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Earl Grey tea leaves

Drinks & liquids · Teas & infusions

Earl Grey tea leaves

Black tea scented with oil of bergamot orange, brewed hot or iced and used to flavour cakes, custards and syrups.

Also called: earl grey, earl grey tea, earl grey tea bags, bergamot tea

A kind of black tea leaves

1 recipe with it

Photo: Unknown author, via Wikimedia Commons (public-domain)

What it is

A blend of black tea flavoured with bergamot, a sour citrus fruit whose peel oil gives the tea its floral, orange-like perfume. It is sold as loose leaves and tea bags; 'Lady Grey' and similar blends add other citrus or flowers. It brews like ordinary black tea and contains caffeine.

How it’s used

  • Brewed hot with or without milk, or iced
  • Infused into cream or milk for ice cream, panna cotta and custards
  • Ground leaves in shortbread and cakes
  • Steeped into syrups for mocktails and iced drinks

Characteristics

Taste
Brisk black tea with a citrusy, slightly bitter perfume.
Aroma
Floral, citrusy bergamot.
Appearance
Dark, twisted black tea leaves, sometimes with blue cornflower petals.
When cooked
Brew with just-boiled water for about 3–4 minutes; longer steeping makes it bitter and tannic.
Sold as
dried
Cooking uses
Suitable for boiling

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Keep in an airtight, opaque tin away from other strong smells; the bergamot scent fades over time.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Contains caffeine.
  • Bergamot is a citrus fruit; people sensitive to citrus oils should take note.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Black tea leaves — Add a strip of orange or lemon zest while steeping for a rough bergamot effect.

Related ingredients

Recipes with earl grey tea leaves

  • London fog

    Canadian · 7 min · 127 kcal · Vegetarian

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