Supreme Earl Grey - Teabag Envelopes

The history of Earl Grey tea

From its introduction onto the British market in the mid-19th century, Earl Grey has been linked with afternoon teas and polite society. Much loved for its heady aromatics of citrus-tinged with spice, it hasn't been out of style since – as likely these days to be found in your kitchen caddy as on a hotel tea room menu.

Earl Grey was the first scented tea ever brewed. Forever associated with Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey and British prime minister from 1830 to 1834, its exact origins were never recorded but date back to the early 1800s and the start of the global tea industry. One of the most commonly quoted stories about the invention of Earl Grey tea has it that Charles Grey was gifted a black tea infused with bergamot oil by a Chinese mandarin as thanks to one of Grey's men saving his son's life.

Another goes that the tea was accidentally 'discovered' when a shipment of bergamot oranges and black tea were shipped together to the earl's home, Howick Hall in Northumberland. More likely is that essential citrus oils were used to improve the flavour of tea made with strong-tasting water. Because Charles Grey never trademarked the name, the emerging big tea companies of the Victorian era were left to claim Earl Grey tea as their own, and the truth will probably remain a mystery.

What is without a doubt is how popular Earl Grey tea has become the world over. Today, Earl Grey is usually made by tea companies from Ceylon or Assam teas, or a blend of both, combined with bergamot orange. However, various regions and companies have created their own versions of the blend down the years – the most famous spin-off being Lady Grey, or Mary Grey in our case.

Science has recently given Earl Grey tea even more of a boost. To add to a raft of discoveries about black teas' antioxidant and disease-fighting properties, studies have shown that bergamot may aid digestion, inhibit gut inflammation and help fight the bacteria associated with stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Alternatives to this iconic black tea blend

For a more delicate take on this much-loved blend, try our Mary Grey, full of fruity, citrus flavour and cheerful marigold petals. For another flavoured black tea, why not try our Assam Chocolate Spice Chai? A healthy and vegan alternative to hot chocolate. 

You can also introduce this delicious tea to someone you care about with our Supreme Earl Grey Gift for One.

The city itself sits at 1,868 m above sea level. North of the city, Sri Lanka’s tallest mountain, Pidurutalagala, peaks at 2,542 m, and the revered Adam’s Peak sits on the Southern edge of the district, peaking at 2,243 m above sea level. The area is famous for its cool, temperate climate (Cfb), which made it a popular hill station in the 19th century, and a much-loved resort and health spa in the present day. Temperatures remain steadily warm throughout the year. March and April are the warmest months with an average high of 22°C and low of 11°C. The coldest months, form November to January, range from 9°C to 20°C.

There is heavy cloud cover throughout the year, with slightly cleared skies from December until March. The district is part of the Wet Zone in South-Western Sri Lanka. Consequently, rain falls throughout the year, with the highest precipitation in October and November, combined with low wind and medium humidity. Spring and summer experience lower but consistent rainfall, with gentle wind and increased humidity in April and May.

Above 1,000m, the montane rain forests are known for their biodiversity and endemic species. They also harbour the endangered Sri Lanka leopard, numerous species of shrews, squirrels, civet and langur. Soils throughout the island are generally suitable for agriculture, although some areas, particularly in the highlands, are eroded. In the Nuwara Eliya district, the elevation and cool climate offer ideal conditions for many European fruit and vegetable, as well as rubber and rice. But the hills really belong the tea, which was introduced in the 1860s after a devastating disease killed all the coffee plantations. The district is considered as the most important tea production hub in Sri Lanka, and Sri Lankan high-grown teas are known for their outstanding quality.