I remember my first trip to Paris, my husband and I were young and on a budget, and we booked this trip on a dime. We stayed on the Left Bank and toured almost every inch of ‘The City of Lights’. One day in particular stands out - During a tour of the Latin Quarter (an area in the 5th and 6th Arrondissements of Paris - known for its student life, lively atmosphere and great bistros), we got caught in the rain, as random showers are prevalent during the summer in Paris. We ran and took shelter in the nearest doorway, which happened to be the doorway of a small family-owned café. The owner greeted us with the perfect “bonjour” and seated us at a table near a fireplace. My husband and I were the only two patrons in the café so we got the royal treatment. We had a meal to die for and the owner regaled us with stories of old world Paris while we sipped on the most incredible Earl Grey tea I’ve ever tasted. The beating of the rain served as background music to the stories – it was a perfect afternoon.
Today, anytime I have a cup of Earl Grey (served in my Sur La Table Paris mug) I’m transported back to that afternoon. I never officially found out the brand of tea I tasted that day, but now through the lens of a trained palette, I’m convinced that it was Earl Grey Yin Zhen by Dammann Frères (my favorite). Earl Grey is one of the most popular flavored black teas in the world. A better description might be a “style” of black tea. If you are a true fan you have noticed the differences in taste per brand. While there is a standard “recipe” for Earl Grey most tea purveyors for better or for worse add their own “touch” to create a signature taste.
This style of black tea has many elements, but it’s the characteristic flavor of bergamot (the essential oil of the bergamot orange) that makes the blend. If you are looking for a quality Earl Grey look for a whole leaf that includes a high-quality base tea like Ceylon (also known as Orange Pekoe), China Black (i.e. Keemun, Golden Monkey), or Darjeeling (from the Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India – I’m partial to a second flush) with natural harvested bergamot from Calabria, Sicily. Explore blends with a twist like fruit, aromatic or floral flavorings. An Earl Grey tea with Lavender is a great departure from the norm.