Earl Grey Green

Description

While Earl Grey black tea is the namesake of Charles, the 2nd Earl of Grey, it is a little known fact that Earl Grey green tea is named after Sir Albert Henry George, the 4th Earl of Grey who lived between 1851 and 1917. Sir Albert Henry George, (we'll call him Sir Al for short) served as Canada's Governor General, (the Queen of England's Canadian representative) from 1904 - 1911. It was during his tenure in this position that the tea that bears his name was first brewed.

The incident occurred when Sir Al made a visit to Newfoundland, which was then still part of England. The people of Newfoundland, as everyone knows, are great drinkers of tea, consuming more cups per capita than any other province or state in North America. Upon the arrival of the noble Sir Al, a magnificent tea party was planned on the front lawn of the Newfoundland parliament. The food was ordered a month in advance. The tables were set up days in advance. Everything was going off without a hitch until 2 days before the party when the government's storage shed was struck by lightning. The fire started by the strike burnt their entire stock of Earl Grey tea. Here's where it got interesting. A scrappy young lad named Angus Mcafee recalled that he had seen a few fresh barrels of bergamot down on his grandfather's dock in the harbor just in from the West Indies. He also knew that his other grandfather, who dabbled in the tea trade, had just received a shipment of green gunpowder tea from Ceylon. He put two and two together and spent the next 48 hours blending the tea and the bergamot together in an old barrel.

The result was served at the garden party to great fanfare. Sir Al was delighted with the innovation and recommended that young Angus ship over to England to be knighted by the Queen herself. (No one is sure if Angus ever became Sir Angus - the records have been lost.) And what did Sir Al like so much about the tea? The answer is in the way the sweet bergamot blends with the slightly smoky profile of this green gunpowder tea. Raise a cup today and give a toast to Sir Al and young Angus. Cheers!

Steeping Instructions

PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Green Tea

IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 85ºC/185ºF. For Food Safety reasons bring water to 100ºC/212ºF and let it cool down to 85ºC/185ºF.

ANTIOXIDANT BENEFIT: For a greater antioxidant benefit brew longer and use more tea.

FOOD SAFETY ADVISORY: We strongly recommend using filtered or freshly drawn cold water brought to a rolling boil when brewing all types of tea. Today's water has been known to carry viruses, parasites and bacteria. Boiling the water will kill these elements and reduce the potential incidence of water-borne illnesses.

Epic Iced Tea Instructions

Tea isn't just served hot!  Iced tea is one of the most refreshing and natural thirst quenchers around the world.  Here is our suggested method of brewing the best iced tea.

ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher): (To Make 1 Liter/Quart):

1. Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher.
2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the tea.
3. Steep for 5 minutes.
4. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water.
5. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the bags.
6. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
7. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase
8. the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water.

Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about.

ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Individual Serving):

1. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea or 1 tea bag into a teapot for each serving required.
2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the tea.
3. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
4. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags.
5. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving.
6. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted.

Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about.

HERB & FRUIT ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher): (To Make 1 Liter/Quart):

1. Place 12 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher.
2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the herb & fruit blend.
3. Steep for 5-10 minutes.
4. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water.
5. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the tea bags.
6. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
7. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced herb & fruit tea is to increase the strength of hot brew since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water.

HERB & FRUIT ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Individual Serving):

1. Place 2 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 1 tea bag into a teapot for each serving required.
2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the herb & fruit blend.
3. Cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
4. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags.
5. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
6. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed herb & fruit tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted.