Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey is black tea scented with bergamot orange oil, a British blend that has become a worldwide staple for its bright, citrus-floral character.
How to buy
Check whether the bergamot flavoring is natural oil or artificial, since natural oil gives a more nuanced citrus aroma. Loose leaf blends with visible bits of citrus peel tend to be higher quality than plain bagged versions.
How to store
Keep in an airtight, opaque container away from light, heat, and moisture. Use within about a year, since the bergamot aroma fades faster than a plain black tea's flavor.
Culinary profile
- Flavor
- A brisk, malty black tea base lifted by floral, citrusy bergamot. Oversteeping or using too much leaf can push the bergamot into a soapy, perfumed note.
- Texture
- As a brewed beverage, the main textural quality is a brisk, dry mouthfeel from tannins, smoothed out when milk is added.
- Aroma
- A distinctly floral-citrus bergamot aroma layered over a malty black tea base.
How to prepare
- Steeped hot with milk — Brewed and served the traditional way, often with a splash of milk.
- Infused into baking — Ground finely or steeped in cream to flavor cakes, shortbread, and custards.
- Used in syrups — Steeped into a simple syrup to flavor cocktails and desserts.
- Iced — Brewed strong, cooled, and served over ice as a refreshing citrus-forward drink.
Classic dishes
American
- London Fog — An Earl Grey latte steamed with milk and a touch of vanilla syrup.
- Earl Grey ice cream — A custard-based ice cream steeped with Earl Grey for a floral, citrusy flavor.
- Earl Grey cocktail syrup — A tea-infused simple syrup used to flavor cocktails with bergamot notes.
- Earl Grey cheesecake — A creamy cheesecake flavored with Earl Grey in the filling or crust.
Italian
- Earl Grey panna cotta — A set cream dessert infused with Earl Grey for a floral, aromatic finish.
French
- Earl Grey pound cake — A dense, buttery cake infused with Earl Grey for a subtle citrus-floral note.
- Earl Grey macarons — Delicate almond meringue shells flavored with Earl Grey in the shell or filling.
- Earl Grey crème brûlée — A custard infused with steeped Earl Grey before being topped with caramelized sugar.
- Earl Grey madeleines — Small shell-shaped cakes flavored with Earl Grey in the batter or a glaze.
- Earl Grey chocolate truffles — Ganache-based truffles infused with Earl Grey for a citrusy contrast to the chocolate.
- Earl Grey poached pears — Pears gently poached in an Earl Grey-infused syrup until tender.
British & Irish
- Classic Earl Grey with milk — The traditional preparation, steeped and served with a splash of milk.
- Earl Grey shortbread — Buttery shortbread cookies flavored with ground Earl Grey leaves.
- Earl Grey scones — Classic British scones flavored with Earl Grey tea leaves or a tea-infused glaze.
- Earl Grey tea loaf — A dense, lightly sweet loaf cake flavored and sometimes soaked with Earl Grey.
Substitutions
- Black Tea — Plain black tea works as a base substitute, though you'll lose Earl Grey's signature bergamot citrus aroma unless you add a little citrus zest.