The resulting citrusy and chocolate flavors make this tea a enchant in the morning and at night. It is famously associated with royals and a staple at gamey profile events including meetings between heads of express. Find out what makes Earl Grey so especial and get a few tips on how to brew this tea perfectly every prison term .
Contents
What Is Earl Grey Tea?
Earl Grey tea is a season tea that is infused with bergamot orange. Flavored tea consist of true tea leaves that are infused or blended with yield, flowers, herb or spices. The rind of the bergamot orange is dried and added to black tea leaves to produce Earl Grey tea. Bergamot oil extracted from the rind is besides used in sealed blends. Black tea leaves are the criterion for Earl Grey, but sometimes green tea leaves or oolong tea leaves are used rather .
Bergamot oranges are grown in Calabria, Italy and parts of France. The fruit more close resembles limes in appearance. The flavor of bergamot oranges is a blend of a variety of citrus fruits. It looks like a cross between an orange and a linden, but taste more like a grapefruit or gamboge. The bergamot orange tree is believed to be a hybrid of the orange corner native to Seville and the gamboge tree native to Southeast Asia.
Flavor and Aroma
classical Earl Grey tea features lemony and malty notes. These contrasting flavors make the beverage a classifiable tea that is beloved by many. It is typically made from an infusion of traditional black teas such as Assam, Darjeeling, and Keemun .
These types of black tea feature relish profiles with hints of brittle, caramel, and beloved. The aroma of these black tea is balmy and woodsy. The combination of these blacken tea flavors and the citrusy and fragrant bergamot spirit, results in a lemony however malty tea .
History of Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey is a quintessentially english tea, but its origins actually stem from China. chinese tea masters worked diligently for years to create new tea blends that would entice westerly traders and please the rule class. They used everything from litchi fruits to jasmine and chamomile flowers to create new flavored chinese teas. Bergamot flavored teas were plainly another case of a retentive history of tea experiment .
Earl Grey blacken tea did n’t make its way to England until the early on seventeenth century. The tea is reportedly named after Charles Grey — known as 2nd Earl Grey — who was the british Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834. The history of its origin in London is fuzzy. Some say a chinese mandarin who was saved by Lord Grey ‘s men from drowning delivered the tea as a giving. Others say that he was given a black tea flavored with bergamot orange as a diplomatic gift .
Whatever the true report, the popularity of Earl Grey was solidified through its consumption by the royals, rich and elect. Lady Grey served the tea during political and diplomatic meetings with a host of nations. The Grey family worked with taiwanese tea experts to create a special blend designed specifically to offset the flavor of lime that was present in the urine near their Howick Hall estate. This recipe was finally sold to Twinings and the like recipe was used in their Earl Grey blends until 2011 .
How Is Earl Grey Made?
The Grey family never registered the Earl Grey trademark. As a leave, many tea companies produce their own versions of this season tea. From California to the Irish highlands and french valleys, tea companies put their own spin on bergamot infused tea. The type of tea and bergamot used arsenic well as the amounts lend the differences in flavors among manufacturers .
Black tea leaves include traditional types such as indian Assam and Darjeeling or blends from Africa or China like Lapsang Souchong. Some manufacturers use a blend of black teas from across the global. The dry process besides affects the spirit of Earl Grey tea. Some black tea leaves are roasted while others are pan-fired or steamer resulting in different tasting notes .
The black tea leaves are harvested and undergo a production process that includes annihilative, peal, oxidation, and drying. For Earl Grey teas made with k tea — known as Earl green tea — the leaves are not oxidized. Teas are normally flavored precisely after the dry work is completed .
Earl Grey teas are flavored in two ways. The tea leaves are sprayed or coated with bergamot all-important oil or extracts to infuse relish. alternatively, dried bergamot orange rinds are added to the dried leaves for infusion in water. Earl Grey teas that are coated with oils tend to have a stronger citrus spirit .
Health Benefits of Earl Grey Tea
Boosts Immune System
It ‘s no secret that citrus fruits are a key component in fighting off colds and influenza. Bergamot orange is no different. Earl Grey is particularly popular in Europe and the United States during the winter months were colds are rampant. Earl Grey helps the immune system fight off colds thanks to the presence of vitamin C. It besides prevents fever and invasions of parasites .
Protects Oral Health
Earl Grey tea protects teeth from oral infections and tooth decay. Earl Grey tea contains antioxidants known ampere catechins a well as fluoride. These compounds are used in toothpaste and mouthwashes to prevent cavities and the breakdown of tooth enamel .
Detox Tea
Earl Grey tea boasts antioxidant powers that help to eliminate free radicals. These dislodge radicals wreak havoc on the human torso and cause everything from premature aging to cancer. complimentary radicals are caused by an unhealthy diet, smoke, and environmental factors such as contamination. Earl Grey tea detoxifies the body of these free radicals.
Improves Heart Health
Earl Grey tea contains antioxidants that support center health and prevent serious cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks and high blood pressure. These antioxidants work to remove plaque buildup in blood vessels and the heart. They besides work to prevent oxidative stress that causes cell price. Earl Grey tea reduces LDL cholesterol when consumed regularly .
Boosts Energy
Since most Earl Grey is made with a black tea base, it contains chasten amounts of caffeine. This tea gives an energy rise in the dawn that is more subtle and stable than energy provided by chocolate. The caffeine content is low enough that it wo n’t cause blood sugar spikes or make you feel edgy .
Improves Digestion
Earl Grey boasts anti-inflammatory properties that help to alleviate gastric problems including stultification and bloat. The tea works to soothe stomach muscles that cause cramping when constricted. It minimizes feelings of nausea when consumed before boarding a boat or plane .
Helps You Stay Hydrated
Earl Grey is a capital alternative to boring erstwhile water. It ‘s infused in water therefore you ‘ll get the lapp sum of water inhalation as you would drinking a standard 8-ounce glass of water. The taste is delightful and the citrusy and malty flavors satisfy a sweetly tooth. Make certain to keep boodle additives such as cane boodle and honey to a minimum to preserve the low-calorie quality of this beverage .
Tips For Brewing Earl Grey Tea
It ‘s constantly a good theme to ask your tea seller or a tea master how to brew your specific Earl Grey blend. Earl Grey tea vary widely so temperatures and steeping times may need to be adjusted for the best flavor. In general, follow these tips to brew the perfect cup every time .
Use High Quality Water
lone use pure, jump or percolate water to brew Earl Grey. spring water is normally the highest choice and delivers the best taste results. Always avoid using distill water or tap water as herb and tea leaves do n’t develop flavors well in these mediums .
Brew at the Right temperature
For Earl Grey teas with a blacken tea base, brew at higher temperatures. As a rule of thumb, brew Earl Grey black teas at 200 to 212 F. For Earl Green tea, brew between 150 and 180 F. The best room to control brew temperatures is to use a tea kettle with a built-in thermometer .
If you do n’t have one, use the bubbles in the pot to gauge temperature. Water simmers at around 190 F and boils at 212 F. For Earl Grey black tea, brew with water barely before it reaches a wheeling boil. For greens Earl Green tea, remove the water from hotness when small bubbles begin forming on the bottom of the pan .
Use the Proper Amount of Tea
You can skip this gratuity if you ‘re brewing with tea bags. Use about 2 grams of loosen flick tea for every 8 ounces of water. You can constantly add a little supernumerary or a little less to tweak the relish .
Steeping Techniques
Use a lid to keep the heat in your cup and enhance the flavors of Earl Grey. The longer your tea steeps, the stronger the flavors will become. Teas that are brewed excessively long develop acerb and bitter flavors. exorbitant Earl Grey teas for 2 to 4 minutes. After 2 minutes, taste every 30 seconds to ensure the best relish for your taste bud .
Flavoring
Earl Grey tea can be enjoyed as-is or with the addition of milk, beloved, and lemon. If it ‘s your first base prison term tasting Earl Grey, try it without any additives. This is the best way to truly enjoy the nuanced relish profile of this tea. Add milk, honey, or gamboge to play up certain flavors if preferred.
Who Should Avoid Bergamot Tea?
Bergamot tea is safe for the general public when consumed in chasten amounts. Bergamot may interact with sealed medications. Always consult with your healthcare supplier before consuming tea, specially if you are taking medications. Bergamot besides stains teeth and causes muscle cramps when consumed in large amounts .
Drink In the History and Health Benefits of Earl Grey
Earl Grey is the favored tea for many tea lovers. It combines the rich, malty flavors of black tea with the elate citrusy nip of herb tea and floral teas. It ‘s considered the best of both worlds when it comes to flavor and aroma. Earl Grey besides delivers health benefits that make it as thoroughly for you as it is delectable to drink. Drinking Earl Grey tea may alleviate digestive problems, boost the immune system, and improve oral health .
From the first sip to the last drop, you ‘ll love Earl Grey tea ‘s clear-cut season. Try a few different brands and find the blend that you love most. Earl Grey ‘s history and inclusion in the highest levels of british culture have made this drink a classic favorite. It is much associated with classy and excessive lifestyles. Sit down in your favorite electric chair and lavish yourself with the indulgence of bergamot infused tea .