From the land where tea is a national beverage, comes a wide variety of what is known as English tea.
English tea in itself does not exactly exist, but is more akin to an umbrella term which regroups brands and varieties of tea which are particularly associated with the British land. Some of the most known varieties are Earl Grey tea and English Breakfast tea. Others which fall under the term include varieties of world-wide teas which are sold under a brand name, such as the Taylors' of Harrogate label, the Ashbys' of London label, the Twinings of The Strand label, as well as the Jacksons of Piccadilly label. Each of them boasts high standards in selection and packing. English tea is also the term used to refer to teas which are particular to England, most of the time local British brands.
Some English teas are also tea blends which have been specially blended to produce a new product with a distinctive taste and particularity. Some of these include Lady Grey, a milder flavor of Earl Grey, as well as Lavender Earl Grey, in which a dash of lavender has been added to the tea.
Earl Grey tea in itself is a blend of Indian and Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) black tea which is infused with the oil of the citrus bergamot orange, obtained from the fruit's rind. It results in a pleasant, citrus aroma and distinctive flavor for this tea. Different brands in England now have their own blend which they market as their Earl Grey tea. This tea is best taken black, with no milk. However, for die-hard milky tea lovers, a dash of milk or creamer may be added to the brew.
English Breakfast tea is the tea of excellence which is said to accompany perfectly a typical English breakfast. Made of strong, robust black tea, usually of the Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan varieties, it carries a potency and full-bodied appeal which is perfect to combine with milk and sugar, which the British are very fond of adding to their tea. Yorkshire tea, another popular English tea, comes from the Taylors' of Harrogate label and falls under this type of tea too with its black tea origins.
