In 1833, Charles Grey, the Earl of Howick Hall and at that time the British Prime Minister, suspected a tea price monopoly held by the East India Company in the tea trade with China. Consequently, he decided to import tea directly from China.

The originally pure Chinese tea was gently flavored with fine bergamot oil. The Chinese added the oil to the tea to preserve it from the tar and mold flavors that the tea could encounter during its long journey by ship to England.

This tea was named Earl Grey in honor of the Earl who initiated its import, a name it has retained to this day.

Earl Grey is the embodiment of the finest English tea.