Taste Test: Earl Grey Tea

A historic style of tea with a devoted modern fan base, Earl Grey takes its name from Charles Grey, the second Earl of Grey and the British prime minister from 1830 to 1834. Though mostly conjecture, the story goes that Grey was either gifted the tea by a man from China whose life he’d saved, or that his own household concocted the flavorful blend as a means of masking the mineral-rich water supply. A blend of black tea leaves and the floral-forward Italian citrus bergamot, the tea can be found in a myriad of styles today, whether aiming traditional or getting creative with complementary ingredients.

Smith Teamaker Lord Bergamot

Among the multitude of single origins and tea blends on offer from Portland, Oregon’s Smith Teamaker, the Lord Bergamot remains a longtime customer fave. Beginning with a flavorful base of Assam and Ceylon black teas, the blend is infused with bergamot essential oil from Calabria. It starts with a heady aroma and delivers a bold but well-balanced flavor. $12.99/15 bags, smithtea.com

Harney & Sons Earl Grey Supreme

Family owned and operated in New York for four decades, Harney & Sons began when founder John Harney ran an inn and offered his own tea blends to guests. The Earl Grey Supreme creates an extra-smooth blend of high-grade black and oolong tea with white silver tips. Mixed with bergamot oil, the tea has an aroma that’s earthy and herbaceous. It drinks without a hint of bitter tannins. $11/20 bags, harney.com

Palais des Thés Thé Des Lords

Founded as a French teahouse in 1986, Palais des Thés also founded a tea school in Paris. And in 2010, they expanded to the U.S. Their Thé Des Lords aims traditionally English in style, with a bold black-tea blend from India and China infused with bergamot and just a sprinkling of safflower petals. The result is a tea that smells fresh and earthy, with vibrant bergamot undertones. $20/3.5 oz., us.palaisdesthes.com

Adagio Teas Earl Grey Moonlight

Redolent with creamy vanilla and sweet almond aromas, Adagio’s Earl Grey Moonlight was created to meet customer demand for a crème version of the classic tea. Dried orange and cornflower complement a black-tea base, while the bergamot provides a solid backbone to the aromatic blend. This one works especially well with milk and sugar. $9/15 bags, adagio.com

August Metropolitan

Dressed up with a hint of stone fruit and spice, the Metropolitan blend from LA-based tea blender August is a tasty, modern take on the style. An Assam base blended with plum, lemon peel, mallow flower, nutmeg, and clove complements the bergamot. The result is extra-fruity aromatics that lead into earthier flavors, with a bit of tingling clove on the finish. $27.49/100 grams, august.la

Camellia Sinensis Organic Earl Grey

Using certified organic and fair-trade black tea from India for their Earl Grey, Camellia Sinensis (which takes its name from the species of tea plant) offers a rich, earthy version with a bright, floral bergamot character. Bold and balanced, this one would be delightful with either honey or a squeeze of lemon, depending on which flavors you want to highlight. $8.69/65 grams, camellia-sinensis.com