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Tea drinkers may find themselves at a crossroads when choosing between Earl Grey and Lady Grey tea.
In this article, we will discuss the differences between these two popular types of black tea.
Table of Contents
Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey tea is named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey and British Prime Minister in the 1830s. The traditional story suggests that the tea was a gift from a Chinese mandarin to Earl Grey, blending black tea with bergamot oil to mask the taste of lime in the local water at Grey’s home.
However, this tale has been widely disputed because there is no evidence Charles Grey ever went to China.
A more likely scenario is that a British envoy brought the tea back from China, eventually being discovered by tea houses which then proceeded to market it.
Regardless, Earl Grey became synonymous with this distinct blend of black tea and bergamot, a citrus fruit whose oil gives the tea its characteristic flavor.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
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| Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey Loose Leaf, 4.41 Ounce Tin |
$9.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Lady Grey Tea
Lady Grey is a trademarked variety of Earl Grey. It came into the scene in the early 1990s as a product of Twinings.
Although these teas are very similar, Lady Grey is considered to be targeted towards those who find Earl Grey to be a bit too intense for their taste. It came as a softer variation and quickly became very popular.
This is why both these teas are a constant topic of discussion among tea enthusiasts.
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| Twinings Lady Grey Loose Black Tea, 3.53 Ounce Tins (Pack of 6), Lemon & Orange Peel, Caffeinated,… |
$49.74 | Buy on Amazon |
A Comparison
As we discuss their origins and back-story, now it is time to compare the two and understand where the disparity lies.
Ingredients
Earl Grey is prepared from black tea and bergamot.
The leaves are generally mild-tasting leaves, which originate from India, China, or Sri Lanka and are often in a cut and sifted form. The tea leaves are scented with the bergamot fruit, a plant originating from South-East Asia.
Nowadays, most commercial bergamot is grown in Italy, but that is a relatively new occurrence in history.
Most modern earl grey tea is now made with extracted bergamot oil, but in ancient times, these types of teas were usually scented with fresh fruits or flowers and then allowed to dry.
Lady Grey is made the same way, but it also contains dried lemon and orange peel.
Bergamot has a unique aroma with notes of citrus and flowers.
Flavor
The flavors of both Earl Grey and Lady Grey are both quite distinct.
Earl Grey is very strong and powerful as the producers use more bergamot oil, resulting in a stronger taste.
Lady grey has softer, more delicate fruit notes. It caters to those who prefer a more aromatic, yet lighter tasting tea.