Twinings Lady Grey Tea is a scaled down version of the Earl Grey tea. It’s an aromatic beverage as its flavor is derived from various herbs and oils and it features several taste impressions from the lemon peel, orange peel, citrus flavoring (bergamot) and the black tea itself.
History and origin of Lady Grey Tea
Lady Grey Tea might sound as if it has a very strong heritage. However, it is a relatively new invention launched by Twinings, the tea company, in the 1990s in an attempt to appeal to the Nordic palates. Twinings, realized that the Nordic market found Earl Grey, the classic tea infused with bergamot oil to be too strong in flavor for their palates. Therefore, the creation of this brand was motivated by tea enthusiasts who wanted to escape the strong flavor of the classic version. They simply wanted a slightly less bold and gentler tea with the same essence as the Earl Grey Tea, which had been a very popular drink in England for over a century.
Since Earl Grey was not selling well in the Nordic market, the company created a subtler a subtler flavor using smaller amounts of citrus flavoring, going on sale in Norway and Britain in 1994 and 1996 respectively.
Characteristics
Lady Grey Tea differs from Earl Grey Tea in that it contains additional orange peel and lemon peel. The brand is owned by Twinings Tea Company which is part of the Associated British Foods Empire.
As with most black teas, Lady Grey can be easily sweetened with sugar. However, sweeteners such as maple syrup, molasses, brown sugar and honey may clash with the citrus flavor and should hence be applied liberally. People who find Earl Grey’s smell and taste too overpowering will love the unassuming and quitter nature of this variation. When brewed, Lady Grey turns out as a darker orange or red tea which is ideal for fans who want a toned-down tea for their palates.
Health benefits
Lady Grey Tea, a subtler variation of Earl Grey Tea, containing bergamot oil, black tea, along with lemon and orange peels makes for an eclectic herbal infusion alongside providing a wide range of nutritional and medicinal benefits.
1. Weight loss
Lady Grey Tea contains citrus extract which helps burn fat by speeding up metabolism, hence contributing to weight loss (1). Caffeine also has a thermogenic effect which may effectively help in controlling fat oxidation as well as burning calories and preventing fat storage. Moreover, lemon peels contain pectin which is converted into a jelly that helps prevent absorption of excess sugar into the bloodstream.
2. Relieves stress and anxiety
Bergamot oil contains limonene and alpha-pinene components which act as natural sedatives. Lady Grey Tea is a great remedy for long, stressful days because it contains flavonoids which reduce stress, anxiety and nervous tension by stimulating hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Unlike coffee, the mild caffeine in Lady Grey increases clarity and focus without getting you overly wired. Furthermore, it has the goodness of citrus extract (bergamot), which is commonly used for relieving anxiety, stress, and depression in aromatherapy (2).
3. Skin care
The antibiotic and antioxidant properties of bergamot oil lighten dark spots and ward off skin infections by evenly distributing melanin, thus ensuring a healthy, glowing skin. It helps fight free radicals that can damage your skin. Therefore, drinking this soothing, antioxidant-rich tea prevents blemishes and promotes healing in skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema (3).
4. Cancer prevention
According to a research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology journal, bergamot oil is rich in anti-cancer properties (4). It contains antioxidants, which help our immune systems fight off free radicals and also inhibit proliferation of the RLIP76 protein, which is often associated with cancer. On the other hand, the presence of components such as limonene, Q40, and salvestrol in lemon peels is said to fight against cancerous cells in the body, hence inhibiting several types of cancers.
5. Combats bad body odor
Lady Grey Tea contains tannins which checks bad body odor by reducing sweat buildup and cleaning the body deeply. Also, the strong citrus aroma and disinfectant property of bergamot oil stops bad smell by inhibiting the development of germs that cause bad body odor such as smelly feet (5).
6. Reduces inflammation
Bergamot oil has analgesic properties which stimulates the release of hormones that reduce inflammation and pain. Therefore, a warm cup of Lady Grey may provide relief from muscle aches, headaches sprains and general irritation and pain in the body (6).
7. Promotes dental health
Lady Grey Tea is rich in catechin (7), an important antioxidant that guards against oral infections. Also, fluoride, a natural component of Lady Grey Tea, fights oral infections and also protects teeth from decay and cavities. So people who are not fans of city water can get their daily dose of fluoride by drinking a cup of Lady Grey Tea. Orange peels also help prevent teeth sensitivity and staining, while vitamin C and citric acid wards off gum problems.
8. Strengthens bones
The Vitamin C and calcium in tea lemons helps prevent conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis by facilitating strong bone build up (8).
9. Anti-congestive property
Oil peels and bergamot oil in Lady Grey have anti-congestive properties that can help relieve respiratory and nasal congestion by loosening phlegm and mucus blocking the respiratory tract. The phlegm and mucus is eventually eliminated through coughing or sneezing (9).
10. As a febrifuge
Bergamot oil contains strong antibiotic properties that help combat bacterial and viral infections (10). On the other hand, it facilitates additional secretion of sweat from the eccrine glands, hence lowering body temperature. Therefore, a cup of Lady Grey Tea can make you feel better during bouts of fever.
11. Improves heart health
A 2012 study published in Preventive Medicine journal found that drinking up to 3 cups of black tea daily increases HDL (good cholesterol) and dramatically lowers triglycerides, which are directly connected to atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack (11). The study also found that black tea also increases levels of antioxidants in the body, which fight off free radicals that damage cells. The antioxidants present in Lady Grey Tea also eliminate plaque buildup in the heart.
Furthermore, the presence of polyphenol in lemon peels, as well as the presence of polyethoxylated flavones (mainly nobiletin), along with hesperidin and flavonoids in orange peels, lowers cholesterol and high blood pressure, thus improving heart health. Research also shows that bergamot contains enzymes known as HMGF (Hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavonones) which destroy proteins that have been linked to heart disease. Lemon peels are also rich in vitamins P and C
which clean blood vessels and prevent heart ailments. A study by scientists at the
University of Cantanzaro also found that black tea reduces blood sugars by up to 22%, which may be highly beneficial for diabetes.
12. Digestion
Bergamot oil enhances digestion by stimulating production of digestive acids, enzymes and bile. Bergamot oil also regulates peristaltic movement in the gastrointestinal tract which lessens the stay of chemicals and food in the colon, hence minimizing chances of complications such as painful indigestion, nausea constipation, heartburn, colic and acidity (12).
Lady Grey Tea also lowers inflammation of the gut and helps settle the stomach, which eases bloating, cramping and hemorrhoids. Its antibacterial and antioxidant properties can also prevent parasitic worms and infections in the stomach.
Lady Grey Tea brewing instructions
By the cup
- Boil one cup of fresh water.
- Put one tea bag into the cup.
- Pour boiling water into the cup.
- Let the tea bag steep for approximately two to five minutes depending on your taste.
- Remove and discard the tea bag.
- Add sweetener (this could be honey or sugar).
- Enjoy the brew.
By the pot
- Preheat the tea pot by rinsing it using hot water.
- Determine the number of Lady Grey Tea to brew.
- Boil the desired amount of water in your pot or kettle.
- Remove the wrappings and tags from the desired number of tea bags, to avoid contaminating the tea with ink and other chemicals from the stamps.
- Once water boils, add the tea bags into the kettle at once. Remember, one tea bag make only one cup of tea.
- Immediately remove the kettle from heat.
- Allow the tea bags to steep in the kettle for two to five minutes.
- Use a straining spoon to remove the tea bags from the kettle and discard them.
- Pour tea into cups
- Add sweetener and milk as desired and enjoy your tea.
Lady Grey Tea contains moderate levels of caffeine, is easy to prepare, offers numerous health benefits and it also smells and tastes pretty good.
Does Lady Tea have any side effects?
Although Lady Grey Tea does not have any significant side effects, excessive consumption may cause diarrhea and stomach upset.
Since the tea still contains moderate amounts of caffeine, breastfeeding and pregnant women are advised to reduce their caffeine intake as it may affect the child before and after birth. Therefore, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should consult your physician about this matter (13).
Sources:
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12939122
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3092730/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345801/
(4) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2015.00036/full
(5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345801/
(6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5751100/
(8) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700773/
(9) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21059712
(10) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5178834/
(11) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743511004877?via%3Dihub
(12) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4690266/
(13) https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-997/black-tea
