Earl Grey tea

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Earl Grey tea leaves Earl Grey tea leaves
Earl Grey tea leaves
A cup of the brewed tea

Earl Grey tea is a tea blend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit.[1]

Traditionally, the term "Earl Grey" has applied only to black teas that contain oil of bergamot as a flavouring.

History

A bergamot orange from Calabria, Italy

Tea flavoured with bergamot to imitate the more expensive types of Chinese tea is known in England at least since the 1820's. In 1837 there is a record of court proceedings against Brocksop & Co. who were found to have supplied tea "artificially scented, and, drugged with bergamot in this country", but there is no known published reference to an 'Earl Grey' tea before advertisements by Charlton & Co. of Jermyn Street in London in the 1880's, though 'Grey's Tea' is known from the 1850's [2]

The Earl Grey blend, or 'Earl Grey's Mixture' is assumed to be named after the 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830's and author of the Reform Bill of 1832, who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil.[3] Bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) is a small citrus tree which blossoms during the winter and is grown commercially in Italy.[4][5] It is likely a hybrid of Citrus limetta and Citrus aurantium.[6]

According to one legend, a grateful Chinese mandarin whose son was rescued from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men first presented the blend to the Earl in 1803. The tale appears to be apocryphal, as Lord Grey never set foot in China[7] and the use of bergamot oil to scent tea was then unknown in China. However, this tale is subsequently told (and slightly corrected) as on the Twinings website, as "having been presented by an envoy on his return from China".[8]

Jacksons of Piccadilly claim they originated Earl Grey's Tea, Lord Grey having given the recipe to Robert Jackson & Co. partner George Charlton in 1830. According to Jacksons, the original recipe has been in constant production and has never left their hands. Theirs has been based on China tea since the beginning.[9][10]

According to the Grey family, the tea was specially blended by a Chinese mandarin for Lord Grey, to suit the water at Howick Hall, the family seat in Northumberland, using bergamot in particular to offset the preponderance of lime in the local water. Lady Grey used it to entertain in London as a political hostess, and it proved so popular that she was asked if it could be sold to others, which is how Twinings came to market it as a brand.[11]

Variations

Lady Grey tea leaves
  • There are different varieties of a tea known as Lady Grey; the two most common kinds (Lavender Lady Grey and Citrus Lady Grey), which combine Earl Grey tea with lavender and Seville oranges, respectively.
  • A beverage called "London Fog" is a combination of Earl Grey, steamed milk and vanilla syrup.[12]
  • There are variations available including such ingredients as jasmine, as well as various flowers.[13] A blend with added rose petals is known as French Earl Grey.
  • A variety called Russian Earl Grey often contains ingredients such as citrus peels and lemon grass in addition to the usual black tea and bergamot.
  • Also, several companies make a tea called Earl Grey Green, combining green tea leaves rather than the traditional black tea leaves with bergamot flavoring.
  • Rooibos Earl Grey is a variation using this South African tisane as a substitute for the conventional form made with black tea. This variation may have originated from Malaysia.

Twinings reformulation

Twinings reformulated their Earl Grey tea in April 2011, claiming to have added "an extra hint of bergamot and citrus".[14] The overwhelmingly negative comments on the website were picked up by the press,[15][16] who drew attention to the establishment of a related protest group on Facebook.[17]

Use as a flavouring

Earl Grey tea is used as a flavouring for many types of cakes and confectionery, such as chocolates, as well as savoury sauces.[18][19] For sauces, the flavour is normally created by adding tea bags to the basic stock, boiling for a few minutes and then discarding the bags. For sweet recipes, loose tea is often added to melted butter or hot cream and strained after the flavour is infused.[20][21][22]

Toxicology

Tin of Earl Grey tea

In several studies, application of high concentrations of some brands of bergamot oil directly to the skin was shown to increase redness after exposure to ultraviolet light;[23][24] however, this should not apply to ordinary oral consumption of Earl Grey tea. Bergamot is a source of bergamottin which, along with the chemically related compound 6’,7’-dihydroxybergamottin, is known to be responsible for the grapefruit juice effect in which the consumption of the juice affects the metabolism of a variety of pharmaceutical drugs.[4][25]

In one case study, a patient who consumed four litres of Earl Grey tea per day reported muscle cramps, which were attributed to the function of the bergapten in bergamot oil as a potassium channel blocker. The symptoms subsided upon reducing his consumption of Earl Grey tea to one litre per day.[4][26]

References in popular culture

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You can help this encyclopedia by introducing appropriate citations.

Earl Grey tea appears frequently in popular culture.

In the movie Skyfall when Q (Ben Whishaw) meets James Bond (Daniel Craig) he says, "Well, I'll hazard I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pyjamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field."

In literature, the main character in Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore starts his days in the library with a cup of Earl Grey tea.[27] The main character of the Artemis Fowl series also shows a particular liking for Earl Grey tea. The Book of Guys by Garrison Keillor contains a chapter called "Earl Grey" about a character of that name who purportedly invents the tea in the late 20th century. In the novel and movie The Da Vinci Code, the major antagonist character Sir Leigh Teabing, shows a distinctive liking for Earl Grey going as far to highlight it in a test for the main protagonist involving the beverage.

The character Jean-Luc Picard from the television show Star Trek: The Next Generation drinks 'Tea, Earl Grey: hot' in many episodes. Conversely, Elim Garak in Deep Space 9 says he wants to teach 'that fellow Earl Grey' a thing or two about tea leaves. Eleanor Arroway from the movie Contact (based on the book of the same name) is offered Earl Grey tea when meeting the character Hadden. In the Lost episode The Substitute, John Locke asks Benjamin Linus for some Earl Grey tea. The character Hyacinth Bucket from the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances drinks Earl Grey tea in many episodes. The young Mary, from the Mary and Max animated movie, whose father works in a tea factory attaching strings to the tea bags, dreams of marrying a man named Earl Grey.

In music, "Weird Al" Yankovic mentions drinking Earl Grey tea in his song "White and Nerdy," possibly as a reference to Jean-Luc Picard, who is also mentioned in the song.[28] Dada have a song on their 1997 album, self-titled Dada, called "The Ballad of Earl Grey and Chamomile".

In the manga and anime Black Butler, the main character, Ciel Phantomhive, drinks Earl Grey throughout the series. It is even incorporated in to the story line in many ways. In the manga That Butler, Activated, Volume 2, Chapter 6, mentions Jackson's Earl Grey tea. In the manga and anime One Piece the crewmember, Sanji, and villain, Mr. 3 are both partial to Earl Grey tea.

In Heroes season 1 episode 15 ("Run!"), when Sylar meets Mohinder Suresh for the first time, Sylar offers Mohinder a cup of Earl Grey tea. Mohinder accepts the offer.

In the movie "Prozac Nation", while Elizabeth (Christina Ricci) and Rafe (Jason Biggs) are discussing their relationship, Rafe pours milk in Elizabeth's cup as she responds loudly and aggressively: "It's Earl Grey!", insinuating that one does not add milk to Earl Grey.[29]

In the South Park season 1 finale (Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut), Eric Cartman is seen in his backyard hosting a tea party with stuffed animals. When "Peter Panda" comments that "this is tremendous tea," Cartman responds, "Why thank you, Peter Panda. This is a distinctive Earl Grey."

In the Professor Layton video game series, the title character is shown to be an avid tea drinker. In the first installment of the series, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, it is revealed that he is quite fond of Earl Grey Tea.

In episode 8.02 "The Good Son," of Frasier he asks for Earl Grey when Daphne offers tea.

In the episode "Up, Up and Awry" of Winnie the Pooh the bear is about to get some Earl Grey tea, said to be friend Piglet's favorite.

In the book Batman Begins by Dennis O'Neil, Alfred Pennyworth is holding a cup of Earl Grey tea in one scene (p. 284. Del Ray Books, paperback edition' 2005)

In the episode "Jeopardy" of NCIS (season 3, episode 22) Ducky Mallard has Palmer get him a cup of Earl Grey.

In the book Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison, the character Trent drinks Earl Grey.

Mario Santos from the Argentinian series Los Simuladores drinks Earl Grey.

Anastasia Steele (Grey), the female protagonist of the hit series Fifty Shades of Grey favors Twinings Earl Grey tea to coffee on several occasions.

Notes

  1. ↑ Richardson, Ben, "Bergamot growers get whiff of success", BBC News, 6 April 2006.
  2. ↑ Foods of England. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Kramer, Ione. All the Tea in China. China Books, 1990. ISBN 0-8351-2194-1. Pages 180-181.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Houston, Muiris, "Have your cuppa, but go easy on the Earl Grey", The Irish Times, 30 September 2002.
  5. ↑ Citrus bergamia Risso & Poit.. Germplasm Resources Information Network.
  6. ↑ RFLP Analysis of the Origin of Citrus Bergamia, Citrus Jambhiri, and Citrus Limonia. International Society for Horticultural Science. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  7. ↑ Pettigrew, Jane (2004). The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide (Connoisseur's Guides). Philadelphia, Pa: Running Press Book Publishers. ISBN 0-7624-2150-9. 
  8. ↑ Earl Grey. Twiningsusashop.com. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  9. ↑ Fenix, Micky, "More Than Just A Pot Of Tea", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 24 July 2008.
  10. ↑ Pagano, Margareta, "The secret of Earl Grey tea is changing hands at last / Sale of Jacksons of Piccadilly to Fitch Lovell food manufacturing group", The Guardian (London), 3 July 1985.
  11. ↑ Howick Hall website. Howickhallgardens.org. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  12. ↑ (2009) Breakfast New Mexico Style. Sunstone Press. ISBN 978-0-86534-716-8. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
  13. ↑ Cooper, Nathanael, "Tea for 2 or 2 for tea", Sunshine Coast Daily, 18 October 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  14. ↑ Jeffery, Katherine. Calling all Earl Grey lovers.... Twinings Website. Twinings. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  15. ↑ Lusher, Adam, "Customers revolt as Twinings changes the flavour of its Earl Grey tea - Telegraph", 28 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  16. ↑ Watkins, Alan, "We're pining for our old Twinings: Furious Earl Grey drinkers dismiss new recipe as 'an affront to tea' | Mail Online", 27 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  17. ↑ Bring back the original Twinings Earl Grey tea. facebook. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  18. ↑ Joachim, David (2001). Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks: 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions. Rodale. ISBN 978-1-57954-301-3. “Earl Grey shallot sauce.” 
  19. ↑ Miller, Norman, "Why tea is the new spice rack must-have", 11 April 2009.
  20. ↑ Boyle, Tish (2002). The good cookie: over 250 delicious recipes from simple to sublime. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-38791-6. “Chocolate dipped Earl Grey shortbread wedges.” 
  21. ↑ Schneider, Edward, "Cooking With Tea; "As for pears, I poached them in Earl Grey, a tea with impeccable prime ministerial credentials."", The Washington Post, 16 January 2002. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  22. ↑ Wareing, Marcus (7 March 2008). Earl Grey tea cream and Eccles cakes. BBC. Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  23. ↑ Girard J, Unkovic J, Delahayes J, Lafille C (1979). Phototoxicity of Bergamot oil. Comparison between humans and guinea pigs. Dermatologica 158 (4): 229–43.
  24. ↑ Kejlova K, Jirova D, Bendova H, Kandarova H, Weidenhoffer Z, Kolarova H, Liebsch M (2007). Phototoxicity of bergamot oil assessed by in vitro techniques in combination with human patch tests. Toxicology in Vitro 21 (7): 1298–1303.
  25. ↑ David G. Bailey, J. Malcolm, O. Arnold, J. David Spence (1998). Grapefruit juice–drug interactions. Br J Clin Pharmacol 46 (2): 101–110.
  26. ↑ Finsterer J (2002). Earl Grey tea intoxication. Lancet 359 (9316).
  27. ↑ Murakami, Haruki (2002). Kafka on the Shore. London, New York: Random House, 236. ISBN 0099458322. 
  28. ↑ Weird Al Yankovich - White and Nerdy Lyrics.
  29. ↑ Prozac Nation. Subzin subtitles. Retrieved 10 September 2012.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Chow, Kit, and Ione Kramer. All the Tea in China. San Francisco, CA: China Books, 1990. ISBN 0835121941
  • Harmey, Michael. The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea. New York, NY: The Penguin Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1594201387
  • Heiss, Mary Lou, and Robert J. Heiss. The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1580087452
  • Pettigrew, Jane. The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide. Philadelphia, PA: Running Press Book Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0762421509
  • Pettigrew, Jane, and Bruce Richardson. The New Tea Companion: A Guide to Teas throughout the World. Perryville, KY: Benjamin Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0979343179

External links

All links retrieved February 5, 2013.

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