Earl Grey Black Tea
Black tea scented with bergamot orange oil, Earl Grey is the cup that smells like a citrus grove and tastes like a proper afternoon.
What It Is
Earl Grey starts with a full-bodied black tea base, then gets a spray of bergamot oil, pressed from the rind of a small, intensely fragrant citrus fruit grown mainly in southern Italy. That oil is what gives Earl Grey its signature floral-citrus lift, distinct from every other black tea on the shelf.
The combination has been a staple of British tea culture since the 1800s, and it holds up in hot mugs, iced glasses, and baked goods alike. This version uses organic, fair trade certified tea and bergamot oil, so the flavor is clean and bright rather than perfumy.
What To Do
Steep one teaspoon per eight ounces of water just off the boil, around 200 to 205 degrees, for three to four minutes. Go longer and it turns bitter. A splash of milk of choice and a little honey round it out nicely, though it is perfectly good plain.
Earl Grey is also a baker's secret. Steep it strong in warm cream or milk of choice and use that liquid in shortbread, pound cake, or a simple glaze. The bergamot comes through in a way that makes people ask what your secret is. Store loose tea in a sealed container away from light and heat.
