If there's one tea people look for on our site more than any other, it's Earl Grey. That makes sense. A good cup has bright citrus up top, a sturdy black tea underneath, and a fragrance that fills the kitchen before you've even poured.
Earl Grey is also one of the most flexible teas you can keep in the cupboard. Here's a quick guide to what makes it Earl Grey, how our four bergamot teas differ, and three easy ways to brew it at home: a classic hot cup, a pitcher of iced tea, and a London Fog latte.
What Makes Earl Grey, Earl Grey
Earl Grey is black tea scented with oil of bergamot, a fragrant citrus fruit about the size of an orange. Bergamot is too sour to eat out of hand, but its peel holds an aromatic oil that tastes like a mix of lemon, orange, and something a little floral.
The tea is named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey, who was British Prime Minister in the 1830s. You may have heard the story that a grateful Chinese mandarin gave him the recipe, but historians generally treat that as legend. Bergamot-scented tea was already being sold in England by the 1820s. Because the name was never trademarked, blenders have been making their own versions ever since.
Our Four Bergamot Teas
Earl Grey is the classic: premium black tea with bergamot oil, blue cornflower petals, and citrus peels. It's piquant and refreshing, with a true bergamot taste that goes beautifully with pastries and cakes.
Cream Earl Grey adds smooth vanilla overtones to the bergamot on a Ceylon black tea base, for a softer, mellower cup with a bright, coppery color.
Decaf Cream Earl Grey has the same creamy, citrusy flavor with the caffeine removed by a natural CO2 process, so it's an easy evening cup.
Lavender Earl Grey blends our classic Earl Grey with blue lavender flowers. It's citrusy, floral, slightly sweet, and mellow.
Way 1: The Classic Hot Cup
This is the brewing guideline on our product pages, per 8 oz of water:
Amount: 1 rounded teaspoon (about 2–3 g)
Water: freshly boiled (205–212°F)
Steep: 3–5 minutes
Start tasting at 3 minutes. Bergamot is bright and lively, and a shorter steep keeps the citrus in front. Go toward 5 minutes if you plan to add milk or want a bolder cup. If it ever tastes bitter, shorten the steep rather than using less tea. Our fill-your-own Paper Filters make loose-leaf cleanup quick if you don't have an infuser handy.
Earl Grey is lovely plain, with a little sugar or honey, or with a thin slice of lemon to echo the bergamot. Try it with lemon shortbread, scones, madeleines, or vanilla cake.
Way 2: Iced Earl Grey
Earl Grey makes a surprisingly refreshing iced tea, and Decaf Cream Earl Grey is especially good this way. The easiest method is to brew it strong and pour it over ice:
Use about 2 rounded teaspoons of tea for every 8 oz of freshly boiled water, roughly double what you'd use for a hot cup.
Steep 3–5 minutes, then strain.
Pour the hot tea into a tall glass filled to the top with ice. The melting ice brings it back to normal strength.
Making a pitcher? Brew the strong tea, let it cool, then add an equal amount of cold water and refrigerate. A slice of orange or a sprig of mint is a nice finishing touch.
Way 3: A London Fog at Home
A London Fog is an Earl Grey latte: strong tea, steamed milk, and a little vanilla and sweetness. It's the coziest way to drink Earl Grey on a cool October afternoon, and you don't need a café machine to make one.
Steep 1 heaping teaspoon of Earl Grey in about 4 oz of freshly boiled water for 4–5 minutes. You want it concentrated.
Strain into a mug and stir in honey or sugar to taste, plus a drop of vanilla extract if you like.
Heat about 4 oz of milk (dairy or oat both work well) until steaming, then froth it with a whisk, a handheld frother, or by shaking it in a sealed jar.
Pour the milk over the tea and spoon the foam on top.
Cream Earl Grey is a natural fit here because its vanilla note does half the work for you. For a floral twist, use Lavender Earl Grey for a lavender London Fog. If you want one after dinner, Decaf Cream Earl Grey lets you skip the caffeine.
Keeping Your Earl Grey Fresh
Bergamot's aroma is what makes this tea special, so treat it kindly. Store your tea in an airtight container away from light, heat, moisture, and strong smells like spices or coffee. Keep it in a cool, dark cupboard rather than next to the stove.
Where to Start
New to our Earl Greys? Every one comes in a sample size, so you can try a few side by side before choosing a favorite, and larger bags are there once you find it. You'll find all four, plus plenty of other classics, in our Black Tea collection.
Our family has been sharing quality tea at affordable prices since 2006. Hot, iced, or under a cloud of foam, we hope your next Earl Grey is a great one.
Happy steeping!