The Difference Between Earl Grey & Blue Lady

We think Earl Grey is perfect for the times you're looking for a strong and very aromatic tea experience. Earl Grey has a unique aroma and flavor, but where does it come from? Not from the tea leaves themselves, but rather from Bergamot oranges. Bergamot oranges originated in Italy and can be grown in many world regions, including here in the hot and dry Arizona desert. Even though they can grow in many regions, they're often hard to find. Although it's a citrus fruit, it's not eaten fresh, and despite its aromatic smell, oranges are very sour. For the most part, the modern use is its oil. Historically, indigenous people used Bergamot juice and oil for medicinal purposes to treat ailments like acne, fever, depression, and more. Today, people generally use the oil and not the juice. People still use it for medicinal reasons in addition to flavoring food and adding scent to perfumes and colognes. Our Earl Grey here at Hackberry Tea is made with back tea, orange, natural Bergamot flavor, and blue cornflower. If you smell Earl Gray, you can tell it's somewhat perfume-like with exceptional sweetness.

 

There are a lot of theories about how Earl Grey Tea came to be. One story suggests that Bergamot oranges and tea were shipped together at the request of Earl Charles Gray, who was Prime Minister of England from 1830 to 1834. It's thought that the essence of the fruit was absorbed into the tea resulting in the first cup of Earl Grey. Other accounts suggest that a Mandarin friend of the Prime Minister created the blend to minimize the bad taste of the water at the Grey estate. Another theory is that a London Tea house released the blend because the Prime Minister requested it. We will probably never know the real story. What we know with certainty, however, is that the British and many others around the world love Earl Grey Tea.

What if you're not in the mood for the strong aroma and flavor of Earl Grey but want a unique but gentler experience? We suggest trying our Blue Lady Black. Like Earl Grey and its unique ingredient of Bergamot, Blue Lady Black has its own special ingredient, Orange Pekoe Black Tea. The ingredients of our Blue Lady Black are South Indian Flower, Orange Pekoe Black Tea, all-natural tropical flavors, hibiscus flower, orange peel pieces, and cornflower petals. Orange Pekoe doesn't come from any fruit. It's a grade of black tea based on the leaf and its location on the plant. It's picked at the first flush, which makes it very special. The timing of the first flush may be different depending on the region, but generally, it's the first harvest in the spring. The first flush is often considered the highest quality and is usually the most expensive. When the best leaves from the first flush are plucked, you know you're getting the best of the best. Since tea harvesting stops before winter, leaves have the entire winter to grow, making the first flush the most fortified by the soil and nutrients. These leaves also grow slower than other flushes because of weather conditions. The slower growth and time allowed to elapse before the harvest allows the leaves to contain the most antioxidants and nutrients. When you drink our Orange Pekoe Black Tea which is in our Blue Lady Black, you're drinking some of the most premium tea leaves available. Orange pekoe black tea is what makes Blue Lady Black a very special tea.

 

Blue Lady Black is considered a brighter and more fruity variation of our Earl Grey Black. Both provide a unique experience in their own way. Both are black teas, so they have caffeine. If you're looking for a caffeine-free option, however, we do offer caffeine-free Earl Grey.