What Gives Earl Grey Tea its Unique Taste? | Food Unwrapped

Jimmy Doherty travels across Europe to find the secret behind the flavour of this classic fragrant tea.
Food Unwrapped Season 6 Episode 14
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Our team of intrepid presenters (Jimmy Doherty, Kate Quilton, Matt Tebbutt, Helen Lawal, Andi Oliver, Amanda Byram and Briony May Williams) travel the world uncovering unusual, intriguing and surprising secrets behind the food we eat.
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[@CJ-sg3vs]

Am i the only one that sniffs the tea bag before putting it in the hot water. I just love the scent.

[@michaelstehlin5086]

I do the same thing

[@JoelKreider]

Same here...

[@dice7584]

Ayy

[@marcell1525]

i always do the same thing, nice scent, and also sometimes different every type of tea 🥰

[@steampour]

I do it every single time. I can't make tea without doing it!

[@3amthoughts967]

Anyone else watching this while sipping their earl grey tea? 🙋🏽‍♀️

[@unknownunknown5244]

Me! First time trying earl grey tea (previously tasted Earl grey gelato) and got me curious.

[@halendheime7282]

Heading downstairs to make some now

[@Leguminator]

Earl Grey is my go-to tea. Cold brewed as iced tea it's delicious and hot in the winter with a splash of milk and honey while curled up on the sofa with a good book.

[@TheTimeMage]

oooh I never thought to try it with milk and honey will definitely give it a whirl thanks for the tip XD

[@tinaprice4948]

I make a gallon of ice tea at a time and use 5 bags of earl grey and 5 of plain tea, with just 1/4 cup organic sugar to give a little sweetness. I love it!

[@AnamiDK]

Me too!! Always thought I was a bit basic for loving Earl Grey so much, but it is just the best tea ever! I drink about a packet a week.

[@botrytis_cinerea]

It`s my favourite, too with no milk. I prefer with more fresh bergamot or lemon and honey. The balance between the sour taste of the citrus fruit and the natural sweetness of the honey is divine.

[@ceylonteabrew6827]

@@botrytis_cinerea have you tried ceylon earl grey tea?

[@metranisome]

I found it very interesting that they mention that bergamot oil itself too expensive to use alone as the oil component of tea as it is easy to find tea that uses pure bergamot oil. I think all but the cheapest brands use high quality oil. Bergamot essential oil is expensive when compared to other citrus oils but it is very cheap when compared to many of the other essential oils used for tea (such as green cardamom oil, saffron oil, rose oil, ect.) I will say that some of the companies that use the pure oil have to use bergamot from multiple sources to try and make the flavor profile consistent from year to year, as the fruits themselves vary in quality depending on environmental growing conditions. My current favorite earl grey is blended by hand at a local tea store and it can vary from very lime like to very floral depending on each years harvest quality (the linalyl acetate and limonene content of the oil can very quite a lot between batches)

[@GadgetNeil]

My favorite earl grey tea is Kusmi; does anyone know if they use pure bergamot oil?

[@snellen87]

You are a very informative person. I learned a lot.

[@zuzannawisniewska4464]

I only drink Earl Gray - Twinings without milk and sugar....

[@laneto1640]

I’ve got a box of numi earl grey that i got 50% off at safeway. Gonna sip some with some pumpkin pie

[@Kenmanhl]

Finally, there's a person on the help line that knows the answer! :)

[@Torbikini]

So true!

[@xploration1437]

💅🍤👠👠👄🐕💨

[@shitzuation]

Jimmy eating various items throughout the production process is absolute gold 😂

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

Especially the powder lol....

[@TahtahmesDiary]

Especially cuz arguably none of it should have really been eaten like that lmao

[@TootieProduct]

He cant help himself

[@soulawaken24]

@@southaussiegarbo2054 20-30 teabags worth of earl grey flavor, generally... not a good idea 😂

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

@@soulawaken24 lol

[@winey2139]

I have long wished for someone to make a perfume from Earl Grey Tea.

[@silasteacher]

Why not buy some bergamot essential oil and add a few drops to a spray bottle full of rubbing alcohol and wait about a month for dissolve. Works. I've made a few different scents using mixtures of oils and alcohol. Bergamot has a manly scent when added to patchuli.

[@QueenBee-gx4rp]

Most perfumes have bergamot in their basic foundation.

[@Pannieroos]

Jo Malone earl Grey and cucumber is based on it. Its quite pricey though. A cheaper one is Zara lavender memories, although its more fruity than the tea.

[@spark_6710]

​@@PannieroosYESSS !! As well as L'Artisan Perfumuer " The'" are my faves !!! 👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🫖💞

[@memesouls8653]

Haha well most perfumes actually use bergamot to get their citrusy notes.

[@Mark723]

And now we know - thanks for showing us in under six minutes what would have taken me hours to research, if I ever would have had the inkling to research such a topic, which is truly fascinating once one considers it over a nice cup of Earl Grey...

[@katekat1064]

I love Earl Grey tea.....

[@verchip8]

Any one else who just had to go and open one Earl Grey tea bag to look for those precious little bergamot granules? 🍋

[@wagwanbennydj6003]

Personally I love Earl Grey! It's the best tea in the world!

[@truvativ]

nah, it's masking tea quality.

[@kingjames4886]

you can like what you like... but it's far from the best tea in the world :P

[@johnree6106]

I prefer green tea 🍵😌, but I guess I am biased because not only is it the most available one here as someone who into Japanese culture and green tea being used in tea ceremonies probably also makes me enjoy it better.

[@kingjames4886]

@@johnree6106 green tea is for the peasants, oolong is where it's at.

[@johnree6106]

@@kingjames4886 Each to their own taste.

[@Kris_at_WhiteOaksFarm]

In the US, there's an herb/mint called Bergamot. I always thought that was the source of the flavor in Earl Gray. I learned something new today, now I can go back to bed. ;-)

[@SiouxCityWeather]

I've never heard of that tea until I watched Star Trek 🤣

[@fridgemagnet9831]

Knew it was bergamot but didn't know it has such a long journey to out teabags.

[@carrieannmcleod5219]

Earl Grey is my favorite tea. Thanks for the tutorial. Really interesting.

[@anxiousapien31]

Obsessed with earl grey. The only tea that doesn't give me anxiety rather I'd use it for my tea therapy ❤

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

In the case of loose leaf Earl Grey, there are no granules whatsoever, and the aroma is deeper. 🤔

[@HibiscusHigh]

🤔

[@Hakkar]

If they put granules in leafs you would end up with all the bergamott at the bottom. They are probably infused with the bergamott oil :)

[@danieljhalab6775]

Yea when you open your container of earl grey your house fills with that wonderful aroma

[@JasmineSurrealVideos]

Now I need to go and look up who was Earl Grey and why did he have a tea named after him, fascinating stuff, as a long time Earl Grey afficianado, I have tried lots of brands of loose and bagged, but I always go back to Twinings, and their Lady Grey is lovely as well, in my cupboard I keep them together like a married couple lol. I knew what bergamots were, but I had no idea of the process of getting the fruit into the tea bags.

[@Tailslol]

lady grey and russian grey from twinings is one of the best earl grey i tasted in general. i really return to them just how soft and smooth they taste.

[@undercoverasiant696]

I drank twinings for 20 plus years.....then discovered dilmar earl grey. Now I'm hooked on their earl grey extra strength .

[@verafleck]

Bought myself some bergamot oil and scented the tea of my choice.

[@Ithirahad]

@@verafleck That sounds like the right way to go, now that I know about the strange business with citrus dilution. Bergamot oil isn't actually that expensive given the tiny amounts you need.

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

Earl Grey Tea... And Lady Grey Tea... You ask ?!? Answer : Earl Grey was the "Prime Minister of the UK from 1830 to 1834." He liked the taste of Tea while in China. And came back to the UK. And asked Charles Twining (Tea Merchant to the Wealthy.) To make an Engish Blended Tea, suited to be drunk in London. And at his own Home, in the County of Northumberland (near the Scottish Border.) Both these places have a high Limestone in their Water Supply*, so a 'Zesty' taste was better when brewing Tea. * The Rich Astriocates mainly Drank Fine Wines, and Teas (especially Women) as Water quality was quite poor before Sanitation and Public Water Supplies improved. (Disease was rife in unsanitary water.) The Working Class mainly drank Beer, and Strong Brewed (Indian) Tea, which was a cheaper than China Tea. The British used to import Tea at vast expense from the Far East (until they were able to Smuggle out some Tea Plants. (Aka Cuttings,) and via the vast Empire under British Rule, they set up their own Tea Plantations in India, Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. Etc, etc. 👀 Many liked China Tea (Light), historically the upper classes. And Indian Tea (Strong) by the lower classes. Today, its more by preference, or what you were brought up liking ! Historically : Lady Grey was the Wife of Earl Grey. Recently : Twinings created 'Lady Grey Tea' in the 1990's as a unique 'Tea'. It is a lighter fragrance Tea, using more 'Orangey' tones. It was created and 'Marketed by Twinings'. as a unique Tea. (A Branded Product !) Earl Grey Tea can now be bought almost anywhere and made by many Tea Providers, so it's lost its unique kind of tea 'licence' and Twinings, has lost a lot of Earl Grey Tea selling revenue (!) Hope this helps. 😉 🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖 I Love Earl Grey Tea. Put the Kettle on... 😎 🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖

[@Flutterbyby]

I love earl Grey tea, loose leaf and with dash of honey & milk. Mmm.

[@skip123davis]

i've been a fan for many years. love me some earl grey. i can tell the difference between different brands, now i know why.

[@starleii3474]

What is the best brand per you?

[@ReyOfLight]

I need to go to grocery store tomorrow, and now Earl Grey tea just got added to the list of item I’m going to buy!

[@wildandbarefoot]

If your grocers is Fortnum and masons - go for it. But the best purveyors of tea are Ringtons Tea. They deliver door to door. But they may post.

[@EmdrGreg]

I love Earl Grey tea.

[@1224Serendipity]

Mmm my favorite tea…especially when you throw in a scone with jam and cream.

[@georgelim5841]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!!

[@moniquem783]

Fascinating! I knew it was bergamot but have often wondered about the process.

[@luizalouyoga]

Bergamota here in Brazil is a type of tangerine 🍊 I don’t like Earl Grey, but drink it from time to time. After knowing it’s origin and production I think I’ll start to enjoy it.

[@lesiepetersen1582]

Was raised on EARL GREY by my Scottish grandma.

[@hannayilma-aviram2924]

Wow! I sure learned something about the Earl Gray Tea making process! Thanks a bunch! I am obsessed with earl gray tea and drink it every day! While you’re at it, anyone around the world that takes the number one place for the best earl gray tea maker? I love sampling ’em.

[@craigdavidfox]

There videos need more viewers. They are excellent.

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

Originated off a UK TV Channel called "Channel4". Has good Documentaries and Did-You-Know type Programming. 👌

[@MikuHatsune12]

I just have to point out.. in 0:41 you guys said we landed in reggio, you landed in calabria (the city is called reggio calabria), reggio means the region/region of

[@teddyli4763]

That is interesting and hilarious 😂

[@brunolondinese5857]

Not exactly, Reggio comes from its ancient Greek name, when it was called Rhegion. Local dialect it's called Rìggiu. It's okay to call the city Reggio and doesn't refer to 'region'.

[@MikuHatsune12]

@@brunolondinese5857 i thought i was that one person but no its you

[@Tvianne]

You are so wrong is not even funny. Reggio can be Reggio Calabria or Reggio Emilia, but NEVER 'region'.

[@MikuHatsune12]

@@Tvianne ok sure, but damn ive never seen anybody subscribed to gaia on youtube 😂

[@kimyn8408]

O man-i tried it today - and it was delicious. Specially the fragrance, i loved it. It had a slight lemony fragrance. The taste was great- i was fascinated, coz the tea wasn't bitter. It had a critic, orange zest like flavour (lol). I enjoyed it thoroughly till the last sip. Just a little bit of sugar - and it's good to go.

[@misterhat5823]

Video starts at 0:40

[@lachatnoir1127]

When England was shipping tea from china and india, they would add bergamot to tea to cleanse of any evil spirits. And the flavour caught on

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

Nope... Its a Fable. Started by Earl Grey himself in mid 1800's. Know your History (!)

[@gelignite664]

Great clip. never knew any of this and have been drinking earl grey all my life. Cheers. 👍👍👍

[@pcmobitab]

I drink it everyday ❤

[@ivydaphne7483]

Wow...I'm imagining the application of this dehydrated oil fragrance granule method in other drinks (aside from tea) and dishes & if there are any...

[@MolonLabe50cal]

So much better than coffee

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

First time i tried earl grey i couldn't stand it. Mind you i was only about 10 years old, it took another 20+ years for me to appreciate the taste of it. Now i only drink regular tea if i run out of my favourite

[@justinwhite2725]

Bergamot, lavender, usually some citrus Peel. Bergamot is the main ingredient. Just look at the package sometime. The real question is 'why'. Earl gray originally was the lowest end bottom of the barrel tea so they had to ad flavours to make it paletable.

[@SweetUareDesi]

It tastes so good

[@Anthony11qq]

Fascinating origin and great video it was certainly enlightening but I'll admit I only tried it because Captain Pickard loves it on Star Trek 😁

[@JadenNeko]

The face of being thrown off by a taste is a universal response The guy laughed as soon as he saw his response 🤣

[@Aehere]

I'm usualy the one to introduce friends and family to Earl Grey tea, which is on of my favs❤ I have lots of laughs everytime, as the name in Spanish, Bergamota, sounds like two sxual part namesv😂

[@WhiskersMctabby]

Random Person: There's something stuck to my shoe. Jimmy Doherty: Can I taste it?

[@DireConsenquences]

The last earl grey I had was extremely weak. No matter how long I brewed it, the flavour stayed so mild I could barely taste it, and even then, there was too much bergamot oil and not enough leaves. I did not like it. I could have just had a bad batch, though. PS: powdering tea leaves should be a crime.

[@nitathomas1691]

Amazing!

[@nohara2421]

I love earl grey tea

[@beardymcbeardface69]

Me too! Delicious and fragrant!

[@annelessick3163]

Try Rishi from Milwaukee(US)… or Fortum and Mason’s (UK).

[@nohara2421]

@@annelessick3163 Thank you for the recommendations!

[@cyndifoore7743]

Bergamot is one of my favorite essential oils, it’s a calming aroma.

[@oceanwonders]

WOW. I had no idea this was how it's done.

[@cernejr]

Super interesting. So who invented the whole process and when?

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

See my Earlier Comment above... Earl Grey "Prime Minister of the UK in 1830 until 1834... And his Tea Merchant friend Charles Twining (of Twinings Tea fame.) Look for this pattern. 😉 🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖🍋🫖🍋

[@tstormont]

Breaking Bergamot......lol

[@sutats]

What makes bergamot so special over the other citrus or fruit flavours?

[@MarkLada]

Nothing.. It taste like a lime, but is the size of an orange, and the color of a lemon..

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

I'm certain that I only got this video in my recommended because I recently watched a video of every time Captain Jean-Luc Picard drinks and/or mentions "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot."

[@tatusimian8748]

I'm about to do a bergamot tea brine for my turkey. Very floral turkey this year.

[@eck2x]

Hurray for Earl Grey!

[@pantasdiwa1622]

Tea, Earl Grey, Hot is my favorite tea because of Capt. Picard

[@BELCAN57]

The favorite tea of Trekkers throughout the galaxy!

[@lamoinette23]

my favorite tea

[@Jahalang82]

Love me a good cup of Earl Grey tea

[@deebop3539]

Cool info.

[@spark_6710]

Bergamot !! Lol I've learnt about bergamot oil about 30+ years ago ! I've been drinking Earl grey tea since my teen era 1978 .I drink Earl grey almost everyday ! 🫖💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

[@TerryAssary]

Nice...i've always wonder

[@stevencocorachio4901]

I love Earl Grey tea

[@permeus2nd]

am i the only one that actually looks up what i eat and drink?

[@juliust.5650]

Don't know if they still are, I doubt it, but bergamot used to be in Fruit Loops :)

[@JB-sz4wy]

I love ear gray although with good bergamot. The good stuff is quenchy tart and tasty and a little floral bittersweet ness. The synthetic stuff can be all right but it tastes more like perfume

[@cringeygachakidthatalsodoe7154]

I love it

[@ep7672]

I always taste fragrant peppercorn scent when I drink earl grey.

[@gabolujan3109]

Freaking amazing information. I always wondered

[@petesahad3028]

Love earl greay for breakfast

[@lancehymers4674]

Am I the only one that really wanted him to at least taste a few drops of the pure bergamot oil?

[@bochatube]

I wonder why the owner wouldn't let him. Was it because it wasnt going to taste good? Its not supposed to be tasted like that?

[@JB-sz4wy]

I love earl gray although with good bergamot. The good stuff is quenchy tart and tasty and a little floral bittersweet ness. The synthetic stuff can be all right but it tastes more like perfume

[@Englandflick]

Jim’s soo funny 😆. He never learns

[@killawhatt8620]

My fav.

[@wildandbarefoot]

Have a taste of Ringtons Tea. They do door to door deliveries up north. Been going forever. All the Sub Continental types I know recommend it. They all use them. Really fresh teas.

[@m.dmedusa3948]

Wow...I just thought it was a flower.

[@Paularis81]

A flower??!

[@Tinky1rs]

well, fruit comes from a flower :)

[@kamanama3671]

I’ve been wondering this for years

[@bird5627]

How do they make earl grey leaves? I buy loose tea not in bags. I wonder how they infuse that?

[@miguelmarquez4192]

Bergamot and its from italy and its related to an orange, but dont bite into it!....they put in colognes also. Yum yum Edit: he bit into it! Haha

[@DeDandy]

They should make Earl grey tea like snuff packets. Sweetened and unsweetened😂

[@avasdv]

I'm cutting back on all plants, focusing on red meat but i find this interesting

[@kamanama3671]

Well that explains why I like some brands of Earl Grey over others

[@Yashael341]

Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. What makes it so?

[@Blue_Azure101]

Two words: flavor chemist. They can mimic any taste.

[@neilstern1694]

I like it with maple syrup.

[@michaelsingh843]

Oh, favoured tea

[@querubinangeles2478]

For years some of my colleagues have been talking about earl grey tea and I really didn't pay attention but his video got me interested in giving it a try.

[@driprubies2464]

It’s delicious!

[@nits4665]

Wow KZbin knows what i want I'm a tea connoisseur

[@lifeaddict]

When I tasted Earl grey it tasted milky and fruity with creamy texture

[@annahkurtin5345]

It's easy to grow bergamot.

[@Andy-yy4io]

That gentlemen really sounds like Johnny from Korean Englishman channel.

[@dekeltal]

Read the ingredients on your Earl Grey tea. Most of them (even of the very famous brands) unfortunately only contain artificial bergamot flavor.

[@hovawart16]

Are the fruit sour as well as bitter?

[@NyanyiC]

Anyone know What sort of binding agent is used?

[@SL-vs7fs]

Definitely a question worth asking.

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

I think it's sugar or citric acid.

[@metranisome]

I think it is Tapioca Maltodextrin or something closely related. Maltodextrin is used in modernist cuisine to make oils into powders, like olive oil or butter powder, that can then be used as a dry powder or small crunchy grains in recipes in ways that the original oils cant. When used with essential oils it can also slow down how fast the oils evaporate (as citrus oils are especially volatile and evaporate very quickly), and it also readily dissolves in hot water. I don't think all tea companies use it, especially whole loose tea which the higher quality tea leaves more readily absorb the essential oil or tea packets that come individually wrapped in foil preventing the evaporation from happening.

[@1inchfemur]

What exactly is the binding agent?

[@paulrath7764]

Me: Early Grey Tea, Earl Grey Pasta, Earl Grey Biscuits, Early Grey Milk... Italians: Who is Earl Grey? Its Bergamot, damn it!

[@jerrybot7321]

Today I learned that Earl Grey tea is just some made up flavour from essential oils kind of like bubble gum or root beer or japanese marble soda. "Computer. Tea, root beer, hot."

[@papiojenjones1585]

I don't like Earl Grey tea at all. Tea should be just tea leaves, not with a bunch of other non tea leaves stuff added.

[@paulgabolinscy2502]

Rubbish

[@ArielaCottonCandy]

At least they show an actual bergamot and not a makrut lime.

[@aierce]

What's the binding agent, some kind of flour/starch?

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

Can't be, or your Tea would be Soup (!) 🤣 Like my Earl Grey Tea at 4pm, and Soup at 7pm. 😎

[@dyingbreed7740]

Captain Picard approves.

[@jdwilliams518]

Tea.. Earl Grey.. Hot..