Category

• In contrast to green or "Chinese" teas, Earl Grey qualifies as a black or "Indian" tea, a blend of Assam, Darjeeling and Sri Lankan varieties, according to the BBC. Black teas undergo more fermentation than green teas, giving them their characteristic robust color and flavor.
  
  

Flavoring

• Earl Grey tea owes its delicate aroma and flavor to an oil extracted from bergamot orange rinds. Bergamot also features in a green tea variant called Lady Grey. The BBC recommends that freshly brewed Earl Grey tea stand for up to three minutes so drinkers can get the full flavor of the tea leaves and bergamot oil.
  
  

Namesake

• Earl Grey tea takes its name from Charles Grey, a prominent statesman and Prime Minister of England in the early 19th century. Popular legend has it that a Chinese Mandarin sent him a gift of this distinctive tea, even though the bergamot used in Earl Grey tea actually comes from Italy.