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Earl Grey is a blend of Indian and Sri Lankan teas. Although considered a specific type or variety of tea, today, any black tea with bergamot flavor added is considered an Earl Grey tea.
The Earl Grey blend is named after Charles Grey, the second Earl Grey of Howick (1764-1845), who was one of the leading British statesmen of the late 18th Century and early 19th Century. Charles Grey was once in charge of the British Navy and went on to become Foreign Secretary. In 1830, he became Prime Minister and presided over the introduction of the Great Reform Act of 1832. The following year, his government abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. But despite these historic achievements, Earl Grey’s name is best known today because of the delicious, delicate, fragrant beverage named in his honour.
There are differing accounts of the origin of Earl Grey tea, but the most popular goes as follows. During his reign as Prime Minister, Earl Grey sent a diplomatic mission to China, where one of the envoys Grey sent saved the life of a Chinese. In gratitude, the Chinese sent the Earl a specially-scented tea. Earl Charles Grey was then reputed to have demanded his tea supplier in London to recreate the tea for him, and the taste became fashionable, eventually spreading worldwide.
The Ingredients of Earl Grey Tea
Despite its reputed Chinese origins, Earl Grey tea doesn’t contain China tea. It is a blend of Indian and Sri Lankan black teas, flavoured with oil of bergamot. The oil is extracted from the peel of the bergamot orange, which is grown mainly in the Calabria region of Italy. Bergamot oil is also commonly used in aromatherapy. Unlike green teas, black teas undergo a full fermentation process, which causes the leaves to turn black and gives them their flavour.
Lady Grey Tea
Lady Grey tea was named after Mary Elizabeth Grey, the wife of Charles Grey. Lady Grey tea is a variation on the more famous Earl Grey blend. It consists of green China tea scented with oil of bergamot, lemon peel and orange peel.
How to Serve Earl Grey Tea
Many people prefer to enjoy Earl Grey without milk and with a slice of lemon. They find that the tang of citrus that comes from the oil of bergamot makes Earl Grey tea particularly suited to being served with lemon.
Some others prefer their Earl Grey on its own, with nothing added. It’s all a matter of personal taste. But one thing that most Earl Grey enthusiasts can probably agree upon is that the tea should be left to stand for at least two or three minutes after the boiling water has been added, in order for its full flavour to emerge.
Resist that tempting aroma for a couple of minutes, and let your Earl Grey tea brew. It’s well worth the wait.
参考译文：
格雷伯爵茶是一种印度和斯里兰卡茶叶为基质的调味茶。尽管伯爵茶被认为是一种特殊种类的茶品，今天，任何添加了佛手柑油的红茶都可以通称为伯爵茶。
格雷伯爵茶是以查尔斯?格雷，即格雷二世伯爵（1764-1845）命名的。查尔斯?格雷是英国18世纪末和19世纪初最重要的政治家之一，曾执掌英国海军，随后又担任了英国的外交部长。1830年，他成为了英国首相，并主持了1832年《改革法案》的推行。1833年，他的政府在整个大英帝国范围内废除了奴隶制，尽管有如此多的历史功绩，今天，格雷伯爵的名字还是因了这种美味清香的茶饮而广为人知。
关于格雷伯爵茶的起源有着多种解释，最广为流传的一种解释如下：在担任首相期间，格雷伯爵曾派外交使团去往中国，在中国期间，他手下的一名使节救了一个中国人的命。出于感激，那位北京人送给伯爵一种有着独特香味的茶饮。后来，格雷伯爵命伦敦的茶叶商重新为他配制这种茶饮，这种口味的茶饮开始流行起来，最终风行了世界各地。
格雷伯爵茶的成分
尽管风传格雷茶起源于中国，其茶叶却并不是中国茶。其成分是印度和斯里兰卡红茶，以佛手柑油调味。这种油是从柑橘类水果佛手柑的外皮中提取的，这种植物主要生长在意大利的卡拉布里亚地区。佛手柑油还常常应用于芳香疗法中。与绿茶不同，红茶经历了完全的发酵过程，这使得茶叶呈黑色，同时赋予了其独特的味道。
格雷夫人茶
格雷夫人茶是以查尔斯?格雷的夫人玛丽?伊丽莎白?格雷命名的。格雷夫人茶是更为闻名的格雷伯爵茶的衍生品。它是一种以中国绿茶为基质，加入佛手柑油以及柠檬和柑橘皮提取油的调味茶。
怎样饮茶
饮用伯爵茶时，许多人喜欢不加牛奶，配上一小片柠檬。他们觉得由佛手柑油散发出的强烈的柑橘类味道使得伯爵茶特别适于搭配柠檬饮用。
还有些人喜欢单独饮用伯爵茶，什么调味品也不加，这完全取决于个人口味。但可能大多数伯爵茶爱好者都同意的一点是冲入沸水后，应该等上两三分钟再饮用，以使其香味充分地散发出来。
忍住怡人茶香的诱惑，等待几分钟，让你的伯爵茶得以充分的冲泡，随后你会发现等待是值得的。
