Russian Earl Grey (Pyramid Bags)

🍵 The Blend — A Russian-inspired black tea with the familiar floral warmth of bergamot and a vivid, refreshing citrus character, presented in biodegradable pyramid bags

🍵 The Cup — A clear, bright amber infusion with a clean citrus lift and smooth aromatic depth — rich in colour and inviting from first pour

🍵 The Character — Warming and gently invigorating, with a lively citrus edge that softens the black tea base and leaves a fresh, fragrant finish

🍵 The Bag — Biodegradable pyramid bags give the tea room to expand freely during brewing, delivering a richer and more expressive infusion than a standard flat bag

Russian Earl Grey is one of the most distinctive and aromatic entries in the Earl Grey family — a black tea with bright citrus notes that draws its character from the rich and unusual history of tea in Russia. Tea first arrived there in 1618, presented as a diplomatic gift from a Chinese ambassador to Tsar Michael Fedorovich. The court found the bitterness of plain black tea rather challenging at first, and it was — according to Russian folklore — the Tsar's own kitchen staff who began experimenting with ways to soften and brighten it, adding citrus peel, spices, and fruit to create something more to their taste. The most popular of these experiments were those built around citrus, and the tradition of enhancing black tea with orange, lemon, and fragrant lemongrass became embedded in Russian tea culture across the centuries that followed.

This version captures that spirit in a beautifully balanced cup. The black tea base is full-bodied and smooth, while the citrus and bergamot notes bring a clean, refreshing lift that stops well short of sharpness. The result is a cup that feels both familiar and distinctly its own — a little more alive, a little more fragrant, than a standard Earl Grey.

The pyramid bag design is not incidental. The triangular shape gives the tea genuine room to circulate and expand during steeping, producing a more complex and flavourful infusion than a flat bag allows. The bags are fully biodegradable — a small but considered detail for those who care about both quality and conscience.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists, with one of the largest collections in the country — over 350 teas and infusions from the world's finest gardens. We have always believed that quality should not be compromised by convenience, and our pyramid bags are held to exactly the same standard as our loose leaf range.

Ingredients: Black tea, natural citrus flavouring.

Brewing Note: Russian Earl Grey benefits from fully boiling water — no need to let the kettle cool. Place one pyramid bag in your cup and pour over freshly boiled water at 100°C. Allow to steep for 3 to 4 minutes for a bright, citrus-forward result, or up to 5 minutes if you prefer a little more depth and strength. Remove the bag before drinking, as extended steeping can introduce bitterness that works against the blend's natural freshness. A splash of milk rounds the cup out well and brings forward the warmth of the black tea base — though many find the citrus and bergamot notes come through most clearly without it.