Earl Grey Tea: A Timeless Classic for Tea Lovers Everywhere
Earl Grey tea is prepared by flavoring black tea with Italian bergamot oil. Earl Grey tea’s health advantages come from its black tea leaves, which are rich in beneficial plant chemicals. Earl Grey tea, its health benefits, and its hazards are all explained here.
Earl Grey Tea—what?
Earl Grey is produced with real black tea. All real teas are manufactured from Camellia sinensis leaves. Due to extended air oxidation, black teas are darker and tastier than green tea. Oxidation browns tea leaves and enhances flavor.
Black teas like Assam, Darjeeling, and Ceylon have different flavors. Earl Grey tea is brewed with black tea and bergamot oil from Italian bergamot oranges. Synthetic bergamot flavor is cheaper than oil, hence some Earl Grey teas use it.
Earl Grey can be prepared from different black teas, hence its taste may vary. Earl Grey is usually somewhat sweet with citrus undertones.
Contains Many Antioxidants
Earl Grey tea, made from black tea, is rich in antioxidant-rich plant components. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals to safeguard cells. Oxidative stress occurs when free radical levels exceed the body’s antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress, which causes tissue damage and persistent inflammation, is thought to cause many health issues, including cancer and heart disease.
Bioactive components in black tea may lower oxidative stress and inflammation. Black tea contains polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate, theaflavins, and thearubigins, which may reduce inflammation and oxidative damage. Tea polysaccharides (TPS) are antioxidant-rich carbohydrates in black tea.
Black tea may lower oxidative stress in some people, according to research. An older 2010 study of 46 people with type 2 diabetes, a condition often linked to oxidative stress, found that drinking two to four cups of black tea made with black tea extract per day for four weeks reduced C-reactive protein and increased glutathione. The therapy also lowered malondialdehyde, an oxidative stress marker.
Shariatzade N, Kalayi A, Neyestani TR, etc. Black tea daily improves oxidative stress indicators and lowers blood C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetics.
Regular black tea drinkers are less likely to develop certain malignancies and cognitive impairment due to their high concentration of cellular-protective chemicals.
Limonene and linalool in bergamot oil are antioxidants. Since Earl Grey contains such a small percentage of bergamot oil, most of its health benefits presumably come from black tea components.
May Lower Chronic Disease Risk
Black tea drinkers are less prone to suffer certain health disorders, according to research.
Regularly drinking black may prevent ovarian cancer, depression, heart disease, and other diseases.
A 2023 meta-analysis of 19 research involving over two million participants indicated that women who drank 1.40 to 3.12 cups of black tea per day had a reduced risk of ovarian cancer.
Black tea consumers may minimize oral cancer risk. A 2018 review found that drinking tea daily reduced mouth cancer risk by 6.2%. High antioxidant content, especially polyphenols, gives black tea anticancer properties. These chemicals may prevent cancer by preventing oxidative damage and boosting antioxidant defenses.
Earl Grey tea may also lower blood pressure and heart disease risk. Taking black tea regularly can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure by -3.53 and -0.99 mmHg, according to a 2020 analysis of five high-blood-pressure studies. Tea drinkers for at least three months had the biggest blood pressure drop, suggesting that long-term tea consumption may benefit heart health.
Regular black tea drinkers may reduce their risk of heart failure and strokes and lower their blood pressure.
Some evidence suggests that drinking more than one cup of black tea per day may reduce depression risk. Caffeine and L-theanine, which modulate neurotransmitters like dopamine, may lessen depression risk in black tea.
There are other health benefits to drinking black tea, but not Earl Grey tea.
Improves Cognitive Health and Exercise Performance
Black tea averages 47 mg of caffeine per cup, according to a study. Just over half a cup of coffee. Review of maternal caffeine use and fetal effects. Health benefits from caffeine include increased energy and workout performance.
For instance, 3–6 mg of caffeine per kg of body weight may boost endurance and strength in athletes. Since black tea has less caffeine than coffee, a 150-pound (68kg) person would need to drink four cups before working out to notice results.
Caffeine like Earl Grey may boost energy and cognitive wellness. A 2023 analysis of seven research involving 410,951 people concluded that green or black tea reduced dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers linked this to caffeine, a neuroprotective component in green and black tea. Black tea and other caffeinated drinks may boost short-term cognitive performance like processing speed and memory.
Earl Grey Drinking Risks Tea
Most people can safely drink Earl Grey in moderation. Caffeine in black tea can be harmful in large amounts. Caffeine should not exceed 400 mg per day. Overconsumption can cause jitteriness, elevated heart rate, and sleeplessness. Black tea has 47 mg of caffeine per cup, so a person would need to drink nine cups to surpass the recommended limit.
Bergamot oil overdose can produce muscle cramping, impaired eyesight, and extremity tingling. The symptoms were described in a man who drank four liters of Earl Grey tea daily. Keep in mind that this doesn’t affect folks who drink one to two cups of Earl Grey daily.
Finally, black tea contains chemicals that limit iron absorption in the digestive tract, especially plant-based iron, which may concern plant-based dieters and those with low iron levels. Earl Grey Tea Consumption Tips
Earl Grey can be enjoyed like other black teas. Tastes slightly sweet with citrus flavors. Some drink Earl Grey straight, while others add milk and honey.
Traditional Earl Grey is brewed with black tea, although other varieties use green tea or oolong tea, a tea with a taste and color between green and black.
For a cup of Earl Grey tea, steep one teaspoon of loose leaf or one Earl Grey teabag in water heated to just before boiling for three to five minutes. If you like stronger tea, simmer longer and add milk and sugar to taste.
Though decaf Earl Grey is available, most Earl Grey teas include caffeine, thus caffeine-sensitive people should avoid drinking it before bed.
Earl Grey tea is long-lasting. Earl Grey tea bags and loose-leaf can last two and three years in an airtight container at room temperature.
A Quick Review
Earl Grey tea is prepared with black tea leaves and Italian bergamot oil. Polyphenols in Earl Grey tea may improve your health. Black tea, like Earl Grey, may prevent several cancers, depression, and high blood pressure. Earl Grey caffeine may promote cognition, energy, and workout performance. Earl Grey contains caffeine, so consume it in moderation and avoid drinking it before bed if you’re sensitive to caffeine.