EARL GREY

Earl Grey green tea is named after Sir Albert Henry, whereas Earl Grey black tea is named after Charles, the 2nd Earl of Grey. Lord Grey, George, 4th, lived from 1851 until 1917. From 1904 until 1911, Sir Albert Henry George, or “Sir Al” as he was more commonly known, was Canada’s Governor-General. The tea that now bears his name was created when he was in office.
Sir Al was visiting Newfoundland, which was then a part of England, when the incident took place. It’s common knowledge that Newfoundlanders consume more tea per person than any other province or state in North America. As soon as the honourable Sir Al landed in Newfoundland, a grand tea party was organized on the grounds of the provincial legislature. A month in advance, the catering was arranged. The chairs and tables were set up many days in advance. Lightning damaged the government’s storage shed two days before the celebration, and suddenly everything went awry. The Earl Grey tea supply was completely wiped out when a strike ignited a fire. Now things started to become exciting. A feisty young man named Angus McAfee recalls seeing a few new barrels of bergamot on his grandfather’s pier in the port, fresh from the West Indies. His other grandpa, who dabbled in the tea trade, had recently received a cargo of green gunpowder tea from Ceylon, and he knew about it. He put two and two together and, over the course of the following two days, spent 48 hours in a barrel combining bergamot oil with black tea.
All the guests at the outdoor party raved about the end outcome. Sir Al was so impressed by the new idea that he suggested young Angus take a ship to England to be knighted by the Queen.

What was it about the tea that so impressed Sir Al? The secret lies in this green gunpowder tea’s somewhat smokey flavour profile, which is balanced by the addition of fragrant bergamot. Toast Sir Al and young Angus with your raised glass today. Cheers!