Earl Grey Tea

Earl Grey tea is a black tea blend flavoured with oil of bergamot, a citrus fruit. The bergamot orange is a fragrant citrus fruit native to Calabria, Italy. The tea leaves are typically oxidised and then flavoured, giving the blend its distinctive aroma and taste.

Earl Grey tea is primarily used to impart a unique floral and citrusy flavour to a variety of food and drink products. It is commonly found in beverages like kombucha and tea itself, as well as baked goods such as shortbread and hot cross buns, where it adds a sophisticated aromatic note.

Earl Grey tea is not an additive and is generally consumed as a beverage or flavouring. The components of bergamot oil have been studied for various properties, but there is no consensus on significant health benefits or risks at typical consumption levels. Regulatory bodies have not set specific limits for its consumption as a food ingredient. Some compounds in bergamot oil, such as bergapten, can cause photosensitivity in susceptible individuals when consumed in very large quantities, though this is not typically a concern with normal dietary intake of Earl Grey tea.