What is Earl Gray bergamot tea, benefits and harms, photos, reviews. Other uses of Earl Gray

History of tea

The appearance of the product on the market is associated with beautiful legends. The tea is named after Earl Gray (“Earl” translates to “count” in English). This is a real historical figure. The Earl was an active British politician who lived a long and interesting life. It is possible that it was the tea that he drank daily that helped him lead an active life. Sir Gray's political career flourished at the beginning of the 19th century. It was then that he discovered to the world amazing tea with bergamot, which was brought to England from its colonies.

According to one version, the count learned the recipe from an Indian rajah. According to another legend, a successful combination was discovered completely by accident. While transporting bags of tea from Ceylon to England, valuable bergamot oil spilled onto them. They didn’t want to throw away the expensive product and put the oil-soaked tea into commercial circulation. The English tea connoisseurs were simply delighted with such an original product. Over two centuries, Earl Gray tea has been loved in other countries, and now the drink is enjoyed with pleasure all over the world.

Properties of Earl Gray tea

You can find out that this is the very famous tea in front of you without even looking at the packaging. Thanks to the unique aroma of bergamot, the drink can be recognized even with your eyes closed.

Earl Gray or Earl Gray tea is made from large leaf raw materials. The main additive is the essential oil of bergamot, which is a citrus hybrid. Some tea lovers smell lemon in it, while others smell more like orange. But everyone agrees on one thing: the aroma is simply divine, subtle, sensual and soothing.

Tea with bergamot Earl Gray has beneficial properties:

gives a boost of energy;
stimulates brain activity;
helps relieve stress and tension after a working day;
has a beneficial effect on the digestive system;
helps preserve youth (bergamot oil is actively used in cosmetology).

The taste of the tea can be described as invigorating and fresh with a slight hint of bitterness. In some varieties of the drink, the bitterness is completely eliminated.

How is Earl Gray tea made?

Each company has its own subtleties and secrets, but the general scheme looks the same.

Black tea leaves are soaked in bergamot essential oil.
The raw materials are dried using a special technology.
As a result, a thin film forms on the tea leaves, which, when brewed, reveals the aroma and taste of citrus fruit.

At first, only two British companies were involved in the production of tea under the Earl Gray brand. But other manufacturers also picked up the popular idea. This made the drink more accessible, but in some cases resulted in a deterioration in quality.

When buying tea, you need to pay attention to its type and price. Real tea with bergamot cannot be suspiciously cheap, since this tropical fruit is quite rare, and its essential oil is expensive.

Types of tea in descending order of price and quality (and, accordingly, usefulness):

Large leaf tea with bergamot essential oil. Contains tea leaves soaked in oil. Additionally, it may contain other natural additives.
Loose leaf tea with oil and pieces of bergamot zest.
A type of raw material not soaked in oil, but with the addition of zest.
Granulated tea with flavored additives.
Tea bags with flavors that have nothing to do with the valuable essential oil of bergamot.

The product can also be classified according to the country of production of the tea leaves. Earl Gray can be made from the following types of tea:

Indian;
Chinese;
Ceylonese

Italy was also involved in the creation of tea. It is in this country that bergamot essential oil is produced on an industrial scale. By the way, it is actively used by famous perfumers.

Also on sale, in addition to black, you can find green or white teas with bergamot. But still, the real classic Earl Gray is large-leaf black tea.

Recipe

The process does not require special skill. The main secret to success: take real Earl Gray, and bergamot will do the trick.

Ingredients:

tea – 1 teaspoon per cup;
filtered water;
sugar or honey.

Cooking method:

Boil the water.
Pour boiling water over the kettle (it is preferable to use porcelain or earthenware for brewing).
Pour in the tea leaves and fill with water at a temperature of approximately 80-90 degrees.
Let the drink brew for 5-7 minutes.

Tip: Earl Gray tea should be freshly brewed. If it sits for more than two hours, then its taste deteriorates, and its usefulness rapidly approaches zero.

The tea drink has been familiar to people for a long time, only about 2 centuries ago it became very popular and famous in all corners of the planet.

There are many recipes, ways of brewing and serving tea. Almost every country has its own equivalent of a tea drink.

History and producer of tea

Earl Gray is considered one of the most famous flavored teas. Classic Earl Gray – black with bergamot. The history of the origin of this tea is very interesting; it tells that in 1838, merchants transported various goods for trade by ship, among them were luggage with black tea, and also in one of the ports they purchased bergamot oil.

The ship was caught in a strong storm and the bottles with bergamot oil simply broke and “ruined” all the tea luggage. At that time, tea was a rather expensive product, as was bergamot oil, so the merchants decided to sell the tea anyway so as not to incur losses.

They did not expect that ordinary customers would like a tea drink with the taste of bergamot. Since then, Earl Charles Gray, who owned the ship with the cargo, began supplying tea products and amazing flavors. So, a simple storm gave the world a wonderful and aromatic drink.

Variety and assortment of tea

As mentioned above, Earl Gray tea is exclusively black tea with bergamot. A little later, Earl Gray with bergamot and lemon was released. On the shelves in the store you can find bagged tea, as well as large-leaf tea.

The drink has a great taste and aroma, high quality, but a very reasonable price.

Reviews

Positive reviews

Yulia, 25 years old, Samara

One day I decided to change my life, change absolutely everything, even my favorite tea, and while walking around the supermarket one day I came across tea with Earl Gray bergamot. The taste is simply amazing, you enjoy every sip. I recommend it to everyone, the price is quite satisfactory, and the quality is very pleasing.

Kostya, 34 years old, St. Petersburg

Classic Earl Gray tea is especially popular in the UK. But it is also in demand among Russian connoisseurs. Literally translated, its name sounds like “Count Grey,” which explains the interesting history of the drink.

Earl Gray black tea became widely available about 200 years ago. Then he became famous all over the world.

In the first half of the 19th century, Earl Charles Gray owned a large tea plantation in Ceylon. During the next sea transportation of the collected product, the ship was caught in a severe storm. Rare and expensive for that time bergamot oil was transported next to the tea bags. The bottles broke and it spilled onto the tea.

The sailors felt sorry to throw away the “spoiled” product. They dried the tea and brewed it according to the classic recipe. The new aromatic and taste qualities of the drink pleasantly surprised everyone present on the ship. This is how natural flavored black tea with bergamot appeared on sale. It was presented to buyers as a new variety of tea, which was developed by the count himself. Subsequently, the tea leaves were deliberately soaked in essential oil. To this day, the product is in demand on the market.

In addition to this popular story of the appearance of bergamot tea, there are others. For example, that the count received a sample of the product from the high-ranking father of the prince he saved. The lid of the tea box also contained his recipe. True, there are several rescue stories. Either Charles Gray pulled the guy out of the water during a strong storm and shipwreck (we are talking about the son of a Chinese minister), or he protected him from an angry tiger (in this case, we are talking about the heir of an Indian rajah). Today it is unlikely that we will be able to find out the truth.

Composition and calorie content of the drink

Earl Gray tea contains two main components - high-quality black tea leaves and bergamot essential oil. Tea can be either Ceylon, Indian or Chinese. Sometimes three varieties are combined in one product in equal proportions.

Bergamot is a hybrid of citron and orange that has a surprisingly subtle citrus aroma. Immediately after brewing, it quickly spreads throughout the room and has a calming effect on tea drinkers.

Some manufacturers use bergamot zest to flavor the drink, but this is a more economical option that cannot be considered a classic.

It is the oil that makes tea beneficial to the human body. When consumed regularly, this supplement strengthens the body’s defenses, saturates a person with energy and vigor.

And, besides:

increases concentration and memory;
improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system;
cleanses the liver;
brings blood pressure back to normal;
has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin (including fighting pigment spots and freckles).

The calorie content of the product per 100 g is 15.05 kcal. But this indicator is only relevant for classic Earl Gray without additional additives.

Recently, manufacturers have begun to actively experiment and mix bergamot not only with black, but also with white, green and even red tea. Such drinks are also often sold under the name Earl Grey. In some versions, in addition to bergamot, jasmine, mint and other aromatic additives are used.

Taste and aroma of Earl Gray tea

The unique taste and aroma of the drink under discussion is what made it so popular among connoisseurs all over the world. Properly brewed tea with bergamot turns into a pleasant golden color, shimmering with amber. The taste of the drink is a whole bouquet with the tartness of black tea and bright citrus splashes of bergamot.

Freshly brewed Earl Gray smells like lemon and orange at the same time. It is citrus notes that dominate its aroma.

It is allowed to supplement the drink with slices of fresh citrus fruits and milk. Such additives do not spoil its taste and aroma.

Popular tea brands

Earl Gray tea is considered British. For a very long time it was produced exclusively by two English companies. One of them even stated that she received the recipe for the drink from the count himself back in the mid-19th century (this is “Jacksons from Piccadilly”).

Today you can find such tea on sale, produced under a variety of brands. For example, "Twinings". The company has created a version of the drink specifically for beautiful ladies. It was called "Lady Gray". This tea contains orange and lemon zest. The taste of the drink turned out to be more delicate than that of the classic Earl Grey.

Of the American manufacturers, Stash Tea produces the tea under discussion, and of the French – Grand Jardin.

You can also find cheap Chinese counterfeits of Earl Gray in stores. Instead of oil and bergamot zest, they add flavoring.

How to brew correctly

To brew this tea, it is better to choose filtered water. As for dishes, both the teapot and cups should be made of clay or porcelain. The container in which the drink will be brewed is first treated with freshly boiled water.

If black tea is brewed, then the optimal water temperature for it is 90 - 100 degrees. Brewing time – from 2 to 6 minutes.

It is believed that sugar does not combine well with bergamot as a sweetener in such a drink. It is better to use natural bee honey for this purpose. Both liquid and candied products are suitable.

You should only drink freshly brewed Earl Grey. If the drink sits for more than 4 hours, it is better to throw it away. Otherwise, tea will do more harm than good.

You are allowed to consume no more than 4 cups of Earl Gray per day. You can drink it even before bed. This drink has a calming effect.

Nowadays it has somehow become fashionable among young people to drink tea all the time! Social networks are flooded with deeply philosophical posts about tea, such as: “Don’t beg for love, make yourself tea with a cookie,” teenagers post their tea selfies (photos with a cup of tea) in huge quantities, etc. I have nothing against it, let them drink better tea than Screwdriver) I hope this will at least raise the level of health of our nation.

The main thing is not just to drink tea. And drink GOOD tea.

My parents gave me the confidence that Ahmad tea is good tea. In any case, they have long ago preferred it to other brands of tea. English quality and all that.

I also really like it myself, especially Earl Grey.

This is tea with the addition of bergamot (most often with a flavor based on bergamot oil). This tea rightfully has some kind of bewitching English charm) In addition to the rich taste and magnificent citrus aroma, this tea also has a legend, and not just one.))

Legend explains the name "Erg Gray". Earl – translated from English means “count”. Earl Grey. Tea was named after Count Charles Gray, who lived in England in the 17th century, because his ship, transporting tea and barrels of bergamot oil in one hold from Indian plantations, was caught in a storm. Which, as you can guess, caused the bergamot oil to spill out and soak the tea. They did not throw away the goods, because... it was very expensive. They just offered people a new type of tea))

There are even more poetic legends about the Chinese emperor and the Indian rajah, whose unlucky sons Earl Gray saved during shipwrecks and received the recipe for this tea from their fathers as a token of gratitude).

This is all sweet and pleasant, making tea drinking even more meaningful)

I like Ahmad's bergamot tea for its natural aroma. Some will say that he is a bit harsh, but, for goodness sake! Earl Gray is not supposed to be soft! If you have dealt with pure bergamot oil, you know that the aroma is very rich, sharp, and unlike other citruses.

Composition of Ahmad Earl Gray tea:
fine black tea
Bergamot food flavoring

I bought Ahmad Earl Gray tea both in bulk for brewing in a teapot and in tea bags. They both had the same taste and liked them.

Jan 13, 2017

Tea with bergamot has many fans. Some people like black tea with this aromatic additive, others like green tea. And everyone will have convincing arguments why their drink is better.

But the question is, What is bergamot - pear or citrus, will confuse many. In nature you can find both.

There is, for example, a variety of pears of Russian selection called “Moscow Bergamot” and there is a citrus fruit called bergamot, about which we know quite little, because you cannot find it on the shelves of our stores - it is inedible fresh.

But this is exactly the kind of bergamot that is used to make tea.

There are two versions of the origin of the fruit: the first (and only a few adhere to this point of view) is that bergamot is a consequence of a mutation of orange; according to the second version, the plant was bred by people.

Its homeland is Asia, but its name is European, in honor of the Italian city of Bergamo, where the plant was first purposefully grown.

However, it is possible that the name of the fruit is a translation from the Turkish word meaning “princely pear.” Why not? The fruit type of bergamot is indeed pear-shaped.

In general, this plant has been tormented by comparisons and identification errors. Sometimes, for example, the following opinion is heard: bergamot and lime are the same thing(in some photos they really look alike). No, not the same thing, although both represent a large group of citrus fruits.

Bergamot is also confused with monarda, an herb whose aroma is similar to citrus. But how can one equate a herbaceous plant with a tree reaching a height of ten meters?

It turns out: the less we know about something, the more conjectures and myths are born. Although in the case of bergamot, you can fix everything - learn more about it by growing it as an indoor flower.

According to experts, growing bergamot at home is an easier process than if you took on any other citrus crop.

This plant needs a lot of light– choose a window for it that faces east, south or west. Still, keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid burns.

In winter, add additional lighting to artificially lengthen daylight hours - this is important for bergamot. The optimal temperature at which it grows quickly is 20-24 degrees, humidity is high.

Seeds or cuttings are used for propagation. True, in the first case, bergamot will not bloom and will not bear fruit. If you are not satisfied with this option, purchase a bergamot cutting.

We invite you to watch a video describing the healing properties of bergamot from the program “1000 and one spice of Scheherazade”:

Origin story

Bergamot tea gained popularity in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. with the light hand of Count Charles Gray.

An English aristocrat saved the son of an influential Chinese nobleman during a shipwreck; as a sign of gratitude, he presented Gray with bergamot tea.

The count liked the drink so much that he contributed to the penetration of this tea into the markets of Europe, and primarily in his native England, and popularized it with all his might.

Ingredients: essential oil and other components

Scientists have discovered more than three hundred substances beneficial to humans in bergamot., these are vitamins, carbohydrates, microelements, dietary fiber and, most importantly, essential oil.

The plant is mainly grown for its sake; it is obtained from leaves, flowers, peel of bergamot fruits and even from young sprouts. The best method by which you can obtain the highest quality natural product is manual pressing.

Bergamot began to be used for medicinal purposes at the very beginning of the 17th century, during which time scientists discovered many new valuable qualities in the plant.

Eg, substance furocoumarin detected, affecting skin pigmentation. Today, lotions and tanning creams are produced based on it, as it can give the skin a rich, even tone.

Benefits of bergamot tea

Many of the beneficial properties of bergamot are preserved in a tea cup. This tea is used to:

strengthen the immune system;
relieve the patient of fever by lowering body temperature;
calm and relax a person under stress;
activate brain activity;
cleanse the skin, normalizing the functioning of the sebaceous glands;
get rid of herpes;
help the stomach and intestines function without failures;
for diabetes – lower blood sugar levels.

Many people suffer from high blood pressure, it is important for them to know tea with bergamot increases or decreases blood pressure.

Medical studies have not revealed any negative effects of the drink on the body of hypertensive patients. Rather, the opposite process occurs - the pressure decreases slightly. However, to feel real help, the drink must be taken regularly, and not occasionally.

The healing properties of tea with bergamot are used in the fight against various infections and are recommended during the treatment of sinusitis and flu.

The effect of bergamot on green and black tea, which contain small amounts of caffeine, is interesting. Citrus fruits reduce the effects of caffeine on the body, make the drink less “aggressive”, and therefore acceptable for many categories of people.

Beneficial properties for men

Tea with bergamot helps men normalize potency, if it is caused by stress, low mood.

To achieve the desired result, you need to drink weakly brewed tea, but regularly. Black is better, as green has the opposite, relaxing effect.

Bergamot as an aphrodisiac adds sexual power to a man and heightens sensations.

For children

Useful for adults, bergamot, according to experts, cannot be recommended for children due to possible allergic reactions, the risk of disrupting sleep patterns, and the danger of overstimulating the child.

Doctors do not have a unanimous opinion regarding the age range: some believe that tea with bergamot can be given to children starting from three years old, others believe from ten, and still others from twelve.

It is emphasized that no special studies have been conducted on this problem.

What is useful for women

Women value bergamot tea because it helps lose weight. This product normalizes metabolism and blocks fat accumulation “programs”.

Unfortunately, you shouldn’t drink it recklessly either: it stimulates menstruation, and sometimes can provoke uterine contractions.

If a woman has any gynecological diseases, then it is better to refuse tea with bergamot just in case, so as not to incur problems.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

During pregnancy: pregnancy is a serious reason to temporarily switch from bergamot tea to some other tea, especially in the first months (due to the threat of miscarriage).

In the later stages, tea with citrus fruit can be consumed, but in moderation. Pregnant women who drank several cups of bergamot tea a day complained of heartburn, irregular heart rhythms, and severe headaches.

Is it possible while breastfeeding? Breastfeeding (BF) involves the consumption of foods that enhance lactation. Tea with bergamot has such properties.

Nursing mothers can use it, provided that they closely monitor the baby’s well-being and refuse bergamot if they notice the slightest signs of an allergic reaction to this product.

If you want to buy tea with bergamot, pay attention to the inscription “Earl Gray” on the packaging - this is the name of the tea in which the essential oil of the citrus fruit is used as a flavoring agent.

This drink was introduced to the market by almost all popular tea brands today.

Greenfield

Among Greenfield brand drinks tea bags “Earl Gray Fantasy”(also called “Earl Gray”) is considered the most festive thanks to bergamot and tops the rating of this brand’s teas.

The basis of the drink is Ceylon tea grown on Alas plantations. Recommended as a morning invigorating drink and for afternoon tea drinking. All flavors can be found at the link.

Lipton

Black tea with lemon and bergamot from the Lipton brand, according to the producers, should immerse a person in the luxury of the East, in its magical atmosphere. In addition, it energizes and saves you from depression.

Made from the best types of Indian and Ceylon tea, has a delicate taste.

TET Lord Gray

The leaves of this tea are large, more than 2.5 cm in length, rolled into “scrolls”. The smell of the drink is more delicate than that of other bergamot teas.

The producers managed to achieve excellent taste by balancing the main components of the drink - black tea and bergamot.

Ahmad

This drink is considered royal. There is a description of the traditional British five o'clock tea party (at five o'clock) in the royal family, when tea of the best Ceylon varieties with the addition of bergamot is served with light snacks and different types of cookies.

Richard

According to some reviews on the Internet, This tea feels “exaggerated” - too much bergamot, which interrupts the aromas of tea. In addition, the manufacturer decided to flavor the drink with citrus zest.

May

“Fragrant bergamot” (this is the name of the tea variety) is light, fragrant, with an aftertaste of mint and citrus fruits.

The possible presence of dye in the brew is called a minus., since the drink very quickly acquires a thick, rich color, which usually does not happen with natural products.

Belvedere

Black tea of this brand is enriched with the tastes and aromas of bergamot flowers and oil. The manufacturer explains how tea is made: using gentle technology that preserves the beneficial properties of natural products and their taste.

Azercay

The raw materials for this black tea with bergamot are harvested on the tea plantations of Azerbaijan. It is medium-leaf, the drink from it is of a thick, golden-red hue.

Julius Meinl

A bright bouquet of Indian black tea and natural bergamot allowed the producers to create a mood-improving drink that is a great way to start the day. We wrote more about the Julius Meinl tea and coffee range.

It also helps to concentrate attention and refresh thoughts. It is recommended to drink it with milk and sugar.

Riston

This drink contains Ceylon tea and bergamot oil. According to reviews on the Internet, it is one of the best packaged teas of this type on the Russian market.

There is just a little bergamot in it, and the tea turns out rich, with a slight citrus bitterness.

To this list you can add the following brands, which are also good, but less popular: Akbar, Princess Nuri, Assand, Grace and others.

The teapot is poured with boiling water. Pour tea leaves into it and pour boiling water over it. Tea leaves consumption – teaspoon per glass of water. Leave for a few minutes.

This tea is served with chocolate and pastries, preferably lemon or orange (for example, cookies or filled croissants), but cinnamon is not suitable - its strong aroma can push bergamot out of the spotlight.

If you have bergamot leaves at your disposal(fresh or dried), you can brew green tea in a separate teapot, and citrus fruit leaves in another. Then mix the contents of both teapots.

No matter how economical the housewife is, it is not recommended to use one tea leaves twice, diluting it with water - the tea will lose both color and taste.

The program “Live Healthy!” will talk about tea with bergamot:

Application

Can bergamot be used for purposes other than culinary? Tea with this fruit is used as a medicinal drinking for bronchitis, to relieve stress.

If you need to treat an abrasion or cut, you can do this by applying a bag of brewed tea to the affected area.

In perfumery, bergamot is used to prepare various aromatic and tonic products. In cosmetology - as a facial antiseptic and hair strengthener.

Bergamot is successfully used against age spots on the skin.

If a person has an allergic reaction to citrus fruits, bergamot may also be “out of place”, so you should start drinking tea with this flavoring with caution.

And even in the absence of allergies, a sense of proportion should be observed - doctors recommend drinking no more than four cups of bergamot tea per day.

You need to be especially careful with bergamot oil– if it is used for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, it should not be applied to the skin in its pure form, as you may get burned.

Drinking bergamot tea at night is harmful - it can lead to insomnia, as it has an stimulating effect.