Country of Origin: Sri Lanka, Hungary
Region: Uva, Debrecen
Shipping Port: Colombo, Rotterdam
Grade: Pekoe Gunpowder
Altitude: 2500 3000 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Cup Characteristics: Abundantly Earl Grey! Sultry bergamot is softened by fresh notes of Cornish cream. A superb tea with a tingling finish
Infusion: Pale yellow green
Ingredients: Luxury green tea, Cornflower petals, Natural flavors

Information:
By now most of us are familiar with the story of Earl Grey tea. Many years ago, the Earl of Grey was given the famous recipe by a Chinese Mandarin to thank him for saving his life. The traditional blend was made by scenting a Chinese black tea with the natural oil of bergamot, a small citrus fruit. But, how many of us are familiar with the story of how Cream Earl Green tea came about? That number, we're quite certain, is considerably smaller than the former.

While traditional Earl Grey is generally regarded as the namesake of the 2nd Earl Grey, Cream Earl Green is considered that of the 4th Earl Grey, Albert Henry George Grey. Albert Henry George was a very proper British man indeed. He was educated first at Harrow, one of the UK's premiere boarding schools and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, a much heralded bastion of intellectual pursuits, not sports. By all counts the 4th Earl was indeed a man much bemused by letters and the arts, not sports, and when he became the Queen's representative in what was then the colony of Canada, he did much to promote both letters and the arts amongst its inhabitants, not sports. Odd then, that the 4th Earl of Grey should come to be memorialized by a football tournament, The Grey Cup, Canada's answer to the Super Bowl. Ok, it's not that odd. The Earl wanted to leave a legacy behind and decided to donate his family bowl to a sporting contest figuring, it may be supposed, that this would garner him much more attention than affixing his name to a theatre or library. And so the Grey Cup trophy was born.

So, we've got the Earl, we've got the story, but where does the tea fit in? Well, at some point along the line, a Canadian tea blender decided to memorialize the Earl one step further by creating a variant of traditional Earl Grey tea. He began with a green gunpowder to symbolize the grass football is played on, and the thunder and vigor with which it is played. He then added the signature bergamot and topped it off with the essence of fresh cream, known to be the 4th Earl's preferred tea additive and cornflower petals to symbolize sporting victory. The resulting cup was found to be quite delicious and invigorating indeed. We at Metropolitan Tea are exceedingly pleased to have secured a steady and lasting supply of this wonderful blend. We encourage you to raise a toast while enjoying it. To the 4th Earl Grey of the Football! Hip hip Hoorah!

Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180�F or 90�C. Place 1 teaspoon in your cup, let the tea steep for about 3 minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted. Look at the pattern of the leaves, they foretell your fortune.

Alternatively as with all top quality teas, scoop 2-4 teaspoons of tea into the teapot, pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn (previously boiled water has lost most of its oxygen and therefore tends to be flat tasting), steep for 2-4 minutes (to taste), stir (virtually all the leaves will sink), pour into your cup but do not add milk or sugar since green tea is enjoyed 'straight-up'.

Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water.]