Health Benefits of Lady Grey Tea
Lady Grey Tea might sound as if it has a very strong heritage. However, it is a relatively new invention launched by Twinings, the tea company, in the 1990s in an attempt to appeal to the Nordic palates. Twinings, realized that the Nordic market found Earl Grey, the classic tea infused with bergamot oil to be too strong in flavor for their palates. Therefore, the creation of this brand was motivated by tea enthusiasts who wanted to escape the strong flavor of the classic version. They simply wanted a slightly less bold and gentler tea with the same essence as the Earl Grey Tea, which had been a very popular drink in England for over a century.
Since Earl Grey was not selling well in the Nordic market, the company created a subtler a subtler flavor using smaller amounts of citrus flavoring, going on sale in Norway and Britain in 1994 and 1996 respectively.
Lady Grey Tea differs from Earl Grey Tea in that it contains additional orange peel and lemon peel. The brand is owned by Twinings Tea Company which is part of the Associated British Foods Empire.
As with most black teas, Lady Grey can be easily sweetened with sugar. However, sweeteners such as maple syrup, molasses, brown sugar and honey may clash with the citrus flavor and should hence be applied liberally. People who find Earl Grey’s smell and taste too overpowering will love the unassuming and quitter nature of this variation. When brewed, Lady Grey turns out as a darker orange or red tea which is ideal for fans who want a toned-down tea for their palates.
Lady Grey doesn’t only have a delicious flavor, it also has a dozen of potential health benefits. Being a black tea scented with an essential oil, it may even offer more benefits than pure tea. Research showed that drinking black tea may help fight free radicals, decrease blood sugar, regulate blood pressure, protect hearth and help fight the cancer. On the other hand, bergamot has been used in aromatherapy for enhancing mood as a powerful essential oil that may have both “psychological and physiological effects” on stress and stress-related conditions. Research showed that inhaling the scent of bergamot oil may help improve positive feelings and reduce anxiety. Next time you enjoy a cup of bergamot scented tea, don’t forget to take a moment before brewing, and inhale the scent of the leaves too.
Although Earl Grey and other types of black tea with bergamot oil are generally safe, drinking too much may cause some side effects. It can be high in caffeine, so avoid drinking too much if you are sensitive to caffeine or before sleep.
How to Brew Lady Grey Tea
Boil fresh spring water in a clean kettle and let it cool to around 208 °F. Always use fresh spring water to maximize the flavor and extract all delicate notes from loose leaf tea. Water type is very important if you want to get a cup of fresh, uplifting tea, rather than a flat tasting or murky brew. Add a teaspoon of leaves into a preheated teapot and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and pour into a cup. Add milk and sugar if needed.
If you prefer to drink your tea cold, this blend is great for making iced tea and cold brewing. For cold brewing, add one spoon of tea leaves into a glass pitcher or teapot. Add lukewarm or cold water and steep for at least 6 hours in the fridge. For the best flavor, leave it overnight. Drink within 24 hours. For a regular iced tea, use about two teaspoons of leaves per cup of water. Steep for 10 minutes with boiling water. Strain the leaves and pour the tea into a shaker filled with ice. Add sweetener and shake for a couple of seconds.