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Using only natural flavours and oils there's no aftertaste or overpowering perfume leaving the high quality, natural taste of the Indian tea. An excellent, first class quality Earl Grey experience.
Traditionally Earl Grey was a blend of Chinese and Indian teas scented with oil from the citrus bergamot fruit - a sort of orange. Stories about the origins of Earl Grey are numerous. One such tale is of a Chinese Mandarin whose life was saved by a British diplomat on a mission to China sponsored by the Earl. The Mandarin traveled west to England, found Bergamot on his travels and, when reaching Hawick, the Earls Estate, made tea but found the water quality so bad he added the Bergamot to make it more palatable. In any event it was the Prime Minister of England (1830-1834) Earl Grey who made this tea fashionable.
What type of tea do is used, how does it flavour the tea and why are natural flavours used?
- Firstly, only high grown teas from the top 3 tea growing regions of Sri Lanka - Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva are used. These three high-grown districts produce flavourful teas that have classic 'Ceylon' tea character which is noted by floral bouquet and flavour notes, touches of mild astringency, bright coppery colour and, most importantly, perfect for use as the base tea of flavoured teas. Dimbula and the western estates of Nuwara Eliya have a major quality peak during Jan/Feb, whereas Uva and the eastern estates of Nuwara Eliya have their peak in July/Aug. This 'dual peak period' allow the purchase of the best for flavoured tea blends several times during the year, ensuring top quality and freshness.
- Secondly, flavouring oils not crystals are used to give the tea drinker an olfactory holiday before indulging in a liquid tea treat.
- Thirdly, we specify natural flavours as high quality tea tastes best and natural flavours do not mask the natural taste of the high grown Ceylon tea. (The norm for many making flavoured tea is to use overpowering artificial flavours, which can be used to hide lower quality tea). Natural flavours do not leave an aftertaste giving the tea a clean and true character. It should be noted that natural flavours tend to be somewhat 'soft ' and the flavours slightly muted, but for many this is a refreshing change and one of the desired attributes of our naturally flavoured teas.
Ingredients: Blend of Premium BLACK Loose Leaf Tea, Bergamot Oil, Cornflower Petals, Natural Flavouring
