What is Earl Grey?
Earl Grey is a blend of tea flavored with bergamot oil. Most blends use black teas, which have a healthy amount of caffeine. Bergamot oil is sourced from the rind of a specific orange fruit. If you’ve ever peeled an orange, you’ve likely smelled similar notes. It is sweet and tangy with a combination of citrus flavors. Earl Grey blend has a rich, aromatic flavor.
The origin of Earl Grey tea is murky. There are a handful of claims that the tea blend was presented in goodwill between Chinese and British royalty. Often it’s claimed that the tea blend was named after Charles Grey, the British Prime Minister in 1830. Some stories claim that the Earl rescued a child from drowning and the grateful father named the tea blend after the Earl.
However, in the early 1800’s bergamot oil was used in lower quality black teas to enhance the flavor. This gave the blend a poor reputation when it first came to market. Additionally, bergamot oil wasn’t used by Chinese tea makers at the time and there’s no proof that Earl Grey ever visited China.
Despite it’s early reputation, Earl Grey became a popular blend in the mid 1800’s. This is likely thanks to Lady Grey, who loved the tea blend. She became a trendsetter in the UK and the beverage took a complete turnaround. Instead of looking at the tea blend as a poor quality masked with flavor, many people began to consider the drink as rather fancy.
Health Benefits
Earl Grey is a black tea that contains a light amount of caffeine, providing jittery free morning energy. Earl Grey has a rich aromatic citrus flavor. Unlike coffee, Earl Grey doesn’t dehydrate the body. It replaces the essential vitamins and water-soluble minerals that the body uses during the day.
The key flavor in Earl Grey comes from bergamot. This ingredient comes from a citrus fruit and is known to be an effective immune system booster. It also has properties to reduce bad cholesterol levels and reduces plaque formation for improved blood flow.
Earl Grey tea aids in digestion and is known to relieve constipation, acid reflux and promote the clearing of intestinal infections. Similar to Chai tea, Earl Grey also contains a high number of antioxidants capable of destroying free radicals, thus reducing oxidative stress and cellular damage. Earl Grey is rich in an antioxidant called “catechin” which has the potential to fight oral infections. It also contains a natural fluoride known to fight decay and protect teeth against formation of cavities. Drinking a cup of Earl Grey with breakfast is a great way to get morning energy with additional health benefits.
Tea provides numerous health benefits. Unlike coffee, the energy provided by green tea is generally reported to be a less jittery, calm energy. This is possibly due to the presence of L Theanine in tea. This chemical compound has shown to actually reduce stress and anxiety when combined with caffeine. Tea also naturally contains a compound called EGCG. This compound is currently being researched for its ability to battle cancer cells.
Black teas have long been considered a digestive aid. Recent research has shown a variety of antioxidants present in black tea that can help ward off chronic diseases and heart conditions. Daily cups of black tea have shown to help reduce blood pressure and improve gut health.
CBD teas
In addition to these storied herbal remedies, additional research and innovations are premiering in the world of CBD. CBD is currently prescribed to treat certain forms of epilepsy. As a supplement, it is being used to treat various forms of anxiety, stress, and depression. Most users describe CBD as lowering the volume of the world. Not a cure-all, but another tool to navigate the stresses of modern society.
CBD is gaining popularity as a supplement for a wide variety of recovery. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive properties. Instead, it helps to maintain the body’s stress management system.
Users have taken CBD to treat anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia, nausea, depression, and stress. CBD can be used to supplement energy in the morning or to provide a more restful sleep. CBD users often report lower anxiety, especially in high stress situations. Most users describe CBD as lowering the volume of the world. Not a cure-all, but another tool to navigate the stresses of modern society.
CBD is legally derived from the hemp plant and can be ingested in a variety of forms. Leaf Teas are one of the only water soluble CBD currently on the market. Water soluble has shown to have a higher absorption rate by the body than oil delivery methods. Read more about water soluble CBD here.
Leaf Teas contain high quality tea blends with the highest standard for CBD delivery, water soluble. This gives Leaf Tea the highest bioavailability currently available for CBD. Meaning that more CBD is absorbed by the body, increasing its effectiveness. CBD does not share the same psychoactive properties as THC. Early research has shown CBD to be a powerful supplement for a variety of treatment options for a healthier living. CBD by itself does not cause the same “high” as THC. Read more about CBD in this blog post.
Brewing instructions
Brewing a delicious cup of Earl Grey CBD tea is as simple as any other classic cup of tea.
1. Heat water to a boil.
2. Use 3 teaspoons of tea leaves per 8 ounces of water.
3. Pour hot water over tea leaves and steep 4-5 minutes.
4. Remove tea leaves and enjoy!
Leaf Teas are available in loose leaf tins. This allows the consumer to be precise with dosage and measurement. Additionally, all Leaf Teas have their test results available on the website. Again, to provide the highest amount of quality control directly to the consumer.
London Fog Recipe
One of the best ways to enjoy a cup of Earl Grey is the ultimate tea latte, the London Fog. After making a cup of Earl Grey tea in the normal fashion, add a half cup of frothed milk and a quarter tablespoon of vanilla extract. If you don’t have a frother, warming the milk on the stove and giving it a quick whip will do the trick. Top the drink with a dash of cinnamon to flavor. This drink is royalty in a cup.
