French Earl Grey – Tea Caddy

French Earl Grey by A.C. Perch's Thehandel, bold and citrusy

French Earl Grey by A.C. Perch's Thehandel is a loose-leaf organic black tea from Ceylon with bergamot flavoring and blue cornflowers. The 300-gram tin comes in a gift box and can later be refilled with any other loose-leaf tea.

French Earl Grey is a loose-leaf organic black tea from the Copenhagen tea house A.C. Perch's Thehandel. The base is grown in the highlands of Sri Lanka, complemented by bergamot flavoring and blue cornflowers that look like small dabs of sky among the dark leaves.

Bergamot scent over bold Ceylon

As soon as you open the tin, the scent of bergamot rises, fuller and warmer than you would expect from an Earl Grey. In the cup, it presents a deep, luminous amber-red that calls to mind a late October afternoon.

On the palate, the tea is punchy and spicy; the Ceylon provides the backbone, while the citrus note adds a bright finish. It can handle a splash of milk without losing its freshness, and it even stands up to a second infusion. For those who find the classic Earl Grey too restrained, this is a much bolder statement.

The Ceylon used for this grows in the island's highlands, where harvesting takes place year-round because two monsoons alternate, ensuring that one side of the mountains is always dry. This results in a harvest of consistent strength, which is exactly what a flavored blend needs to ensure it tastes the same from batch to batch. For this infusion, Perch's Thehandel intentionally opts for the bolder variety.

Loose-leaf tea, blue tin, long steep

Measure ten grams for every liter of freshly boiled water and give the leaves seven minutes; that is when the French Earl Grey shows its full depth. Loose-leaf tea needs space in the pot; a tight strainer compresses it and holds back the aroma.

It is in its element during a late weekend breakfast, when the day is still wide open and the mug can be a bit larger. The petrol-colored tin keeps the contents dark and dry, and with its ribbon, it makes a fine addition to any gift table.

If you prefer a milder, classic tone, our Earl Grey tea bags are available, and you can find another loose-leaf option in our Queens Blend.

What bergamot brings to tea

The bergamot is a small, bitter citrus fruit that grows almost exclusively on the Calabrian coast in southern Italy, and its juice is rarely consumed. Its peel is what is valuable, as it contains the oil that has made Earl Grey what it is for a good two hundred years.

In the tea trade, this addition to the name signifies the floral version of the blend, adorned with blossoms. The cornflowers are more than just decoration; they give the dry leaves a soft, hay-like base against which the citrus note appears even brighter.

At Perch's Thehandel, this version is one of the bolder infusions on the shelf, intended for drinkers who are already familiar with the classic. More loose-leaf teas from Copenhagen can be found in the A.C. Perch's Thehandel collection.

Organic certification body DK-ÖKO-100 – EU/non-EU agriculture