Many people are familiar with Earl Grey tea, which is typically a mixture of black tea and oil of bergamot. Bergamot is a citrus fruit that is a cross between a lemon and orange. Depending upon brand, the bergamot flavor in Earl Grey tea can be very strong or very light.

Another type of tea, currently produced only by Twinings®, a 300-year-old tea company, is Lady Grey tea. This differs slightly from Earl Grey tea, and is often mistakenly identified as being named after Lady Jane Grey. In fact, Lady Grey tea is named for Mary Elizabeth Grey, the wife of the second Earl Grey. Both family members had a tea named after them in the early 19th century by the Twinings Company.

The primary difference between Lady Grey tea and Earl Grey is that Twinings blends oil of bergamot more lightly with lemon and orange peel. Those who find the bergamot flavor nice but overpowering in Earl Grey tea may truly enjoy the gentler, lighter flavors of Lady Grey tea. It’s often thought of as an afternoon tea because of its more delicate flavor.

Another advantage to Lady Grey tea is quality of black tea. When oil of bergamot is used heavily, tea enthusiasts are quick to point out that it can mask inferior tea leaves. With the lighter application of oil of bergamot, the tea used has to be of good quality, or it could taste bitter, oily or rancid. Fortunately, since Lady Grey Tea is a proprietary blend of the Twinings Company, leaf quality is high.

Unfortunately, not all tea drinkers, particularly in the US, are familiar with Lady Grey tea, but it is increasingly being marketed in the US, especially in tea bag form. If you prefer to use tea leaves, there are a number of online sites where you can purchase loose tea. Traditionally, the tea might be used as a light morning or afternoon tea. Some drink it with milk and sugar, while others prefer it straight, or with a small amount of sweetening. The light flavors of the tea can get drowned if a great deal of milk is added. A small amount of sugar, or an accompanying lemon wedge tends to accent the flavors of the tea.

Another superlative use of Lady Grey tea is to use it for iced tea. Because of its pleasing citrus flavors, many people find it particularly refreshing during warm months, and it has an inherent sweet flavor that tends not to require much sugar. Since it is black tea, it does contain caffeine, though Twinings does make a decaffeinated form.