s not just because tea is made with water. Earl Grey has a high potassium content so it keeps your fluids in check. (c) English Tea Store – Mim Estate Loose Leaf Moving on to our next July tea – Mim Estate in Loose Leaf . The Mim Estate blend from the English Tea Store has a distinctive “Muscatel” character with a hint of currant. This tea is a 2nd flush Darjeeling and comes from the Mim Estate in Northern India. The genus of the Darjeeling tea bush is the Chinese Jat, which gives it the distinctive muscatel character. The fragrance and taste is a complex bouquet that travels right out of the cup. Some may describe the taste as nutty, black currant, or muscat grape-like.

The final tea of the month is actually multiple teas in a sampler (What more could you ask for?!) – The Fruit Kick – Loose Leaf Sampler . This is great if you’re looking to try something new and adventure out of your safe zone. Each sampler pack comes with 1 ounce of each of our favorite fruit flavored loose leaf teas: Apple Spice Black Tea, Blackcurrant Black Tea, Pomegranate Lemon Black Tea, Wild Blueberry Organic Tea, and Florida Orange Rooibos Tea. We recommend brewing in water, that has been brought to a boil, for 3-5 minutes. Okay – I think we’ve given you a lot to think about. Tell us your favorite flavored tea! Share this: Is it grey, or is it green? Our second Tea of the Month for May is both! Enjoy 15% off the forever favorite made fresh with bergamot and green tea. Bergamot is a small citrus orange that blossoms in winter. Tea was originally flavoured with bergamot to imitate the more expensive types of Chinese tea. This practice dates back to the 1820’s in the UK.

In 1837 there is a record of a lawsuit against a tea maker who was found to have supplied tea “artificially scented, and, drugged with bergamot in this country.” The Earl Grey blend, or “Earl Grey’s Mixture,” is assumed to be named after The 2nd Earl Grey , British Prime Minister in the 1830s and author of the Reform Bill of 1832 . Lord Grey reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil. The English Tea Store is one of few who takes this original Earl Grey blend and surprises you with a base of green tea. Editor’s note – I love the word perquisite – so much nicer than today’s “perk.” Share this: February 19, 2015 in Product and Tea Reviews , Resources and Information , Tea - Black | Tags: ahmad , earl grey , ethical tea partnership , ETP , PG Tips , twinings | by Online Stores | 1 comment (c) Crystal Derma for English Tea Store. All rights reserved.

One tea that has definitely caught my taste buds by surprise is the English Tea Store Brand’s Earl Grey Cream Blend . I made this on a rainy day a few days ago and was very surprised at the taste! A little milk and sweetener helped make this stand out. I wanted something caffeinated but something different from my usual PG Tips . Then I remembered I had a bag of Earl Grey Cream , so I opened that up while I had the kettle boiling on the stove. As I waited, I studied the tea leaves and noticed there were little purple flower petals in the bag. I later found out that they were corn flower petals. Found them to be very pretty, though. This tea tastes very much of smooth, creamy vanilla, especially after the milk and sweetener were added. It made me want to have a scone right then and there! It feels very much like a dessert tea. Or better yet, skip the sweet treat and just have another cup of tea! In my research, I learned that 98 percent of this tea comes from estates that are part of the Ethical Tea Partnership.

The ETP website explains they they are a non-profit organization working to improve tea sustainability, the lives of the tea workers, and the environment in which the tea is produced. They are a worldwide organization that includes tea companies big and small. Some tea companies that are partnered with the ETP include well known British tea brands like Ahmad Tea and Twinings . ~CD March 27, 2014 in Tea - Other | Tags: earl grey , Tregothnan Estate | by elisenuding | Leave a comment Following on from my explorations of Tregothnan’s Classic Tea , I also had a chance to find out how their Earl Grey stands up to the other Earl Grey blends out there. As mentioned in my previous article, the Tregothnan teas currently being stocked by Waitrose appear only to be sold in bagged form. For the Classic Tea this did not particularly bother me; however, I do prefer most of my other teas loose – a rule to which Earl Grey is no exception. Nevertheless, I wanted to try Tregothnan’s Earl Grey, and decided that a tea bag was not going to come between me and my tea tasting.

Tregothnan Earl Grey (photo by Elise Nuding, all rights reserved) Coincidentally, I am writing this article on the 250th anniversary of the birth of Charles Grey, the Earl who eventually gave his name to the world-famous tea blend. And, as an additional interesting fact, the family who own Tregothnan estate are direct descendants of the Earl, and as such have an especially close connection to the tea. In fact, they state that their Earl Grey blend “aims to be the ultimate tribute to the man himself.” A lofty ambition indeed! [Editor’s note: see this article on the blog about Twinings who made that tea famous.] They go about fulfilling this ambition by combining tea leaves from the Tregothnan estate with Assam leaves and pure bergamot oil. Like most black teas, a steep time of 3 minutes should produce a good brew for an Earl Grey, and so this was where I started. Tregothnan’s blend is definitely on the lighter, more fragrant end of the Earl Grey spectrum, but the bergamot flavour was still clear and distinct in this first brew.

I prefer my Earl Grey (like all black teas) with a little added milk, and found that this did not compromise or mask the flavors of the pure tea, which is a good sign. For my second brew, I let the tea steep for 4 minutes. This produced a slightly darker brew with a slightly stronger taste. Although the first brew was complemented well by the milk, I found that the stronger brew coped even better with it, producing a more balanced cup. This preference may well reflect the fact that I tend to enjoy stronger black teas, so some tea drinkers might find the lighter steep more to their taste. As a lighter, more subtle blend of flavours than some of the more robust blends out there, Tregothnan’s Earl Grey is better suited as an afternoon tea- at least for my tea drinking preferences. I don’t know about being the ultimate tribute to the original Earl Grey, but I certainly enjoyed my experience of Tregothnan’s Earl Grey tea, and suspect that it would elicit an even more positive reaction in loose form. See more of Elise Nuding’s articles here . © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: October 5, 2011 in Tea Enjoyment | Tags: earl grey , howick hall , tea house , twinings | by William I. Lengeman III | 2 comments Many tea lovers are probably aware of at least the bare bones of the Earl Grey story. Earl Grey, the tea, for those of you who may not be clued in yet, is a type of flavored black tea that has been doctored up with the highly fragrant and distinctive oil of bergamot. Bergamot is a small citrus fruit that’s primarily grown in Italy. Earl Grey, the person, is the guy Earl Grey tea is named for. He’s more properly referred to as Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, and if you’re like me and you have no clue what an Earl is or what they do you can get more info here .

There are several conflicting versions of how Earl Grey came to be the namesake of this tea. Look for a brief overview of this issue here . Howick Hall Gardens - Take a tour and then have a spot of tea in the tea house What a lot of tea lovers may not know is that if you’re ever traveling in the vicinity of Northumberland, in England, you can have the rather unique experience of drinking Earl Grey tea on the grounds of the very same place where Earl Grey lived. That would be Howick Hall. It’s “the ancestral seat of the Earls Grey” and has been owned by the family since 1319. Nowadays the property is operated as a tourist attraction known as Howick Hall Gardens. It includes the Earl Grey Tea House and various other attractions. The tea house doesn’t have quite the pedigree as the rest of the property, having opened only a few years ago, in 2004.

Since then operation has been leased to various parties and, as the Web site notes, ” they serve a variety of teas, home made and local produce, snacks and light lunches, sometimes on a self-service basis.” Potential visitors will also want to note that “the Earl Grey Tea House is open whenever the gardens are open, but exclusively for visitors to the garden. It is NOT open to other members of the public.” While we’re on the topic of Earl Grey tea it’s as good a time as any to again mention the recent Twinings Earl Grey fiasco (or publicity stunt, as some have suggested). When Twinings made a change not so long ago to the formulation of their popular Earl Grey tea there was of an outcry from unhappy fans. The end result was similar to Coke’s fix way back when for the New/Classic Coke debacle. Twinings decided to keep selling the new blend of Earl Grey and also release a Classic Edition. For more on this issue, look here . © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited.

Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: September 26, 2011 in Tea - Black , Tea - Brands , Tea - Flavored | Tags: earl grey , twinings | by William I. Lengeman III | 5 comments Earl Grey can be something of an acquired taste for some tea drinkers, present company included. But for those Earl Grey fans who have acquired the taste, it’s one that they’re quite passionate about. If you need any proof of that, then consider the outcry that recently broke out when Twinings changed the formula of their Earl Grey blend, arguably one of the most popular blends in the world. Earl Grey Classic Earl Grey is typically made with a black tea base to which oil of bergamot has been added. There can be minor variations on this theme, including Twinings’ own Lady Grey, which also adds essence of lemon and orange peel. Bergamot is a citrus fruit that’s primarily grown for commercial use in southern Italy, though it is also grown in more modest quantities elsewhere.

Twinings has been making Earl Grey tea for nearly two centuries now but they slipped up recently in a blunder reminiscent of the new Coke debacle of some years back. Fans of the tea boiled over when Twinings dared to change the formula, adding lemon flavor and more bergamot than they previously used. The thoughts about this change from unhappy Earl Grey lovers were expressed in no uncertain terms, using such no-nonsense words as “foul,” “gross,” “dishwater,” and “vile.” Is Earl Grey happy about this? As the furor increased, a Facebook campaign was launched and the news spread from the expected British press sources to such far-flung media outlets as Canada, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, and more. Here’s what the Telegraph had to say about the fiasco. To their credit (and quite likely to the benefit of their bottom line), Twinings responded to all of the fuss, promising that “Earl Grey The Classic Edition” would be brought back to calm down all the fans who were up in arms. As the company put it, in a statement at their Web site , “Whilst many love the new Earl Grey, a group of Earl Grey fans have asked us to make the previous blend available.

Not wishing to disappoint, we have introduced Earl Grey The Classic Edition.” © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: Type: Black tea, flavored Form: Loose leaf Review: Looking for an elegant, refined tea perfect for summer sipping? Try Versailles Lavender Earl Grey, a tea that is a pleasure to look at, sniff and sip. A very nice combination indeed! The base tea appears to be a Ceylon, with surprisingly long, twisted leaves. These very dark leaves are blended with lavender and blue cornflowers, creating a visually stunning blend. If you are looking to impress someone with your tea service, try presenting them with a bit of this tea before spooning it into your teapot! The nose, a blend of tangy bergamot and lavender is also quite nice, albeit strong.

I was concerned that the flavors may be too strong in the cup, so I infused my first pot of Versailles Lavender Earl Grey for only three minutes. The tea that resulted wasn’t bad, but not quite as flavorful as I hoped. Four minutes did the trick, though, and produced a lovely honey-colored liquor with moderate astringency. The base tea provided a hearty foundation for the citrus and floral flavors, making this tea a nice treat and a lovely, floral alternative to traditional Earl Grey. Recommended, particularly as an inexpensive but delicious “special occasion” tea. Preparation Tips: Be very careful about the amount of leaf you use when preparing this tea. Too much lavender can result in a strange-tasting tea. Stick with one teaspoon per cup and adjust the steep time if you like a stronger tea. I found that a four minute steep makes a very flavorful cup in which both bergamot and lavender flavors emerge without any harsh notes. Serving Tips: Works fine when sipped on its own, but I confess to really enjoying this tea with a bit of dark chocolate. Nice on ice, too. © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: Type: White tea, flavored Form: Loose leaf Review: For those who enjoy the flavor of bergamot but crave a lighter, cleaner tea during the summer should enjoy this offering from the English Tea Store. This is a “white” Earl Grey, blended from Pai Mu Tan white tea and natural bergamot oil. The subtlety of the white tea and the crisp citrus flavor makes for a wonderful summer beverage. Pai Mu Tan (also known as “white peony”) is a “new style” white tea made from minimally processed tea leaves. It produces a light-bodied, yellow-green liquor with a sweet, slightly fruity flavor that reminds me a bit of green apples. In combination with the bergamot (which is applied with a light hand), these qualities create a tea that is astonishingly good served either hot or cold.

I’ve long been an advocate of white peony teas as a gentler alternative to fierce black breakfast teas: Sometimes I want to wake up slowly, and a cup of this tea would be a perfect way to do so. It is also a wonderfully soothing afternoon tea. I strongly recommend this tea: A delicious, unusual blend sold at a very reasonable price. Serving Tips: Like many white peony teas, British Earl Grey Flavored White Tea is more subtle in flavor than black teas, but more substantial than traditional silver needle white tea. I recommend serving this tea on its own or with simple foods, such as cucumber sandwiches. Do try it as an iced tea: It is absolutely delicious and very refreshing. Preparation Tips: Because this tea leaf is both large and fluffy, it can be difficult to consistently measure. I recommend weighing out the leaf on a gram scale and using about 3 grams of leaf per eight ounces of water. Cooler water will result in a sweeter, fruitier tea as well: Take the water temperature down to 185F and steep for three minutes for best results. © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: June 8, 2011 in Tea - Other | Tags: Anastasia , Catherine of Braganza , earl grey , lady grey , Margaret’s Hope , rosemary | by A.C. Cargill | 6 comments Lady Londonderry tea Tea has been seen as a “woman’s beverage” in Europe and the U.S. since it was popularized in Britain by Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza after her marriage to Prince Charles II. As tea became more popular, a lot of tea rooms became havens where women could go and not be seen as wild or get “hit on” by strange men. Even today, tea time is more popular with women. It’s only natural, therefore, that many teas and several herbal tisanes have women’s names. One of the best known is “ Lady Londonderry ,” named after Princess Catherine.

It’s a tea blend starting with a base of black tea and flavored/scented with dried orange, white daisies, and other natural flavors that are great both hot and chilled. Then, there’s “Lady Grey,” a version of “Earl Grey”; the Twinings version is made with lemon and Seville orange in addition to oil of bergamot (see tea sipper Lainie Petersen’s review ). Another one is “ Blue Lady ,” a tea named after a common image that occurs to people who think they have seen a ghost; the blender takes a high-grown Ceylon tea of finest quality and adds citrus (grapefruit and orange) plus passionfruit and grenadine flavors for a sweet taste that stays with you like the ghost (that blue lady) it’s named after. A somewhat heartbreaking story is about “ Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling ” tea garden. Margaret was the youngest of two daughters of Mr. Bagdon, the owner of a tea garden in the Darjeeling area of India in the 1930s. He lived in London but visited the tea garden regularly. On one trip, he brought both daughters with him.

Margaret fell in love with the tea garden and, on the voyage home, told her father she hoped to see it again soon. Sadly, she became ill on the boat and did not recover. Mr. Bagdon changed the tea garden’s name to “Margaret’s Hope” in remembrance of her. Oolong lovers will know this tea name: Tie Guan Yin (“Iron Goddess of Mercy”). Not a real woman, but the idea of a woman — strength yet mercy rolled into one package. The Republic of Tea Pink Lady Apple Green Tea Some other examples I’ve come across: Queen of Hearts — An early season green tea, formed into heart shapes, that is fit for a mad tea party! And not one shouting “Off with their heads!” The Republic of Tea Pink Lady Apple Green Tea — A blend with a unique flavor from “pink lady apples” (also known as “blushing apples”) added to a delicate China green tea. Lady Hannah’s Whole Fruit Herbal — Caffeine-free and naturally sweet with the taste of lemon and strawberry combining with natural dried apple pieces, hibiscus, rosehip, pineapple pieces, papaya pieces, brambleberries, blackberries, raspberries, and natural flavors.

A pleasure both hot or chilled. Godiva Roche Flavored Rooibos — You don’t need to ride a horse through the streets of Coventry England with naught between you and the elements but some very long blond hair to feel like you’re doing your part to protest high taxes. Just a sip of this tisane will do the trick. South African rooibos with chopped vanilla pieces, cacao bean and peel, and natural flavoring oils. Empress Green Sampler — A regal collection of green teas that will give you a nice sampling of the finer options out there. Lady Orchid Oolong Tea — Oolong tea leaves combined with powdered ginseng and liquorice grass. Health claims include replenishing energy and soothing a dry throat and cough. Auntie’s Pumpkin Pie — Straight from the oven to your nostrils and tastebuds, the enticing aroma of fresh backed pumpkin pie compacted into a teacup! Black tea with cinnamon, caramel, and pumpkin spice. Anastasia — The royal Romanovs, last in a long line of Tsars of Russia, ended rather tragically. One daughter, Anastasia, is said to have miraculously survived the massacre of her parents and siblings.

The tale has been told in several movies, including one with Ingrid Bergman and another with Amy Irving . This blend of Chinese and Ceylon black teas flavored with natural essences of bergamot, lemon, and orange blossom will fill you with the spirit of mystery surrounding Anastasia. Rosemary Herbal Tisane — Rosemary is a name that has been around for a long time. It is also the name of an herb. This tisane made from it is said to help your health in lots of ways. One of the best uses is as a breath freshening mouthwash. On a side note, there is a female name spelled “Tea” but pronounced “TAY-ah.” It’s Italian in origin and is a short form of Teresa and Teadora. By the way, these teas may have feminine type names, but you fellas can enjoy them, too! Don’t miss another female name but for a tea time treat: Madeleines, as described in the article by Jess Hodges! © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: earl grey tea | Tea Blog July 2, 2015 in Health Benefit Claims , Herbals , Tea - Black , Tea - Blends , Tea - Chinese , Tea - Indian , Tea - Other | Tags: Black Tea , discount tea , earl grey , earl grey tea , flavored tea , Mim Estate , tea , tea of the month | by Online Stores | 1 comment July has arrived! It may seem like the past few months have been flying by, but we’re here to give you a little bit of tea encouragement. The teas listed below offer special pricing that will last all month long (no code needed.) (c) English Tea Store – Earl Grey Teabags The first tea is our Regular Earl Grey Tea in Fine Loose Leaf or Teabags . The Earl Grey Tea blend from English Tea Store is a blend of Ceylon and Indian teas.

The tea receives its unusual and unique flavor from oil of Bergamot – which is a small acidic orange. The Bergamot orange is a cross between the sweet or pear lemon (Citrus Limetta) and the Seville or sour orange (Citrus Aurantium). The sour orange is native to Southern Vietnam. The Earl Grey Fine Loose Tea is available in 4 different sizes: 4 ounces, 8 ounces, 15 ounces, or 80 ounces. The Earl Grey Teabags are available in a 25 pouch, 25 tin, 50 pouch, 100 bulk, or 500 bulk. Curious about the benefits of drinking Earl Grey Tea? Good for your teeth – That’s right! Tea contains very high levels of catechin, which is an antioxidant that fights oral infection. Flouride is a naturally occurring component in Earl Grey. Promotes good digestion – Earl Grey can aid and relieve painful digestion, colic, and nausea. Fights anxiety and depression – Unfortunately, in today’s world many people suffer from anxiety, depression, or both. Maybe you’re looking for other routes instead of medicine?

The Bergamot in Earl Grey has a calming effect and has natural aromatherapy qualities. Weight loss – Like most teas citrus teas, Earl Grey an induce weight loss. It is thought that calories are broken down into food for your muscles or released through the metabolic process. Try adding some extra citrus like lemon! Hydration (It’s Key!) – Hydration is so important for your body…and it’s not just because tea is made with water. Earl Grey has a high potassium content so it keeps your fluids in check. (c) English Tea Store – Mim Estate Loose Leaf Moving on to our next July tea – Mim Estate in Loose Leaf . The Mim Estate blend from the English Tea Store has a distinctive “Muscatel” character with a hint of currant. This tea is a 2nd flush Darjeeling and comes from the Mim Estate in Northern India. The genus of the Darjeeling tea bush is the Chinese Jat, which gives it the distinctive muscatel character. The fragrance and taste is a complex bouquet that travels right out of the cup. Some may describe the taste as nutty, black currant, or muscat grape-like.

The final tea of the month is actually multiple teas in a sampler (What more could you ask for?!) – The Fruit Kick – Loose Leaf Sampler . This is great if you’re looking to try something new and adventure out of your safe zone. Each sampler pack comes with 1 ounce of each of our favorite fruit flavored loose leaf teas: Apple Spice Black Tea, Blackcurrant Black Tea, Pomegranate Lemon Black Tea, Wild Blueberry Organic Tea, and Florida Orange Rooibos Tea. We recommend brewing in water, that has been brought to a boil, for 3-5 minutes. Okay – I think we’ve given you a lot to think about. Tell us your favorite flavored tea! Share this: May 27, 2014 in Tea - Flavored | Tags: earl grey tea | by William I. Lengeman III | Leave a comment As promised in the title of this article I will now attempt to regale, thrill and enlighten you with some tidbits and trivia about Earl Grey tea. But first a few basic facts. Earl Grey is named for a real person – an actual English Earl who lived in the nineteenth century.

The other key fact about Earl Grey tea is that it is most often made with a base of black tea and is flavored with the oil of a citrus fruit called bergamot. Double Bergamot Earl Grey Tea – one of several variations on the market these days. (ETS image) That’s the Reader’s Digest version, of course, but you can read more about this type of tea here. Perhaps a measure of Earl Grey’s popularity and influence is the fact that so many musicians and bands have used it in song titles. If you don’t believe it go to your favorite online music vendor and do a search. There are even a number of musicians who have co-opted the name for themselves. I have to admit that I’m not familiar with them but they include The Earl Grey, which is apparently the alter ego of one Alex Teg. Earl Grey And Croquet are a band of rockers from South Africa and Earl Grey Policy hail from Melbourne, Australia. In keeping with that international flavor is Earl Grey and the Loose Leaves, who operate from a home base in Edinburgh, Scotland.

I won’t even go into all of the many book titles that somehow incorporate Earl Grey, though I will say that Fifty Shames of Earl Grey: A Parody is a rather clever one. It features a main character named Earl Grey and a well-dressed man on the cover dunking a tea bag. Or, if you prefer the cinema to fine literature, you could try My Earl Grey, a romantic comedy that rolled out in 2012. In a slightly different vein, let’s assume that Earl Grey is a pretty popular type of tea. And that there are those who like it quite a bit. I’m not one of them but you if you want to get a load of someone who’s truly a fan then head on over to The Earl Grey Addict. Whose proprietor is chronicling “A man’s journey to taste and review every Earl Grey on the planet.” See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles here . © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited.

Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: May 6, 2014 in Health Benefit Claims , Tea - Flavored | Tags: earl grey tea , Health Benefit Claims | by William I. Lengeman III | 2 comments Earl Grey is plentiful here! (ETS image) What can you say about the potential health benefits of Earl Grey tea that you can’t say about black tea? Now, I guess I should explain that one. As a general rule, Earl Grey tea and black tea are the same thing, with one key difference. Though other types of tea are occasionally used to make it, Earl Grey is most often made by adding oil of bergamot – a small citrus fruit that’s grown primarily in Italy – to black tea. Well, as it turns out, it’s bergamot that’s been identified as being potentially beneficial in a recent study on Earl Grey tea and heart disease.

So to be nitpicky about it it’s more of a study on bergamot than tea, but how many other uses for bergamot can you name besides Earl Grey tea? Me neither. In an article from the British press that reported on these findings, we’re reminded that Earl Grey is, of course, a blend that’s “much favoured in Downton Abbey.” Just in case you were wondering. As the aforementioned article notes, the research suggests that bergamot contains “enzymes known as HMGF (hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavonones) which can treat heart diseases as effectively as statins.” Coincidentally, or perhaps not, the study was carried out by Italian researchers at the University of Calabria, who published their results in the Journal of Functional Foods. You can access the abstract of the study here though you’ll need to pay for the full results. The study found that HMGF tended to reduce the levels of “bad” cholesterol which can lead to while also increasing levels of so-called good cholesterol. In the former case the effects of HMGF were found to be as useful as the statins that are also used to treat heart disease.

Which may be good news for anyone who drinks Earl Grey tea and, for those of us who were wondering, the article notes that bergamot apparently also turns up sometimes in jams, ice cream and folk medicines, the latter due to its alleged antiseptic properties. See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles here . © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: May 20, 2013 in Tea - Flavored | Tags: earl grey tea | by William I. Lengeman III | 2 comments If memory serves right there’s only one major type of tea that’s named for a person and that would be Earl Grey , a variety that’s most often made by flavoring black tea with the aromatic oil from the peel of a citrus fruit called bergamot.

Which makes for a very aromatic product indeed, and it’s certainly not for everyone – present company included – but it is nonetheless a very popular type of tea. Earl Grey tea versions So how did it come to pass that a type of tea came to be named after a nineteenth century British prime minister? Well, the exact story seems to vary in the telling and this is not the time or place to revisit that issue, but suffice to say that it’s the Earl who’s typically given credit – rightly or not – for having a part in popularizing this tea. Not so long ago, over at the Oxford English Dictionary, a whopping tome that in its entirety weighs more than many adult human beings, some of the crew began taking a look into the origins of the term Earl Grey. The earliest reference they found to Earl Grey tea was less than a century old, dating to almost a century after Grey’s death, though there was a less specific reference from about thirty years earlier. All of which motivated the powers that be at the OxfordWords blog to invite the public to see how much further back they could trace the term. Their responses are chronicled here .

Among the highlights, an advertisement from 1928 in which the company Robert Jackson’s of Piccadilly claim that they sold a concoction called Earl Grey’s mixture as far back as 1836. I thought it might be interesting to trace the usage of bergamot as a flavoring and so I proceeded to give it a whirl. According to a 1836 volume on trade with China and Asia, the usage of bergamot as a flavoring for tea was already apparently known among “dealers and curious inquirers.” The author claimed that bergamot was one of the best substances that could be used for flavoring tea and offered a few ways to do so. One of the earliest references I found to bergamot-flavored tea is in an 1824 mention that’s likely one referenced (though not by name) in the aforementioned blog entry. It comes from a magazine called The Kaleidoscope and as I read it more closely I realized that it was strikingly similar to the one just discussed in the previous paragraph. So much for copyright enforcement in the early nineteenth century. None of which leads us to much in the way of conclusions about the origins of Earl Grey tea or the term itself.

But perhaps one day someone with a more scholarly bent will come along and unravel the whole mess for us. See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles here and more articles on this blog about Earl Grey teas here . © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this: March 11, 2013 in Resources and Information , Tea - Flavored | Tags: earl grey tea , Tregothnan Estate | by William I. Lengeman III | 2 comments The United States has never been known as a nation of tea consumers or tea producers, although for a long time now we’ve had our own homegrown tea estate – South Carolina’s Charleston Tea Plantation . Over in the United Kingdom they are known for their immense consumption of tea, but they have never done much in the way of growing or producing the stuff.

The notable exception in recent years has been Tregothnan Estate , which is located in Cornwall in the western region of England. An interesting twist that I wasn’t aware of but one that’s been much in the news lately is that the owners of Tregothnan Estate are descendants of the former British Prime Minister, Charles Grey. Which may not mean much to most people but when you consider Grey’s title – Earl Grey – it’s a name that takes on a whole new dimension for tea lovers. To make the story even more enticing to the news media, Tregothnan is actually planning to export some of their tea to the greatest tea-producing nation of them all. If you guessed China, give yourself a gold star or two. Which is especially worthy of note, given that the estate turns out a relatively small amount of tea, compared to the Chinese, whose output is measured in millions of tons. Read one of the recent articles about Tregothnan here . For an impressive pictorial take on tea production at the estate, be sure not to miss this pictorial from Boston.com. In other matters Earl Grey related, if you’re a fan of the stuff (not guilty) you might want to take a look at this recent article from the Financial Times.

Which chronicles the efforts of a panel of esteemed judges to pick the best in show of a bunch of 14 varieties – ten of them in bagged form and four loose-leaf varieties. Click here to see who walked away with the gold medal. Last up on the Earl Grey front, I may have already mentioned this brand that pays tribute to a famous fictional fan – Star Trek captain Picard – but it’s worth mentioning again. It borrows the name of Picard’s famous catchphrase – Tea, Earl Grey, Hot – for its name. See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles here . © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Share this: November 4, 2009 in Tea Enjoyment | Tags: Ceylon Tea , earl grey tea , nose , perfume , scent notes , tea scents | by A.C. Cargill | 2 comments By A.C. Cargill Tea scents wafting my way are one of life’s great pleasures, especially since I have a very sensitive nose. Very. No, it’s not grossly oversized like Rostand’s fictional character, Cyrano de Bergerac , or even as large as one-time Vaudevillian and comic actor Jimmy Durante or singer/actor Barbra Streisand. Quite the contrary. It’s just a little, upturned, pointy thing (almost pixie-ish) that, despite it’s shape, does the job it’s designed for: breathing. And with each intake of air come various scents, some good, some bad. Tea scents are definitely good. Among the bad scents is anything “perfumy” — at least as far as my nose is concerned. This includes perfumed soaps, shampoos, hand lotions, candles, air fresheners and, of course, perfumes.

One whiff and my head is set to pounding. A few more whiffs and a migraine starts. This sensitivity is inherited from my mother, who had an intolerance to strong, flowery fragrances, and not unique to me. I know lots of people with “sensitive sniffers.” One good thing for us is the cost savings since we don’t spend hundreds on tiny bottles of designer perfumes. Such sensitivity is problematic for us, though, in certain locations. Shopping malls are one example where shops selling scented candles and perfumed lotions seem to have sprouted by the dozens. It’s even more of an issue in the office, however. We can avoid the candle and lotion shops. We can’t always avoid a heavily scented co-worker (male or female). One in particular I remember well. She always came to work in a proverbial cloud of perfume (and cubicle walls aren’t very effective at fending off these fragrances). (I was always told in my younger days that wearing perfume to the office was inappropriate. I guess that message is lost these days.) As she walked along the aisles between the cubicles, the waves parted (people got out of her way and held their noses). She seemed oblivious to all of this.

On the plus side for me and other tea drinkers, a hyper-accurate smeller can pick up all of the subtle scent notes in teas, so long as there’s no heavy perfume smell around to overshadow it. These scent notes are described by terms such as “Smoky,” “Fruity,” etc. Some scents in tea occur as part of the withering and fermenting process. Others, such as vanilla and oil of bergamot (a type of orange) in Earl Grey tea , are added by tea processors shortly before the tea is packed. However they originate, these tea scents wafting our way enhance the enjoyment of a good cup of tea. They also make having such a “sensitive sniffer” an asset instead of a problem – as long as you stay away from perfumes and perfume wearers, that is. In Part II, I’ll explore these and other tea scents wafting my way. Meanwhile, it’s time for a cup of hearty, smoky Ceylon tea . The scent and the taste blend together in true harmony. Enjoy! Check out A.C.’s blog, Tea Time with A.C. Cargill , for more on living the tea life!

Share this: April 13, 2009 in Tea - Flavored | Tags: earl grey tea , tea | by William I. Lengeman III | 9 comments We’ll never know exactly when humans began drinking tea, but it’s likely that not long after, they began flavoring it with herbs, fruits, flowers and spices. Today, flavored teas make up a large section of the tea market and one of the most popular of these is a blend called Earl Grey . Charles Grey was the second Earl Grey and a British Prime Minister during the early nineteenth century. His name graces a Saskatchewan village, a lodge in British Columbia and a Sacramento tea salon for starters, but he’s probably best known for the flavored tea that also takes his name. Earl Grey typically consists of black tea flavored with an essential oil taken from the rind of the bergamot, a citrus fruit grown in the Calabria region of Italy. Earl Grey tea is a primary use for bergamot oil, but this substance also makes its way into confections and various perfumes, colognes and body care products. The story of how Earl Grey tea came to be isn’t completely set in stone.

Some say the Earl received a gift of bergamot tea from a Chinese mandarin or an Indian raja, as gratitude for his role in saving their son’s life. The Twinings company claims that when the Earl began to run low on supplies of this aromatic tea, he asked Richard Twining to make him more. Earl Grey is usually a black tea, however other varieties such as green, white and oolong can be employed along with various other tisanes such as rooibos. Twinings makes a variation called Lady Grey , which is named for the Earl’s wife and which also includes citrus flavors. French Earl Grey includes rose petals and the London Fog is a drink made with Earl Grey, milk and vanilla syrup. The bergamot in Earl Grey tea may offer health benefits due to its antiseptic, germicidal and calming properties. It is also a popular choice for both sweet and savory recipes. For the last word on Earl Grey tea, refer to Tending Toward Tea — a site that has been operating for 11 years, during which time it has amassed an impressive collection of Earl Grey reviews.

Share this: April 6, 2009 in Tea Enjoyment | Tags: earl grey tea , Green Tea , Tea Recipe | by Bill J. Garcia | Leave a comment Did you know that ice and tea can be a wonderful change up to your cocktail repertoire? Ever heard of an Earl Grey or Green tea Martini? Change it up and give Kaluha and coffee liqueurs a break and go for the leaf! I think teas and spirits are a perfect combination – after all, plant-laced aperitifs are nothing new. Ever heard of Grappa or Vermouth? You guessed it, both made with herbs. I know – tea and spirits can seem almost counter intuitive, but whoever ever believed that tomatoes and vodka would become such a hit. OK, you got me, tomatoes are a fruit and not a plant, but you get the picture. Heck, why not live a little and try your favorite teas and spirits and see if what you can come up with. Earl Grey Martini 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger fresh lemon juice Chipped Ice 2 fluid ounces simple syrup Sprinkle the tea leaves over the gin in a small glass, and set aside to steep for 2 hours.

Pour 1/4 to 1/2 inch of white sugar onto a small, shallow plate. Moisten the rims of 2 martini glasses with a wedge of lemon, dip the moistened glasses into the sugar; set aside. Strain the infused gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker over ice. Cover, and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into the rimmed glasses to serve. Enjoy! Green Tea-ini 1½ oz. chilled green tea Chipped Ice Splash of fresh lemon juice Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon. Enjoy! [Editor’s note: This article has been updated for style and content accuracy.] © Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited.

Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Share this:

Question: The blend of tea known as Earl Grey was named after someone in what profession?
Answer: British Prime Minister