The Staunton Earl Grey Black Tea Caddy 125g

The true origins of Earl Grey tea remained a mystery until recent research in The East India Company archives revealed that the use of orange flavouring with tea was first observed in China in 1793 by Sir George Staunton, a company botanist. He witnessed the Chinese scenting their teas with bitter orange blossoms called Neroli.

Bergamot, commonly used in most Earl Grey tea today, is a subspecies of Citrus Aurentium, or ‘Neroli’, the original flower used in China. Sir Joseph Banks, to whome Staunton reported his findings, experimented with various flavourings, and thus the recipe was devised long before Earl Grey heard of it from Sir Banks, his friend.

Today, we use the original blossom, Neroli, together with Bergamot to create our Staunton Earl Grey, the only blend which can truly be said to authentically contain the original Chinese recipe. The Staunton Earl Grey is a tribute to the man who enabled the western world to experience this fine tea.