Earl
Grey |
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The
beliefs surrounding this tea, named for the Prime Minister of England,
are many. What we do know is that Charles Grey II
(1764-1845) was the 2nd Earl of England, 1807-1830, succeeding his
father. As Prime Minister, he was responsible for the
the abolition
of slavery and for reforming the child labor
laws. But
how did a tea come to be named for this Prime Minister? |
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are two familiar tales about the creation of this tea. ....... One is that while Prime Minister, Lord Grey traveled to China, and during the trip, he, or one of his servants, saved the life of a son of a Chinese mandarin from drowning. ....... Another version of this tale has the son of an Indian Raja being rescued from a tiger by one of Lord Grey's servants. In both tales, Lord Grey was given the tea as a way of saying "thank you". We feel the second version to be more likely, because English-owned tea plantations were thriving in India during this period; and a gift of fine tea would have been required to a visiting Prime Minister. In addition, we know that, because green tea was, and still is, much more popular than black tea in China, it seems unlikely that this flavored black tea would have been available at that time. Also, research shows that Lord Grey never visited China. Whichever version you choose to believe, we do know that Lord Grey enjoyed this tea so much, he asked a London tea merchant to try to replicate the flavor. Once again, it is disputed whether it was Richard Twining or Robert Jackson, but one of them did create the now familiar blend using the natural oils from the bergamot fruit to flavor the leaves. The Prime Minister was so pleased, he allowed the tea to be sold to selected customers. As a result, this is one of the most popular flavored teas in the world today. |
What is a Bergamot? A bergamot is a pear-shaped citrus fruit, about the size of a lemon, grown primarily, in Italy. The oils extracted from the rind are used in flavoring Earl Grey tea. ![]() |
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The
classic blend of China and Ceylon blacks lightly
flavored with oil
of bergamot for a refreshing citrus flavor; golden red
liquor and well-balanced flavor. |
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The
soothing properties of lavender have been known for centuries and combines
wonderfully with this classic blend. Best enjoyed at the end of a long,
arduous day when relaxation is imperative. |
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Reminiscent
of Victorian times, this tea is both beautiful and romantic
with the adding
of fragrant rose hips and rose petals. The
result is a delicately rose scented brew. |
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| This creative blend combines the citrusy overtones of the bergamot fruit with the sweetness and tartness of raspberries. The result is an enchantingly delicious. | ||
| And why not enjoy this classic flavor in a green tea? This Chinese green is lightly flavored with oil of bergamot for a refreshing citrus flavor with a golden liquor and a well-balanced flavor. | ||
Copyright
Notting Hall 2010© |
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