Earl Grey: the next trendy flavoring?

by Sarah Gilbert, Posted Aug 22nd 2005 @ 12:32PM

Cherry...Vanilla...Green Tea...Lime... and now Earl Grey? As slashfoodies, chefs and beverage companies scramble to hop aboard with the next trendy taste, they may want to take a look at this one. Earl Grey is the toniest of British teas, redolent of the Empire, unmistakeable with its bergamot tang. I've been noticing the tea popping up on blogs all over the place, lately. It's partly because of July's IMBB theme, TasteTea (cute hmm?). And I think it's partly because of the Earl Grey mystique. Cybele at the Candy Blog reviewed truffles flavored with raspberry and Earl Grey. Earl Grey-themed entries for IMBB included truffles and gelato from delicious:days; Earl Grey Mixed Berries Cake from Renée; Earl Grey-infused Apricots from Il Forno; and Earl Grey and Satsuma Jelly from Lex Culinaria. What's next for Earl Grey? Well, if we see it as a flavoring in the Coca-Cola company's next new beverage, Earl Grey will have arrived.

Tags: earl+grey, EarlGrey, tea

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-22-2005 @2:03PM cybele said... I agree, I think Earl Grey is poised to be one of the next big things. I love bergamot and wish I could grow monarda (also called Bee Balm, in the mint family and tastes much like bergamot) in my yard.

I once found something called Earl Grey Liquor at Trader Joe's. Though it was positively undrinkable it was great for making a sauce for strawberries:

De-stem and slice (or quarter) strawberries. Toss on some Earl Grey Liquor and some fresh cracked black pepper. Toss in a little sugar if desired (I don't find it needs it.) Allow to steep in the fridge for at least 1 hour, stir a few times to make sure all strawberries get a little coating.

Whip some heavy cream, serve with berries spooned into a dish - add another twist of cracked pepper on the top (and maybe a sprig of bee balm if you can find it). The dessert was stolen/modified from the Grand Concourse in Pittsburgh, PA.

(thanks for the link!)
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-22-2005 @2:51PM Queijo said... I also agree...and will note that in the late '90s chefs around the country began sneaking it into their desserts, including a wonderful dessert I had in Atlanta in '98. It was a chocolate-orange cake served with an Earl Grey Ice cream - essentially ice cream base flavored with earl grey with streaks of chocolate fudge. Pure heaven. Also note that there are now green tea blends incorporating bergamot. I recently drank some at Metropolis Coffee House in Chicago.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-22-2005 @2:59PM random said... I had to giggle a bit because I'm drinking a cup of hot earl grey while I read this. Nothing special; I'm at work and using Twinings tea bags, since my hot water comes from a tiny spigot off the coffee pot.

Earl Grey is a nicely assertive tea. Hefty flavors of black tea mixing with bergamot oil on the tongue. Whenever I see it, I grab Lady Grey, which has even more bergamot in it. To me, it's the taste of fall and crisp days. I never defile it with sugar or cream. And if I can't have Earl Grey, I reach for a strong vanilla almond infused black tea.

Green Tea has been so overdone lately. Green Tea this, green tea that. All the while the companies scream 'Antioxidants!' Black tea flavors, sans the heavy spices from the previous chai craze, will be a refreshing change.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-22-2005 @2:58PM juju said... one of my favorrite truffles from this loverly little truffle cafe in north beach, san francisco, is the earl grey flavour. they've been making it for years, tho i can't say how many. quite delicious!

see?

mmm!

Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-22-2005 @3:34PM juju said... whoops that didn't show up. here's the link:

http://www.xoxtruffles.com/framepage.htm
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

8-27-2005 @4:11PM sarah gilbert said... in 1997, I think, I had the most amazing bergamot creme brulee at Verbena in Gramercy Park. that was the first time my eyes were opened to the wonders of Earl Grey in dessert.
Reply