Earl Grey Tea

Ceylon Bergamot Blends

Earl Grey tea is traditionally black tea scented with bergamot for a bright, citrus cup; green-tea bergamot blends are also sold as Earl Grey. “Earl Gray” is the same name with a different spelling. Shop our Ceylon collection — classic, French, organic and green — as loose leaf and pyramid bags. Free shipping on orders over $85.

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Shop by style: Ceylon Earl Grey, French Earl Grey, Organic Earl Grey, Earl Grey Green.

Ceylon Earl Grey

Ceylon Earl Grey

 Ceylon Uva Black Tea from US $11.70
French Earl Grey

French Earl Grey

 Ceylon Kandy Black Tea from US $11.70
Organic Earl Grey Tea

Organic Earl Grey Tea

 Ceylon Uva Organic Black Tea from US $7.80
Earl Grey Green

Earl Grey Green

 Ceylon Uva Green Tea from US $10.40

What Is Earl Grey Tea?

Earl Grey tea is traditionally black tea scented with bergamot — oil from the bergamot citrus fruit — for a floral-citrus aroma over a black-tea cup. It is a style, not a grade on the leaf chart. Earl Gray tea is the same bergamot-scented idea with a different spelling.

Green tea with bergamot is also sold as Earl Grey when you want a lighter base. At TEA TOP we use Ceylon loose leaf from Sri Lanka: classic and organic cups with bergamot oil and cornflower; French with bergamot, fruit and petals; and Earl Grey Green with bergamot oil, lemon peel and cornflower.

How to Choose from This Range

  • Ceylon Earl Grey — everyday Uva FBOP with bergamot oil and cornflower; loose leaf, pyramid bags and gift tins. The straight citrus cup.
  • French Earl Grey — Kandy BOP1 with bergamot, passionfruit, soursop and flower petals. Fruit and florals, not vanilla cream.
  • Organic Earl Grey — certified organic Idalgashinna FBOP with bergamot oil and cornflower; loose leaf in 50 g and 100 g.
  • Earl Grey Green — Ceylon green tea with bergamot oil, lemon peel and cornflower when you want citrus without a black-tea base.

Lady Grey (extra citrus peel) and cream Earl Grey (vanilla) are different recipes — we do not sell them. For a milk-friendly morning black without bergamot, see Ceylon English Breakfast.

How to Brew Earl Grey Tea (85–95°C)

For Ceylon Earl Grey, French Earl Grey and Organic Earl Grey in this collection, use about 2 g of loose leaf per 200 ml. At the same leaf weight and steep time, cooler water extracts less of the black tea’s bitter and astringent compounds, so bergamot can taste brighter and the cup can taste sweeter — it does not create or add sugar. Hotter water pulls more colour, body, caffeine and brisk tannins, which suits milk better.

  • 85°C — soft and sweet: steep 4–5 minutes for a lighter, smoother cup with bright bergamot and less astringency. Best on its own or with a small dash of honey.
  • 90°C — balanced: steep 3–4 minutes for clear citrus aroma, medium body and gentle briskness. Plain or with lemon.
  • 95°C — full and brisk: steep about 3 minutes for deeper colour, more body and a sharper finish. Best when adding a splash of milk.
  • Do not over-steep — remove the leaves by five minutes; extra time can dry out the black tea and make bergamot taste harsh.

How to Brew Earl Grey Green Tea

Earl Grey Green is bergamot on Ceylon green tea with lemon peel and cornflower — a lighter, grassier cup than the black Earl Grey styles above. Brew more gently: about 80–85°C and roughly 2–3 minutes at 2 g per 200 ml (or follow the product page) so the Uva leaf stays smooth and the citrus notes stay bright. Plain or with a little honey suits it best.

Caffeine in Earl Grey Tea

Every blend here contains caffeine because all are made from Camellia sinensis leaf. Black Earl Grey styles (classic, French and organic) are usually closer to other black teas when brewed three to five minutes — typically less than drip coffee, with exact levels depending on leaf weight, temperature and steep time. Earl Grey Green is often lighter in the cup and may feel gentler, but it is not caffeine-free. We have not published lab assays for every lot. None of these products are decaffeinated.

Earl Grey Tea FAQs

Earl Grey is traditionally black tea scented with bergamot oil from the bergamot citrus fruit — a floral-citrus style, not a leaf grade. Green tea with bergamot is also sold as Earl Grey. “Earl Gray” is the same name with an alternate spelling.

For black Earl Grey (classic, French and organic), use 2 g per 200 ml and steep 3–5 minutes at 85–95°C: 85°C for a softer cup plain or with honey, 95°C for more body when adding milk. For Earl Grey Green, use about 80–85°C and a shorter steep so the green leaf stays smooth.

Yes. All teas in this collection contain caffeine because they are made from Camellia sinensis leaf. Black Earl Grey styles usually deliver more caffeine than Earl Grey Green when brewed with similar leaf weight, temperature and time. A shorter steep extracts less.

Yes, for black Earl Grey. Brew at 95°C for about three minutes at 2 g per 200 ml for a fuller, brisker cup that stays distinct with a splash of milk. For plain or honey, try 85°C for a softer, sweeter-tasting cup. Earl Grey Green is best without milk.

Classic Earl Grey is bergamot on black tea with cornflower (and bergamot oil on our Ceylon and organic cups). French Earl Grey adds passionfruit, soursop and flower petals on Kandy BOP1 for a fruit-and-floral cup. TEA TOP sells both as Ceylon loose leaf.