Earl Grey, the British Prime Minister, abolished in 1833 the price monopoly of the East Indian company concerning the tea trade in China. The originally pure chinese tea which was slightly flavoured with the fine oil of the bergamot (a citrus plant) thus became its plant. And until today, the Earl Grey is the embodiment of fine English tea. The additional scent, which was supposed to originate from the Chinese themselves, acted as a good protection from mouldiness and the taste of tar deep down in the stowage of the ship. A different, similarly fine tea variety that is also refined with other citrus aromas carries the name Lady Grey.

Today however, Earl Grey is usually not blended from Chinese tea varieties anymore but from Indian ones, mainly from Darjeeling. Also, the typical bergamot aroma does now not solely come from the Bergamot oil. Earl Grey is, hence, not a specific tea variety or brand, but rather the aroma that is used. Likewise, green Earl Grey exists and even Earl Grey with an additional (fine) smoke aroma.