DR. WALKER

Grey Tea

What is Earl Grey Tea?

Earl Grey tea is a popular tea globally, native to Britain, known for its flavor. Earl Grey tea's uniqueness is the blend of black tea flavored with bergamot oil resulting in a citrus flavor. The tea can be made from one or more blends of Ceylon, Indian, and African black teas processed together with either the natural or processed bergamot hence the citrus flavor.

Earl Grey tea is a type of black tea flavored by bergamot. Flavored teas include the various types of teas; black, white, green, and oolong added additives to give them a particular taste and scent. This additive contains aromas and flavors from; extracts, artificial flavors, flowers, spices, oils, natural flavors, and fruit.¹

The bergamot oil used is derived from the rind of a bergamot orange, a citrus fruit a hybrid of the sweet lime lemon native to Southeast Asia and the Seville Orange native to the Mediterranean. Of recent, Calabria, Italy, and France are the leading producers of bergamot fruit.²

Earl Grey tea is made by harvesting black tea leaves and passing them through a production process that entails the leaves being withered, rolled, oxidized, and dried (except Earl Green tea, where the leaves are not oxidized). The dried tea leaves are either coated or sprayed with bergamot oil or the extract to infuse the flavor, or the dried leaves are infused in hot water with bergamot orange rinds. Depending on the producer of the Earl Grey Tea, the tea has several variations, including; Lady gray tea, Earl Green tea, Earl Grey Creme Smoky version Chinese Lapsang Souchong tea, and Rooibos Earl Grey tea

What is Earl Grey tea used for?

Earl Grey tea is famous for its distinct aroma and citrusy flavor hence consumed for its delicious taste and various health benefits. As a black tea, Earl Grey tea has a blood pressure-lowering effect, reducing cardiovascular risk and preventing obesity by aiding in weight loss.³

Drinking Earl Grey tea improves oral health by containing fluoride, preventing tooth cavities formation and the consequent tooth decay. The tea aids in improving the digestive system by alleviating nausea, colic, and indigestion symptoms.

The high levels of antioxidants present in the tea prevent cancer, and the antioxidants work in removing the plaque buildup in the heart and blood vessels, thus improving heart condition. Bergamot present in the tea helps in lowering the level of inflammation.⁴

Health benefits

• Improves general tooth health as it contains fluoride that protects the teeth from cavities by fighting tooth decay.
• Improves the process of digestion by relieving nausea, indigestion, and colic. Additionally, Earl Grey tea helps in treating intestinal worms.
• Earl Grey tea contains bergamot with natural aromatherapy qualities producing a calming effect, thus fighting anxiety and depression.
• Improves the immune system due to its high content of bergamot, thus used as a cure for fevers.
• Boosting energy levels due to the caffeine, which produces a relaxing and soothing effect on the body.
• Prevents cancer and improves skin health due to the high levels of antioxidants that help the body fight off free radicals.
• Induces weight loss due to the presence of citrus extracts that break down the calories in the body.

Nutrition

A cup of Earl Grey tea contains;

• Calories 0
• Proteins 0g
• Fat 0g
• Carbohydrates 0g
• Fiber 0g

Additionally, Earl Grey tea contains; Fluoride, Potassium, Flavonoids, Magnesium, and Iron.

Toxicity

When consumed in large amounts, Earl Grey tea causes the staining of teeth and lowering the potassium levels, thus causing muscle cramps and twitching.

References