How do you take yours?

[Daft Bat]

I really dislike most tea. I am definitely a coffee person – the stronger, the better. However, there is one tea that I have been known to enjoy and that is Earl Grey. It is purportedly named after Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey, who married Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby today, 18th November back in 1794.

There are a couple of stories about this tea

One account is that a grateful Chinese Mandarin first presented the blend to the Earl after one of his men rescued the Mandarin’s son. However, this is slightly scotched by Earl Grey never having been to China and the main flavouring of oil of bergamot was not known in China at that time.

Another account is that it was just a gift so as to work best with the water at Howick Hall, the family seat in Northumberland.

We might never know for certain, but I shall carry on drinking it if offered.

 

[Archie's Mum]

Earl Grey! Once was enough. I can still taste it.

 

[LianeH]

Earl Grey! Once was enough. I can still taste it.

Yep same here, it’s vile, just good old normal tea for me

 

[Archie's Mum]

Yep same here, it’s vile, just good old normal tea for me

Apparently bergamont was added to enhance the flavour of low quality tea. Well, that worked. For some.

 

[AnnB]

I am definitely a tea person - the stronger the better - but no 'flavours' for me except peppermint. Coffee I could live without

 

[Moff]

Earl Grey is my favourite tea, but I also enjoy quite strong "proper" coffee (not that instant stuff!) No sugar in either these days

 

[MollyMay]

Anything hot and wet, not too strong - to be honest they all taste the same to me (all teas and all coffees), must have milk though.
My daughter and granchildren drink lemon tea, same as in vending machines ie hot lemon sugar water

 

[Ma-dotcom]

I'm with you all who like Earl Grey, & Bergamot was one of the essential oils when blended with others was a life/sanity saving 'must have' for me some years back

 

[Chimp]

No tea for me, only coffee now. I always used to drink tea but as I got older the tannins started to leave a nasty aftertaste in my mouth, so switched to coffee, also gave up on sweet stuff at the same time.

 

[Bay Horse]

Also a coffee drinker here.

People only ask me to make them tea once. Apparently I do it 'all wrong'.

 

[mugwortismy cat]

Haven't drunk coffee in years, can't bear the smell of it. I love tea, usually drink green tea (no milk), though I'm quite partial to a 'builder's brew' any time I venture out for an egg and chips (not often), and my friend makes a lovely cup of Yorkshire tea with a bit of milk

 

[Elma]

I don't like Earl Grey tea with a vengeance, although I totally embarrassed myself once by going to a Persian cafe, I had a wonderful meal and thought the tea was the best ever. The shop also sold the ingredients they used. I was keen to get some of their tea. Guess what it was Earl Grey! I think the bergamot was different somehow. I have sourced that tea variety ever since.

 

[Londoner]

We used to drink a lot of tea, often Earl Grey but in later years it is mostly instant coffee or, for me, fruit/herb teas. I only drink real coffee at Sunday breakfast, with croissants, or occasionally after a meal out. in order to get back up the hill!

 

[Daft Bat]

Also a coffee drinker here.

People only ask me to make them tea once. Apparently I do it 'all wrong'.

Me too!

 

[Sandiep]

Earl Grey! Once was enough. I can still taste it.

Yuck its not tea its perfume

 

[Shellymac]

Yuck its not tea its perfume

I agree I reckon that it taste like perfume as well. It’s terrible. I also hate the smell of coffee, there is nothing worse than that smell of fresh coffee grinds.

 

[Moff]

When I was a child, I couldn't understand why coffee smelled good but tasted horrible. Years later, I realised it was because my Dad liked Camp coffee, the stuff with chicory in

 

[mikejee]

Similarly I hated coffee as a child, but in fact the stuff I was hating was camp. Cannot imagine why anyone would drink it, yet it is still available. I like Earl grey, but am horrified when I am asked if I want milk in it, though I admit that I prefer no milk in ordinary tea.

 

[Anthony J Corps]

Earl Grey! Once was enough. I can still taste it.

I guess Earl Grey tea is an acquired taste Bit like Marmite I drink Earl Grey once a week at an art group I enjoy the difference in taste But then again I drink coffee (both instant and ground from beans) and several varieties of tea So I suppose I'm fairly eclectic in my tastes

 

[Eve]

Can drink tea if necessary if offered but coffee for me and partial to a Vanilla latte. However I recently heard of a London Fog Chai latte - various forms but basically Earl Grey, steamed milk, vanilla extract with a drizzle of honey (lavender optional) Want to try this.