The second Earl Grey was prime minister from 1830 to 1834, during which time he managed to abolish slavery in the British Empire and create Earl Grey tea, by infusing plain black tea with the flavour of bergamot. Clearly a good man, although he has ensured that generations have had to boil their own kettle. Here are seven different types of earl grey devoid of tea snobbery: not tasted in bone china and slurped expertly over the tongue but rather enjoyed quietly by someone to whom tea is more essential than oxygen.
Pickwick Earl Grey
“Is this earl grey?” I asked myself in consternation after the first sip, hurriedly rushing to check the packaging. Indeed it was. I had not made a horrific retail mistake reminiscent of my 1990 purple shell suit purchase. But just as I was about to condemn this tea to the same “lacking in taste” bin to which the aforementioned item was consigned, its woody subtlety suddenly struck me. This is a tea which requires patience, and is worth the wait if you appreciate delicacy in your earl grey.
Price: ?1.25 for 25 tea bags
Dilmah Earl Grey
I love a good story, and the packaging of this brand may have added a little bias to the hardened heart of this hack. “For centuries, problems of mankind have been solved over a cup of tea,” states the package, and I shed a tear or two of understanding. Not only that, but this package also gives you recipes, advice on storage and a little bit about the family business. And the tea’s not bad either. File under malty, and enjoy as a winter tea when the nights are drawing in and you need thawing out.
Price: ?0.95 for 25 tea bags
Ahmad Earl Grey Tea
Very smooth tasting and with a lovely aroma. The only packet of tea bags in which I could smell the bergamot before I opened it. It didn’t let me down upon tasting and had an interesting, almost smoky quality reminiscent of lapsang souchong. Strong, though not overwhelming and someone has cleverly thought to make the packaging grey. Aren’t these marketing types just brilliant!
Price: ?1.20 for 40 tea bags
Lipton Finest Earl Grey
“Claude est tombé dans l’eau,” is the strength of my Gallic endeavours, so thank goodness the tin had little pictures giving directions, as all the bumph was in French (Pourquoi?). If there are recipes and touching biographies on this packaging, I will never know, unless one of you superior linguists cares to send me a translation. Alas, I expected a little more from a loose leaf tea; the aroma is so understated that I’m still looking for it, and although there was a faint fruity taste to the actual tea, it was almost as indecipherable as the directions. Lovely cinnamon colour though if you’re looking for something to match your tan.
Price: ?2.72 for 200g (loose leaf)
Coffeway Earl Grey Blue Flower
If you’re looking for the tea experts, this is the place. Along with my little packet of tea, I was given all sorts of background information, brewing advice and helpful hints. And when I got it back to the office, the aroma had employees I have never even met appearing from dusty back rooms to demand a taste. In fact, an aura of calm descended over the office and people were actually civil to one another for at least 10 minutes after trying this tea. Deliciously aromatic, full-bodied and with a faint flavour of aniseed. I’m a convert.
Price: ?2 for 100g (loose leaf)
Twinings Earl Grey Tea
“By appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” says the packaging, and I crook my little finger and sip regally. Alas, perhaps my tastes are just not as royally refined as those of the Queen. A.A.Milne summed up this tea when he wrote: “Christopher Robin was home by this time, and they had a Very Nearly tea, which is one you forget about afterwards.” A shame, because I swear by Twinings’ Assam and Lady Grey. But this is a tea without discernible aroma or taste. I expected more from this brand. Can anyone shed any light?
Price: £2.25for 200g (loose leaf)
Earl Grey Tazo Tea
Everyone knows that Captain Picard of Star Trek fame drinks “Tea, Earl Grey, hot”. If this brand is available in the future, then this is undoubtedly the tea that caused his premature baldness; it’s enough to strip the hair from anyone’s head. For the ultimate bergamot taste explosion, head no further than Starbucks, where this tea is to be found. It’s eye-wateringly spicy, and a fantastic winter pick-me-up (and throw-me-into-the-bushes). If you ever need to “boldly go where no man has been before” this is the tea that will get you there!
Price: ?1.50 tall cup of £3.20 for 24 tea bags
