Earl Grey tea

What is an Earl Grey?

Earl Grey is a black tea flavoured with bergamot. Bergamot is a small Mediterranean citrus fruit, floral and tangy, grown mainly in Calabria, southern Italy.

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

What goes into an Earl Grey

There are two basic ingredients in an Earl Grey:

• a black tea, traditionally from China (Keemun, Yunnan) or Ceylon;
• bergamot, added as an essential oil or zest.

Some modern recipes add citrus zest, flowers or spices. At Kusmi, all our Earl Greys are certified organic and available loose or in tea bags.

Our Earl Greys: classics, intense blends and variations

Earl Grey and Earl Grey Intense

Kusmi Earl Grey is the classic recipe: a smooth organic black tea flavoured with bergamot essential oil. Earl Grey Intense goes further on bergamot and adds a hint of lemon for those who enjoy a more pronounced cup.

Earl Grey green tea: our alternatives

Tradition pairs bergamot with black tea, but nothing prevents it from being used on a lighter base. Vert Troïka combines green tea, bergamot and citrus. Vert St-Pétersbourg brings our Russian signature to green tea. Rituel Mémoire offers a more invigorating effect, with added ginseng.

Russian-style Earl Grey by Kusmi: St-Pétersbourg

A Russian Earl Grey is generally an Earl Grey with added citrus zest, inspired by the teas drunk at the imperial court. Our St-Pétersbourg blend fits the bill: black tea, bergamot, citrus and a touch of caramel. It is the most "Russian" of our Earl Greys, and undoubtedly the one that best tells the Kusmi story.

Caffeine-free Earl Grey with citrus

The same aromatic profile as the classic, but caffeine-free. Ideal at the end of the day, or when avoiding stimulants.

Rooibos Earl Grey style

rooibos is not tea; it is a red infusion from South Africa, naturally caffeine-free. It pairs well with bergamot and can be enjoyed at any time of day, including by children. Our rooibos collection includes several varieties.

How do you prepare an Earl Grey?

Use 2 g of tea for 25 cl of water at 90 °C (just before boiling), steeping for 3 minutes for a classic cup, or up to 4 or 5 minutes for a stronger cup. It can be enjoyed plain, with a dash of cold milk in the English style, or with a slice of lemon in the Russian style.