Earl Grey Tea

Here we tell you why you should choose Adams+Russell for your tea supplies. We also give you a little history, show you how to make the perfect earl grey beverage and offer some recommended pairings to complement your purchase.

Simply the best Earl grey loose leaf tea in the UK

Tried and tested, the Adams+Russell earl grey loose leaf tea is superior to many other choices right across the UK. You will find the flavour that comes from the leaves is extracted extremely well for every cup right to the bottom of the pack.

When kept in a cool dry place, such as a pantry and unopened, your tea leaves can last approximately 6-12 months. Also, if you open the tea and repackage it properly, you can sustain this shelf life for the full duration.

If you’re unsure about whether the tea is still fresh, then you can usually tell by giving it a subtle smell. Check that the aroma is still coming from the leaves. If you can’t smell anything or the smell has gone stale, you will probably need to purchase more.

Earl Grey is a black British tea that is flavoured with the fruit rind of a bergamot orange. This is a fruit which is mostly grown in Italy, and has a taste that’s not quite a sweet as a normal orange but not quite a sour as a lemon. Some might say it meets in between.

Many companies have decided to create their own versions of the Earl Grey, which is why our tasters at Adams+Russell have made sure we only buy in the best for our customers.

The history of Earl Grey

It’s believed that Earl Grey tea is named after the 1830’s British prime minister Charles Grey, 2^nd Earl Grey. Often the gifts he received were tea laced with bergamot oil. As a side note, he also wrote the reform bill of 1832, note however there was no mention of the beverage in this bill.

Read more on Wikipedia about where Earl Grey comes from.

Flavouring with Earl Grey Loose Leaf

In the olden days, it was common that earl grey would be tasted with gin, however this isn’t as prevalent today as it might have once been.

These days, it’s more common to drink with a slice of lemon.

Pairings with Earl Grey

Having a fairly bitter flavour, it’s usually recommended to accompany your beverage with something sweet.

How about the old British classic of a scone with cream and jam. The sweetness and fresh yeast dough will complement the flavours perfectly.

Often proposed as a good compliment to fresh coffee with coffee, these Whitaker’s mint chocolate crunch crisp can complement a nice pot of earl grey just as well as they can with a coffee can.

How to make the perfect Earl Grey Tea

If you’re looking to make a flavoursome beverage, then there’s a few simple instructions to follow. One option is to use a double walled teapot – a great option if entertaining a few friends round for afternoon tea.

Use a small heaped teaspoon per 8oz (or 227ml) of water. Depending how strong you want your drink will determine how long you should let it brew or steep for. 3 minutes steeping time would be the minimum, while 5 minutes for a stronger flavour from the loose leaf.

Adding milk to Earl Grey

Some people frown upon adding milk earl grey but we say it’s simply a matter of taste. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.