| Ever since the Chinese first discovered tea, they’ve been adding flavorings, either by blending flowers, fruits, herbs, or spices to the processed leaves, or by adding additional ingredients to the boiling water used to brew tea.Processed black, green, and oolong teas are used as a base, then blended to- gether with spices, herbs, flowers, or essential fruit oils to create a unique one- of-a-kind flavored tea. |
| Classic Tea Blends |
| One of the most popular and recognizable tea blends is Earl Grey. Using a traditional blend of China and Indian teas, Earl Grey is flavored with essential oil from the citrus-like bergamot fruit, which tastes something like an orange.There are lots of tales about how Earl Grey tea came to be named. One tells of a British diplomat on a mission to China who saved |
| Another version tells of how it was the Earl himself who saved the Mandarin’s life, and so was given the recipe as thanks. Yet another story tells of how the recipe was a gift to the Prime Minister at the end of a successful diplomatic mission.None of the stories are likely true. But no matter what really happened, the truth of the matter is that Earl Grey is one of the most popular blends ever marketed. Today several different types of Earl Grey are available using China tea, Darjeeling, Ceylon, Silver Tip, and smoked, Lapsang Souchong |
| Less is More |
| Depending on the amount of bergamot oil used, Earl Grey tea can taste incredibly good, or absolutely horrible. If too much oil is used, the tea can taste a lot like dish soap, or too little, and you may as well drink straight tea. When done right though, you have a wonderfully refreshing tea with a light citrusy flavor.Another version you might also like to try is Yunnan Earl Grey popular blends are: – English Breakfast Afternoon or Five-O-Clock blends are Formosa, Lapsang blended tea that you will either love or hate. This is just a sampling of some of the classic, traditional |