Overview
Lady Grey black tea is a variety of Earl Grey black tea and therefore has black leaves flavored with bergamot oil, lemon, and orange zest. The flavor is bold with pleasant fruit notes.
The name is trademarked and created by Twinings in the early 1990s, which enriched the blend with lemon zest, orange and cornflower, and the tea turns out very fragrant.
It was first sold in Norway in 1994.
“Lady Grey Black Tea” comes from Mary Elisabeth Grey, wife of Prime Minister Charles Grey from whom, instead, Earl Grey is named. According to legend, this bergamot-flavored tea was a gift from a Chinese mandarin saved by the Earl himself.
Consider that Lady Gray Black Tea is even mentioned in an Oasis song, Bag It Up…
“Gold and silver and sunshine is rising up.
Pour yourself another cup of Lady Grey
Take my hand in the meantime, when you’ve had enough
You’ll find me on the end of a runway, babe…”