Named for Charles Earl Grey, UK Prime Minister, 1830-1836, Larsen & Thompson Earl Grey is a fragrant blend of whole-leaf Assam tea scented with oil squeezed from the skin of the bergamot orange. It is believed bergamot-flavoured teas were created in England in the 1820s in an attempt to imitate the flavour of more expensive Chinese teas. While it is not known if this rather fanciful stab at mimicry was successful, the blend was immensely so. However, it didn't get the name Earl Grey until the 1880s. Today, Early Grey is one of the most popular styles among black tea drinkers around the world. However it is worth noting that while lesser brands use a synthesised additive that they call 'bergamot', Larsen & Thompson Earl Grey uses only actual bergamot oil. The difference is very noticable. Of course, such strict attention to detail in the pursuit of quality is typical of a firm that has used the expertise of the same supply sources in India for 20 years.