Earl Grey - A classic that isn't classic?!

Who or what exactly is Earl Grey?

A popular classic among black teas, but not a classic black tea. Earl Grey is so common that, in our experience, it is often interpreted as a classic tea.

What sets this Earl apart, however, is the typical aroma of bergamot, Citrus aurantium bergamica. You might mistake this fruit for a lemon or orange based on its appearance, and it does indeed belong to the genus of citrus plants.

Because of its bitter and sour taste, it is hardly suitable for direct consumption; instead, it is processed for the essential oil found in its rind. At the end of the tea processing stage, this aroma or oil is added to the leaves.

The tea base for Earl Grey comes from various regions of origin, which differ depending on the quality available. Since the bergamot aroma is naturally the defining characteristic, the tea base is blended in such a way that the aroma can best unfold.

Charles Grey

Various legends revolve around this well-known name, in which a certain Charles plays a central role. Between 1830 and 1834, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, held the office of British Prime Minister. However, his political career in the Whig Party has almost nothing to do with tea. How Charles came to share his name with a beverage that remains popular to this day is not definitively proven. In one of the most common stories, bergamot oil was accidentally mixed with tea leaves during the shipping of Chinese tea intended for Charles. Rather than simply throwing away the valuable tea, it was decided to taste it, and those involved were by no means disappointed by the result. Allegedly, however, the mixture could also have been intentional. To prevent sea salt from affecting the tea during transport, someone may have had the idea of adding essential oils to the leaves. A less exciting, but equally probable version of the story claims that he received the bergamot-oil-scented tea as a gift from a lord. Only one thing is certain: whether Earl Grey was a blending mishap or a deliberate choice, it now ranks among the most popular tea varieties in the world. Throughout its history, numerous new Earl Grey species and blends have been created. Its popularity and tradition are also unmistakable at Schönbichler.

An Earl with Tradition

In the Earl Grey Schönbichler Blend, a strong bergamot aroma dominates over a dark tea base. The intense, traditional blend is a real celebrity, as many of our most loyal customers are happy to make the arduous journey to Vienna's city center for their favorite tea. Our in-house Earl occupied its traditional place on our shelves long before our most long-standing employees joined us. It even finds its way as far as Japan and, of course, regularly to Switzerland and Germany, as its popularity extends far beyond national borders. Customers who want an extra touch of fruit often reach for our Diplomat Blend, which features a fruity addition of mandarin.

Not everyone likes strong black teas but still wants to enjoy the delicate bergamot aroma. But the diversity of Earl Grey also offers options for this need, such as the long-established Sacher blend, which, however, has nothing to do with the cake of the same name. As the leaf suggests, the tea base for this Earl Grey comes from Darjeeling, giving the aroma a subtle, floral note compared to the robust Schönbichler Blend.

Even among our Earl Greys, there is now a New Generation, e.g., the Niavarani Blend - an unusual mix of green, black, and jasmine tea. Sounds strange, but it has found a large audience with us and, above all, offers variety.

Our most recent creation was developed in cooperation with the Burgtheater, hence the name: the Burgtheater Blend. In addition to the base note of bergamot, orange peels, blackcurrant aroma, and decorative mallow blossoms were added to this Earl. The delicate fruity-floral notes of our newcomer have already gained many fans among Earl Grey enthusiasts in a short time.

But anyone who claims that Earl Grey is limited only to tea can get to know our range in even greater detail. The Schönbichler Blend also holds its own in the sweet spectrum. In cooperation with the Craigher chocolate factory, the Earl Grey Chocolate has also been available on our shelves or in the Schönbichler online shop since January 2019. Especially good as a creamy snack for the cold months or paired with a hot cup of Earl Grey!

Finally, in September 2020, our Earl also made it into our spirits department. The goal was not to sell a conventional sweet liqueur, but to retain the natural fruitiness. Since then, the Earl Grey has also been delighting our customers as a liqueur with its pleasantly fruity citrus note.

Our article shows only a small part of our range, and the list of Earl Greys is by no means complete. If you would like to see more products, we are always happy to welcome you and provide advice on our range.

Did you find something new? Also, check out our online shop!

Earl Grey Schönbichler Edition

Mornings are particularly tough (as they are for the author), and you need something cheering yet pleasant in the early hours to survive the start of the day productively. Therefore, as a little motivation to wake up, we would like to share a blending recommendation.

For 1 liter:

8g Assam Anniversary Tea Tonganagaon with
4g Earl Grey Sacher Blend

Steeping time: 3 min, pour with boiling water and enjoy at approx. 95°C.