What Is Earl Grey Tea? Bergamot, History, and Flavor

Few teas have remained as recognizable—or as adaptable—as Earl Grey.

For nearly two centuries, the combination of black tea and bergamot has become a fixture of tea culture around the world. You'll find it in neighborhood cafés, traditional tea shops, and kitchen cupboards alike. Yet Earl Grey has never been a single recipe. It is a style of tea that generations of merchants have interpreted in their own way, preserving its unmistakable citrus aroma while introducing new botanicals, tea bases, and traditions.

That ability to evolve is one of the reasons Earl Grey has endured for so long. Understanding Earl Grey means looking beyond its name to the story of a Mediterranean citrus fruit, a British prime minister, Victorian tea merchants, and a blend that has continued to evolve for nearly two centuries.

Already familiar with the traditional style? Explore our Botanical Tea collection to see how B. Fuller's interprets Earl Grey through rose, lavender, orange, lemon, and coconut.

The Foundation: Tea and Bergamot

Every traditional Earl Grey tea begins with two ingredients: tea and bergamot.

The tea is typically black tea, chosen for its body and structure. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a small citrus fruit cultivated primarily along the Ionian coast of Calabria in southern Italy. Unlike oranges or lemons, it is valued less for its juice than for the intensely aromatic oil found in its peel. The fragrance is difficult to compare to any single citrus. It combines the brightness of lemon, the sweetness of orange, a hint of grapefruit, and a floral character that has made bergamot prized not only in tea but also in perfumery for centuries.

According to Bergamot Calabria, cultivation of the fruit along the coast of Reggio Calabria dates to the eighteenth century, with bergamot essential-oil extraction documented there during the nineteenth century. 

Although they share a common name, the bergamot used in Earl Grey is unrelated to the North American herb known as wild bergamot or bee balm (Monarda didyma). The herb belongs to the mint family, while Earl Grey's bergamot is a citrus fruit.

Together, black tea and bergamot create a balance that feels both familiar and distinctive. The tea contributes depth and structure, while the bergamot brightens the cup with an unmistakable citrus fragrance. That simple pairing has remained at the heart of Earl Grey for nearly two centuries.

Why Is It Called Earl Grey?

No one can say with certainty how Earl Grey tea acquired its name.

The name is usually associated with Charles Grey, a British statesman who held the hereditary aristocratic title 2nd Earl Grey and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834. His government was responsible for the Reform Act of 1832. The historical record establishes Grey’s political career, but it does not provide a definitive account connecting him to the creation or naming of the tea.

One story describes the blend as a diplomatic gift from China. Another suggests it was created to improve the taste of hard water at the Grey family estate by adding bergamot. These accounts have been repeated for generations, but historians have found little contemporary evidence supporting either one.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, merchants in Britain were already selling teas identified as Earl Grey. Exactly how the aristocratic title became attached to those blends remains uncertain, but over time the name came to describe bergamot-scented tea rather than the recipe of any one merchant.

Why Earl Grey Endured

Knowing where the name came from explains only part of Earl Grey's story. A more interesting question is why it remained popular while countless other blends disappeared, and part of the answer lies in timing.

During the nineteenth century, tea changed from an expensive luxury into an everyday household beverage. Expanding global trade, lower prices, and a growing middle class meant millions of people were drinking tea every day. As competition among tea merchants increased, recognizable blends became increasingly valuable.

Earl Grey possessed something few other teas did: an unmistakable identity.

Long before branding became a marketing discipline, customers could recognize Earl Grey simply by opening the tea tin. The fragrance of bergamot distinguished it from other black teas before the first sip was ever taken, making it easier to recommend, remember, and purchase again.

Tea houses helped reinforce that identity. Companies such as Twinings introduced Earl Grey to successive generations of tea drinkers, helping establish it as one of Britain’s best-known tea styles rather than the specialty of a single merchant. That consistency helped transform Earl Grey from a merchant’s blend into one of the world’s most recognizable tea styles.

Its greatest strength, however, may be its flexibility.

Many traditional teas are defined by where they are grown or how they are processed. Earl Grey is different. Its identity comes from the relationship between tea and bergamot, leaving room for interpretation without losing its character. A tea merchant can build on black tea, green tea, white tea, or rooibos. Rose can draw out bergamot's floral qualities, orange can deepen its citrus profile, lavender can soften the cup, and lemon can make it brighter. Each variation feels familiar while offering something new.

That balance between tradition and creativity has kept Earl Grey relevant for nearly two centuries. It is recognizable enough to remain familiar and adaptable enough to remain interesting.

What Does Earl Grey Taste Like?

A traditional Earl Grey is bright, citrusy, floral, and supported by the full body of black tea.

Beyond that, flavor depends on the choices made by the tea merchant. Some blends emphasize bergamot, producing a bold citrus aroma that dominates the cup. Others use a lighter hand, allowing the tea itself to remain the focus. The choice of tea base also changes the experience. Black tea provides richness and structure, while green or white teas produce lighter, more delicate interpretations.

Rather than a single recipe, Earl Grey has become a family of teas connected by the same aromatic foundation.

B. Fuller’s classic Earl Grey begins with a round, full black-tea foundation scented with bergamot—the familiar pairing from which the broader Earl Grey family grew.

Explore B. Fuller’s Classic Earl Grey

Brewing Earl Grey

Like most black teas, Earl Grey is best brewed with freshly heated water just below boiling—about 205°F (96°C)—and steeped for three to four minutes.

Some drinkers prefer it plain, appreciating the balance between tea and bergamot on its own. Others add milk, particularly when preparing a London Fog, while a slice of lemon can further emphasize the tea's citrus character. As with most loose-leaf tea, small adjustments to water temperature and steeping time can noticeably change the cup, making experimentation part of the enjoyment.

A Classic Worth Reinterpreting

Spend enough time around a tea counter and you'll notice something interesting. People rarely ask whether they like Earl Grey; instead, they ask which Earl Grey they like.

That distinction helps explain why the style continues to evolve. The classic pairing of black tea and bergamot provides a recognizable foundation, but every tea merchant eventually discovers their own interpretation.

At B. Fuller's Mortar & Pestle, we begin with the traditional blend before exploring where that foundation can lead. Rose, lavender, orange, lemon, and coconut each reveal a different side of Earl Grey while remaining unmistakably connected to the original.

Our next article will explore how rose, lavender, orange, lemon, and coconut each create a distinct interpretation of Earl Grey. In the meantime, you can explore our Botanical Tea collection to discover those blends for yourself.

Explore B. Fuller's Botanical Tea Collection

Learn More & Explore the History

• Bergamot of Reggio Calabria — Learn more about the history of bergamot cultivation in Calabria and the region's long association with the fruit.

• The Reform Act of 1832 — Explore the political career of Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey, and the landmark parliamentary reform passed during his government.

• Earl Grey Flavours – Twinings — Read Twinings' account of the history of Earl Grey and how the company interprets the blend today. While aspects of the origin story remain debated, it provides useful historical context from one of Britain's oldest tea merchants.