Earl grey tea

What is a Earl Grey ?

TheEarl Grey is a black tea flavored with bergamot. Bergamot is a small Mediterranean citrus fruit, flowery and tangy, grown mainly in Calabria, in the south of Italy.

Legend has it that at the beginning of the 19th century, British Prime Minister Charles Grey, second Earl Grey, received a gift of bergamot-flavored tea during a diplomatic mission to China. He would have made it his daily cup, and the mixture would have kept his name. Two centuries later, it can be found in almost every tea room in the world.

The composition of a Earl Grey

There are two basic ingredients in a Earl Grey :

• a black tea, traditionally from China (Keemun, Yunnan) or Ceylon;
• bergamot, added in the form of essential oil or zest.

Some modern recipes add citrus zest, flowers or spices. At Kusmi, all our Earl Grey are certified organic and offered in bulk or in bags.

Our Earl Grey : classic, intense and variations

Earl Grey and Earl Grey Intense

TheEarl Grey Kusmi is the classic recipe: an organic black tea, flavored with bergamot essential oil, soft in the mouth. TheEarl Grey Intense goes further on the bergamot side and adds a hint of lemon for those who like more pronounced cups.

Green tea Earl Grey : our alternatives

Tradition combines bergamot with black tea, but nothing prevents it from being placed on a lighter base. The Troika Green combines green tea, bergamot and citrus fruits. Green St. Petersburg takes our Russian signature on green tea. Memory Ritual will look for a more tonic effect, with additional ginseng.

Earl Grey Russian Kusmi style: St. Petersburg

A Russian Earl Grey, it is generally a Earl Grey to which citrus zest is added, in the spirit of the teas that the imperial court drank. Our mix St. Petersburg ticks that box: black tea, bergamot, citrus and a touch of caramel. It is the most “Russian” of our Earl Grey, and undoubtedly the one that best tells the Kusmi story.

Earl Grey detheinated with citrus

Same aromatic profile as classic, but without caffeine. Useful at the end of the day, or when avoiding stimulants.

Rooibos way Earl Grey

The rooibos is not a tea, it is a red infusion from South Africa, naturally without theine. It goes well with bergamot and can be drunk at any time, including by children. Our collection rooibos brings together several versions.

How to prepare a Earl Grey ?

Allow 2 g of tea for 25 cl of water, at 90°C (just before boiling), 3 minutes of infusion for a classic cup, up to 4 or 5 for a stronger cup. You can drink it plain, with a splash of cold English milk, or with a slice of Russian lemon.