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Earl Grey is a blend of Indian and Sri Lankan teas. Although considered a specific type or variety of tea, today, any black tea with bergamot flavor added is considered an Earl Grey tea.
The Earl Grey blend is named after Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey of Howick (1764-1845), who was one of the leading British statesmen of the late 18th Century and early 19th Century. Charles Grey was once in charge of the British Navy and went on to become Foreign Secretary. In 1830, he became Prime Minister and presided over the introduction of the Great Reform Act of 1832. The following year, his government abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. But despite these historic achievements, Earl Grey’s name is best known today because of the delicious, delicate, fragrant beverage named in his honour.
There are differing accounts of the origin of Earl Grey tea, but the most popular goes as follows. During his reign as Prime Minister, Earl Grey sent a diplomatic mission to China, where one of the envoys Grey sent saved the life of a Chinese. In gratitude, the Chinese sent the Earl a specially-scented tea. Earl Charles Grey was then reputed to have demanded his tea supplier in London to recreate the tea for him, and the taste became fashionable, eventually spreading worldwide.
The Ingredients of Earl Grey Tea
Despite its reputed Chinese origins, Earl Grey tea doesn’t contain China tea. It is a blend of Indian and Sri Lankan black teas, flavoured with oil of bergamot. The oil is extracted from the peel of the bergamot orange, which is grown mainly in the Calabria region of Italy. Bergamot oil is also commonly used in aromatherapy. Unlike green teas, black teas undergo a full fermentation process, which causes the leaves to turn black and gives them their flavour.
Lady Grey Tea
Lady Grey tea was named after Mary Elizabeth Grey, the wife of Charles Grey. Lady Grey tea is a variation on the more famous Earl Grey blend. It consists of green China tea scented with oil of bergamot, lemon peel and orange peel.
How to Serve Earl Grey Tea
Many people prefer to enjoy Earl Grey without milk and with a slice of lemon. They find that the tang of citrus that comes from the oil of bergamot makes Earl Grey tea particularly suited to being served with lemon.
Some others prefer their Earl Grey on its own, with nothing added. It’s all a matter of personal taste. But one thing that most Earl Grey enthusiasts can probably agree upon is that the tea should be left to stand for at least two or three minutes after the boiling water has been added, in order for its full flavour to emerge.
Resist that tempting aroma for a couple of minutes, and let your Earl Grey tea brew. It’s well worth the wait.
參考譯文：
格雷伯爵茶是一種印度和斯里蘭卡茶葉為基質的調味茶。盡管伯爵茶被認為是一種特殊種類的茶品，今天，任何添加了佛手柑油的紅茶都可以通稱為伯爵茶。
格雷伯爵茶是以查爾斯•格雷，即格雷二世伯爵（1764-1845）命名的。查爾斯•格雷是英國18世紀末和19世紀初最重要的政治家之一，曾執掌英國海軍，隨后又擔任了英國的外交部長。1830年，他成為了英國首相，并主持了1832年《改革法案》的推行。1833年，他的政府在整個大英帝國范圍內廢除了奴隸制，盡管有如此多的歷史功績，今天，格雷伯爵的名字還是因了這種美味清香的茶飲而廣為人知。
關于格雷伯爵茶的起源有著多種解釋，最廣為流傳的一種解釋如下：在擔任首相期間，格雷伯爵曾派外交使團去往中國，在中國期間，他手下的一名使節救了一個中國人的命。出于感激，那位北京人送給伯爵一種有著獨特香味的茶飲。后來，格雷伯爵命倫敦的茶葉商重新為他配制這種茶飲，這種口味的茶飲開始流行起來，最終風行了世界各地。
格雷伯爵茶的成分
盡管風傳格雷茶起源于中國，其茶葉卻并不是中國茶。其成分是印度和斯里蘭卡紅茶，以佛手柑油調味。這種油是從柑橘類水果佛手柑的外皮中提取的，這種植物主要生長在意大利的卡拉布里亞地區。佛手柑油還常常應用于芳香療法中。與綠茶不同，紅茶經歷了完全的發酵過程，這使得茶葉呈黑色，同時賦予了其獨特的味道。
格雷夫人茶
格雷夫人茶是以查爾斯•格雷的夫人瑪麗•伊麗莎白•格雷命名的。格雷夫人茶是更為聞名的格雷伯爵茶的衍生品。它是一種以中國綠茶為基質，加入佛手柑油以及檸檬和柑橘皮提取油的調味茶。
怎樣飲茶
飲用伯爵茶時，許多人喜歡不加牛奶，配上一小片檸檬。他們覺得由佛手柑油散發出的強烈的柑橘類味道使得伯爵茶特別適于搭配檸檬飲用。
還有些人喜歡單獨飲用伯爵茶，什么調味品也不加，這完全取決于個人口味。但可能大多數伯爵茶愛好者都同意的一點是沖入沸水后，應該等上兩三分鐘再飲用，以使其香味充分地散發出來。
忍住怡人茶香的誘惑，等待幾分鐘，讓你的伯爵茶得以充分的沖泡，隨后你會發現等待是值得的。
