Earl Grey Pyramid Tea Bags

🍵 The Blend — Black teas from China, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, scented with natural bergamot for the bright, citrusy depth that has made Earl Grey one of Britain's most enduring cups

🍵 The Colour — A clear, warm amber infusion with an inviting bergamot fragrance that rises the moment hot water meets the bag

🍵 The Character — Smooth and well-rounded, with a lifted citrus note that is fragrant without being sharp — clean and bright whether taken with milk, a slice of lemon, or on its own

🍵 The Occasion — A versatile everyday tea, as welcome at the breakfast table as it is during a quiet afternoon break

Earl Grey is one of the world's most recognised tea blends — and one of the few with a story that has been debated for the better part of two centuries. Named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey and British Prime Minister of the 1830s, the blend pairs black tea with the fragrant oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a small citrus fruit grown in the coastal warmth of southern Italy's Calabria region. Whether the recipe originated as a diplomatic gift, a solution to the lime-heavy well water at the Grey family estate in Northumberland, or a clever piece of branding by a London tea merchant, the combination of black tea and bergamot has never fallen out of favour — and for good reason.

This Earl Grey is built on a carefully balanced blend of black teas drawn from four of the world's great growing regions. China contributes a gentle floral quality; India brings depth and malt; Sri Lanka adds brightness and structure; Nepal lends a quiet, layered complexity. Together they form a base that is full-bodied without being heavy — exactly the kind of foundation that allows natural bergamot flavour to come through cleanly and at its best.

The pyramid bag format makes a genuine difference here. Unlike a flat tea bag, the pyramid shape gives the leaf room to expand and circulate freely in the water, infusing gradually and fully in a way that a standard bag simply cannot replicate. The result is a cup that is closer to loose leaf in quality, with none of the dustiness that can characterise lesser blends. The bags are biodegradable, a straightforward reflection of the care that has gone into every other aspect of this tea.

The cup is a bright, clear amber, warm and inviting, with a bergamot aroma that is present from the first pour. The flavour is smooth and balanced — citrusy and aromatic, with enough body to carry a splash of milk, and clean and bright enough to drink without it. A thin slice of lemon, as the Victorians preferred, works beautifully with the natural citrus notes.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists, with one of the largest collections available anywhere — over 350 teas and infusions from the world's finest gardens and producers. This Earl Grey sits comfortably within that range: a reliable, well-made classic that is genuinely hard to improve upon.

Ingredients: Black tea (China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal), natural bergamot flavouring.

Brewing Note: Earl Grey pyramid bags are straightforward to brew, but a little attention to temperature and timing makes a noticeable difference. Bring fresh water to a full rolling boil and pour it directly over the bag in a warmed cup or mug. Steep for three to four minutes for a lighter, brighter cup, or up to five minutes if you prefer more body and depth. Remove the bag without squeezing — pressing the bag can introduce a slightly bitter note that works against the clean bergamot finish. Serve without milk to let the citrus character come through at its clearest, or with a splash of milk for a rounder, fuller cup. A thin slice of fresh lemon is a classic choice and complements the bergamot particularly well.