An unbelievable aroma that portends an unbelievable taste. A correct balance of flavoring that results in a piquant and refreshing true Earl Grey taste that goes well with pastries and cakes.
Ingredients:
Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva, Sri Lanka Flowery Pekoe black tea, bergamot
Information: On par with the world’s best Earl Grey teas. As a base, we only use high grown Ceylon teas (Dimbula, Nuwara, Eliya and Uva) districts, which make tea famous for flavor and quality. These teas capture the delicate nuances of the natural flavors. Add milk and you will see a golden richness. We then add natural flavorings, which impart a clean refreshing taste as compared to artificial flavors. This tea is excellent hot (add a pinch of sugar to emphasize the flavor) and superb cold.
Traditionally Earl Grey was a blend of Chinese and Indian teas scented with the oil from the citrus bergamot fruit – a sort of orange. The stories of Earl Grey are numerous. One such tale tells how a British diplomat on a mission to China saved the life of a Mandarin and as a gift of gratitude was given the recipe for this flavored tea. This diplomat upon his return to Britain presented the tea to the Prime Minister of the day, Earl Grey. Another story says it was the Prime Minister himself who saved the Mandarin. In an event it was the Prime Minister of England (1830–1834) Earl Grey who made this tea fashionable.
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3–7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help enhance the flavor character on this tea, it is perfectly acceptable to consume this tea “straight-up.”
Iced tea brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 5 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or ‘milky’ when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!