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Porträt eines Mannes mit Melone und Schnurrbart im Anzug

Earl Grey - tea tradition from England 

What is Earl Grey tea? 

Earl Grey is the name of a tea blend that originally consisted of Chinese black tea and was flavoured with the fine, fragrant, bitter oil of the bergamot fruit. Today there are numerous blends, some with green tea or rooitea. The tea owes its name to Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl of Fallodon. As British Prime Minister, he abolished the East India Company's price monopoly in the tea trade with China in 1833. The title "Earl Grey" is a hereditary title of the Grey family, Earls of Fallodon. Several myths are known about the origin of this classic. 

 Best Earl Grey tea from TeeGschwendner 

The Earl Grey black tea blend with a tangy bergamot flavour has a long tradition at TeeGschwendner. The English tea classic was already on sale on the first tea list 40 years ago as "Earl Grey No. 69". This Earl Grey tea is still one of the most popular teas in our range and has even been voted the world's best Earl Grey in the USA!

Feine Teetasse mit bunten Blumen und goldfarbenem Löffel

Tea Gifts for Earl Grey Fans

Geschenkset mit schwarzem Tee vor Big Ben, Geschenkset, Tee-Set, Kartonbox, Schwarz, Schleife
Nr. 21033
Earl Grey Lovers

Average rating of 4.91 out of 5 stars

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Edel verpacktes Earl Grey Tee Geschenkset in Metalldose, Geschenkverpackung, Metalldose, Schleife, Silber, blaue Beschriftung
Nr. 21005
Lucky Charm

Average rating of 4.91 out of 5 stars

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Elegantes Geschenkset mit English Breakfast Schwarzem Tee, Schwarz, Giftset, Tee-Set, Teebeutel, Boxenverpackung
Nr. 21011
Black Treasures

Average rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars

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Our 3 best Earl Greys

Tasse schwarzer Tee mit losen Teeblättern daneben, tee, schwarzer tee, lose tee-blätter, teetasse, aufbrühen
Nr. 922
Earl Grey no. 69

Average rating of 4.87 out of 5 stars

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Weiße Tasse mit Schwarztee und losen Teeblättern, tee, schwarzer tee, lose blätter, teetasse, aufbrühen
Nr. 938
Earl Grey organic

Average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars

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Weiße Tasse Tee mit losem Blatttee daneben, tee, tee-aufguss, grüner-tee, gelber-tee, blatt-tee
Nr. 935
Earl Grey's Lady Violet

Average rating of 4.88 out of 5 stars

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TeaGschwendner Earl Grey teas in comparison

The Earl Grey black tea blend with a tangy bergamot flavour has a long tradition at TeeGschwendner. The English tea classic was already on sale on the first tea list 40 years ago as "Earl Grey No. 69". This Earl Grey tea is still one of the most popular teas in our range and has even been voted the world's best Earl Grey in the USA! 

 Our Earl Grey teas are truly royal delights: in addition to the classic version made from strong black tea with bergamot oil or bergamot flavouring, there are also milder Earl Grey teas on a first flush basis, green tea with bergamot or Earl Grey tea with a refinement of orange and lavender notes.

Myths and history of Earl Grey

According to legend, the origin of this well-known blend of black tea and bergamot goes back to the Englishman Lord Grey. How exactly he came up with the idea of adding bergamot oil to Chinese black tea is, however, disputed. We present the three most common Earl Grey origin myths: 

 1. the recipe 

On one of his travels, Charles Grey discovered an ancient Chinese tea recipe. The oil from the bergamot fruit was used to flavour the tea. Back in England, the Earl gave the recipe to the tea company Jackson of Picadilly, and in gratitude for this outstanding recipe, the company thanked him by giving the tea the name Earl Grey. 

 2. The gift 

The recipe for this tea was a gift from a grateful Mandarin to Charles Grey, who saved his life in a medical emergency. 

 3. The shipwreck 

On the long voyage from China to Europe, the tea was stored next to barrels of bergamot oil. Due to heavy seas, some of the oil got into the tea and mixed. When he arrived home, the Earl of Fallodon immediately noticed the "contamination". However, he did not want to throw the expensive tea away immediately, so he had it distributed among the poor. They gratefully accepted the new mixture and there was a great demand for the new, flavoured tea. A more detailed description of this particularly popular Earl Grey origin myth can be found in our Tea Taster Blog.

Earl Grey Recipes

Enjoy Earl Grey differently!

The classic black tea with the tart, fresh bergamot flavour not only tastes wonderful on its own, but is also ideal for refining various dishes. For example, in a festive cake with a "special" look or as a flavouring ingredient in tea jelly. Also particularly delicious at the end of the day: the Hot Earl Grey Martini with fine gin!

Hot Earl Grey Martini

Earl Grey with a difference: together with Siegfried gin, vermouth, Cointreau and sweetener, a delicious hot drink is created for teatime+.

Toilet roll cake 

This delicious loo roll cake is guaranteed to amaze and contains Earl Grey Noblesse as a special highlight!

Tea jelly 

Earl Grey is not only a delight when freshly brewed in a cup, but also tastes delicious as a sweet spread.