Who invented bergamot tea; Who is Earl Gray?
There are three different stories about the origin of this invention. One of the stories says: Earl Gray tea was accidentally created as a result of the transportation of black tea and bergamot plant on the same ship.
Earl Gray Tea is named after the 2nd Earl Gray, one of the 19th century prime ministers of Great Britain. There are different rumors about this. In one of the stories it is said that Earl Gray received this special sweet tea as a diplomatic gift. According to another rumor, the tea was gifted by a Chinese mandarin after his son was saved from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men.
According to another rumor, bergamot plant was also put on the same ship while carrying tea from India to England, and during this long voyage, the unique scent of bergamot permeated the tea. When the ship arrived in England and it was understood that all the teas were smelling, Gray had this tea distributed to the public free of charge so that it would not be wasted.
After this tea was consumed a lot by the public, "earl grey", that is, bergamot tea, which is identified with England today, began to be made abundantly.
Lord Gray liked this tea so much that he asked the tea merchant Twinings to prepare a similar tea. The first "Earl Gray" tea is sold in England by Twinings. Twinings' Earl Gray blend; It is a strong black tea made up of Chinese, Indian (Darjeeling), Ceylon and Lapsang Seçong tea.
The Jacksons Company in England also claims to have made the first Earl Gray tea themselves (according to the recipe they received directly from Lord Grey).
Was Earl Grey a real person?
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG PC (13 March 1764 – 17 July 1845), known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834.
Earl Gray tea varieties
Earl Gray spread all over the world from England in 1820. Over time, it has become a popular tea all over the world.
Lady Gray Tea – Lady Mary Elizabeth Gray, named after Earl Charles Grey's wife. Out of bergamot, blended with orange peel or lavender. There are two different varieties as Orange Earl Gray and Lavender Earl Grey.
French Earl Gray Tea: It is obtained by blending the classic Earl Gray tea with rose petals. It has a more fruity flavor.
Russian Earl Gray Tea - A blend of classic Earl Gray with orange peel and lemongrass.
The History of Earl Grey Teas
https://www.thewhistlingkettle.com/a/info/blog/the-history-of-earl-grey-teas-british-aristocracy-free-trade-and-democracy