The historic city of London, England, is famous for many people and things, the British monarchy, of course, as well as the regal red-coated Queen’s Guard in their tall black bearskin hats who stand guard at the palace. The city is also the site of Big Ben, the London Bridge, and other famous attractions. In addition, the UK capital also serves as the setting of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s celebrated sleuth, Sir Sherlock Holmes - solver of many a murky mystery. And let us not forget that London is renowned for its frequent fog. But our aptly named London Fog will soon be no mystery if you read on to learn how to make this satisfying sip.
Our Firepot London Fog recipe is welcoming and warm, with bergamot oil from Italy, rich black tea, milk, and honey.
Bergamot is a highly aromatic citrus — the finest of this fragrant fruit emerges from the southern Italian region of Calabria. The oil taken from its rind has been used in Italian folk medicine for generations to combat high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood. Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange, is a sweet-smelling citrus the size of an orange, with a yellow or green color similar to a lime depending on ripeness. Genetic research into the ancestral origins of extant citrus cultivars found bergamot orange to be a probable hybrid of lemon and bitter orange.
The oil of the Bergamot has infused Earl Grey teas since the 1830s when British Prime Minister Earl Grey received this exotic gift from a Chinese tea merchant. Our version brings together the natural essences of sun-ripened Italian bergamot from Calabria and the intensity of organic Ceylon black tea leaves. When melded with milk — in the time-honored English tea tradition — and infused with honey, our Italian Grey tea transforms into a most comforting and calming cup.
London Fog is a traditional and very British variation of cream tea. It’s a perfect tea-time pick-me-up, especially when paired with British Scones. During a cold afternoon in the middle of winter, when you really need comfort in a cup, reach for London Fog. It has a warm and creamy taste that gives you a little sweetness with a hint of umami. Try it with different milk variations and see which you prefer.
London Fog Recipe
You Will Need
2 Tablespoons honey
½ cup of warmed milk
To Make
- Steep 2 teaspoons of Italian Grey in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Strain tea into a mug, add honey and milk.
- Stir and enjoy!