Earl Grey tea

Hot Earl Grey tea made in a teapot, and decanted into a teacup Earl Grey tea is a tea blend which has been flavoured with oil of bergamot. The rind's fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste. However, many, if not most, Earl Greys use other natural or artificial flavours or synthetic oils instead as this is cheaper and results in a longer shelf-life. The taste of the artificially flavoured teas is considered to be less well-balanced than that of naturally flavoured Earl Grey.

Traditionally, Earl Grey was made from black teas such as Chinese keemun, and therefore intended to be served without milk. Sometimes it is blended with lapsang souchong tea, which lends a smoky character. Other varieties have been introduced as well, such as green or oolong.