下午茶：afternoon tea
下午茶是指享负盛名的英国维多利亚时代的英式下午茶（afternoon tea）。 下午茶是英国17世纪时期的产物，绵延至今，逐渐变成现代人休闲的一种习惯。
下午茶起源于17世纪。当时，英国上流社会的早餐都很丰盛，午餐较为简便，而社交晚餐则一直到晚上八时左右才开始，人们便习惯在下午四时左右吃些点心、喝杯茶。下午茶在英国上流社会流行。 红茶传进欧洲时，由于是遥远东方来的珍品，“喝茶”还只是上流社会的专属享受。后来红茶在伦敦的咖啡屋、红茶庭园开始流行。18世纪中期以后，茶才真正进入一般平民的生活。英国贵妇人之间风行的时尚便逐渐平民化，下午茶风俗开始盛行于饭店和百货公司之间。 英国人最喜爱的下午茶时间，多集中在下午3时到5时半之间，喝下午茶的最正统时间是下午四点钟(就是一般俗称的Low Tea) 在优雅的氛围里往往可以让人们感受到心灵的祥和与家庭式的温暖，从而舒解一天的疲劳。
下午茶的专用茶 中国的祁门红茶、印度大吉岭红茶、斯里兰卡红茶、火东篱把酒黄昏后药绿茶、传统口味纯味茶，若是喝奶茶，则是先加牛奶再加茶。英式下午茶的专用红茶为产自英属殖民地印度的大吉岭红茶与伯爵茶、或锡兰高地红茶,。正统的英式下午茶的点心是用三层点心瓷盘装盛，第一层放三明治、第二层放传统英式点心Scone、第三层则放蛋糕及水果塔；由下往上开回吃。至于Scone的吃法是先涂果酱、再涂奶油，吃完一口、再涂下一口。
英国人喝下午茶的方式丰俭由人，由高贵的正式茶聚（tea party），到可以不喝茶只吃点心的餐饮（high tea），都可以称为下午茶。在德国，下午茶被称为Kaffee（咖啡）。 随著英国在19世纪末的强盛，下午茶文化从英国本土带入欧洲和它的殖民地。成为一种世界性的文化标志之一。如英国下午茶又被香港人习惯称作Hightea，更昭显了下午茶文化在世界中的广泛影响。另外，在新西兰，他们的 Tea time 习惯在早上而非下午，所以他们把“小息”称作“morning tea time”。
喝下午茶的功用
喝下午茶增强记忆力:。英式下午茶通常在下午4~5点钟时进行，并且要搭配一定的甜点。营养学家告诉我们，这对补充人体能量具有很大的作用。
下午茶及时补充能量 : 经典的英式下午茶由点心和茶组成。 面对现代社会的高效率、快节奏，上班族的午餐常常吃得太少或者过于匆忙。一顿营养均衡的下午茶不仅能赶走下午的瞌睡虫，还有助于恢复体力，还可以帮助人们保持精力直到黄昏，进而使晚餐比较清淡，养成最完美的饮食习惯。
实验证明有喝下午茶习惯的人在记忆力和应变力上，比其他人的平均分值高出15％~20％。
下午茶中，“红茶品性温和、香味醇厚，首先有助于强健骨骼。茶叶中含有丰富的黄酮类物质，可减少瑞脑消金兽妇女患骨质疏松症的危险。 喝红茶可以防治流感、心肌梗死、脑中风和皮肤病等。
Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 3 pm and 5 pm. The custom of drinking tea originated in England when Catherine of Braganza married Charles II in 1661 and brought the practice of drinking tea in the afternoon with her from Portugal. Various places that belonged to the former British Empire also have such a meal. However, changes in social customs and working hours mean that most Britons only take afternoon tea on special or formal occasions.
Traditionally, loose tea is brewed in a teapot and served in teacups with milk and sugar. This is accompanied by various sandwiches (customarily cucumber, egg and cress, fish paste, ham, and smoked salmon), scones (with butter, clotted cream and jam — see cream tea) and usually cakes and pastries (such as Battenberg, fruit cake or Victoria sponge). The food is often served on a tiered stand: there may be no sandwiches but bread or scones with butter or margarine and optional jam or other spread.
伯爵茶
格雷伯爵茶是以十九世纪初英国首相格雷二世伯爵为命名的。格雷伯爵茶（英文名：Earl Grey tea）是以中国正山小种或锡兰红茶等优质红茶为基茶，加入佛手柑油的一种调味茶。格雷伯爵茶是当今世界最流行的红茶调味茶，也是“英式下午茶”的最经典饮品（除了格雷伯爵茶之外，还有大吉岭、锡兰、火东篱把酒黄昏后药绿茶等）。
据说格雷伯爵茶源于清朝一位华人对格雷伯爵的赠礼。当时格雷伯爵收到的礼品茶饮料非常受欢迎，当茶被用完时，格雷伯爵要求茶商Twinings仿制这种调味茶并供应他的首相官邸（10 Downing Street）。然而很多伯爵的访客非常喜欢这款茶，伯爵就会告诉他们在Twinings（敦宁）购买格雷伯爵订制的茶，后来这款调味茶就以Earl Grey Tea为名了。格雷伯爵茶现在已经是一类调味茶（主要是包括佛手柑）的通称，很多茶商都在生产，甚至有Earl Grey Green（格雷伯爵绿茶）。即使如此，Twinings（敦宁社）也被认为是格雷伯爵茶的最正宗的厂商，也是最好的格雷伯爵茶的生产者。格雷六世伯爵在Twinings所生产的Earl Grey Tea外包装上自荐说“Twinings has been blending my family tea for many years. Today I am proud that this tradition continues with the tea clelebrated throughout the world known as Twinings's Earl Grey Tea.”
或许华人素来讲究养生，社会上始终没有流行红茶饮品，更未流行调味茶饮料，所以源于中国人的赠礼似乎也没有充分的证据。有一说是因为正山小种本身是利用松针熏香，而伦敦的水质含较多石灰，敦宁社为了更加凸显其香味，而使用佛手柑调味。此外格雷伯爵茶的两种配料正山小种（拉普山小种）和佛手柑的原产地都是中国。正山小种是最古老的红茶品种，起源于中国福建省崇安县。佛手柑起源于越南和中国南方，现在在意大利南部广泛种植。
It's one of the most popular and best known kinds of tea in the Western world.
First of all, Earl Grey tea was indeed named after the second Earl Charles Grey of Britain back in the 1830s. Though proof is scarce, he is traditionally credited with the creation of this blended tea. Charles Grey was prime minister from 1830-1834, during which time the act was passed to abolish slavery in the British Empire. Seems like quite an accomplishment, yet most people know him for his wonderful tea instead.
Contrary to popular belief, Earl Grey is not a kind of tea at all. It's actually plain black tea, infused with the citrus flavour of bergamot (similar to orange blossoms). This gives a bright, tart and refreshing tea that is unlike other black teas. While the term 'orange pekoe' is all about the quality and grade of a tea, Earl Grey tea is not necessarily a high quality tea. Since the taste of bergamot is quite strong, it is often used to mask the lack of flavour from poor quality black tea. When shopping for Earl Grey, make sure to double-check the grade of the tea before making your choice. Earl Grey tea is a favorite in Britain and in North America, and you can be sure to find it on the menu at any tea room, or in any supermarket.
伯爵茶-用法
取其一小包，放入杯中，开水冲泡，可连续冲饮2-3天，汁尽换新。
伯爵茶-喝法讲究
伯爵茶具有独特的风味，香味浓郁迷人，添加牛奶后口感更为香美，深受欧洲上流社会的欢迎。但也有许多人在饮用伯爵茶时，为了品尝其原有的风味，坚持不添加牛奶。
伯爵茶-特色
伯爵茶是一种将天然红茶、特别的佛手柑油混合在一起的茶。这种茶不仅适合独自品味，也非常适合在下午茶或晚餐后饮用。另外，伯爵茶也提供了有利于健康的茶氨酸。
伯爵茶-功效
伯爵茶具有杀菌，抗抑郁，提神醒脑的功效。
Key health benefits of Earl Grey
Earl grey tea is a popular black tea that is scented with bergamot flavour. Bergamot is a lime tree that is grown in Italy and the South of France and its fruit gives Earl Grey a light spicy flavour. When blended with black tea, bergamot complements black teas' anti-microbial effects.
Bergamot has been documented as a useful and healing fruit in 12th century Europe The Italians used bergamot for treating fever and intestinal worms
Bergamot's main properties are as a disinfectant and an antidepressant
The esters and alcohols present in bergamot reduce anxiety by calming the nervous system
The active components in bergamot are antiseptic, germicidal as well as relaxing
The catechin and fluoride content of black tea prevent tooth decay, while the antiseptic properties of bergamot can alleviate halitosis and oral infections
Contains beneficial amounts of caffeine that helps you to think clearly
The bergamot content fights flu, fevers and colds
How to Make a Perfect Cup of Earl Grey Tea
Things You'll Need:Earl Grey loose Tea ；Fresh Water ；Re-Usable Tea bag or Strainer ；Large pot；Teapot ；Cup and Saucer
Step 1：Brewing Earl Grey tea properly:Start with cold water. If the water contains a lot of iron or chlorine, you may want to use bottled or filtered water.
Step 2：Preheat your teapot: Simply boil enough water to fill the teapot one and one half times. Pour the hot water into the teapot, swish it about. This will heat the teapot. Then pour the used water out. (If you omit this step, your tea will become lukewarm quickly, preventing the full aroma and benefit of the tea).
Step 3：Measure 1 tsp. of loose tea for every cup you plan to pour, plus “one for the pot” into the teapot. Place the tea into a reusable tea bag for easy straining.
Step 4：For black teas, bring the water to a full boil. Remove the teakettle from the heat as soon as the water begins to boil. Boiling all of the oxygen out of the water will flatten the tea' s flavor.；For delicate green teas, remove the teakettle from the heat before the water begins boiling, at 165-170 degrees F.
Step 5：Before steeping, pour a small amount of the hot water over the tea leaves to allow them to bloom, or open up, and release some of their bitter tannins. Drain immediately.
Step 6：Fill the pot with the boiling water. Keep the spout of the kettle close to the teapot, so the water does not cool as you pour it in. Cover the teapot with a tea cozy if you have one. Leave the tea to brew. In general, black teas are best brewed for 4 to 5 minutes; green teas should brew for no more than 3 minutes.
Step 8：When the tea is ready to pour, remove the tea leaves. Over-brewed tea will become bitter, and unpleasant.
Step 9：Honey, sugar, agava, or any other sweetener can be added.
Now if we were on the Starship Enterprise, then we would have just gone to the replicators like Captain Picard does, and state, “Tea. Earl Grey… Hot”. Alas, since we do not have that option available to us, we shall prepare and enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of Earl Grey Tea, which shall tantalize our senses.
伯爵茶风布丁的做法
菜谱主料：伯爵茶30g 牛奶530cc 牛奶370cc 蛋3颗 砂糖100g 白兰地25cc水20cc 砂糖80g
一:制作焦糖：糖加水小火煮至约170度金黄色熄火後再加入20cc的水拌匀适量倒入布丁模型
二:布丁馅：将牛奶煮至沸腾冲入伯爵茶浸泡3至5分钟後滤掉茶叶。
三:将牛奶加入砂糖煮至糖溶化後再加入拌匀的鸡蛋和白兰地後加入伯爵牛奶茶。
四:把布丁馅倒入已装有焦糖的模型中，隔水半蒸烤以上下火160度烤50分钟即可
How to Make a Hot Toddy
Prep Time：5 minutes
Ingredients：1 Earl Grey Tea T DISC；1 lemon slice；1 tsp. rum；1 cinnamon stick；1 tsp. sugar
Directions:Cut lemon slice in half. Place one half in heatproof mug. Add 2 tsp. rum, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 tsp. sugar. Use same mug to prepare oneEarl Grey Tea. Let stand 1 min.; stir. Garnish with remaining lemon piece. This hot beverage is sure to warm your insides on a cold wintry day. Makes 1 serving.
How to Make a London Fog Gourmet Tea Latte
Earl Grey is probably the best known tea blend in the world. Here is a basic recipe you can use to make a London Fog Gourmet Tea Latte at home. A London Fog is a tea-based latte that has gained popularity since Starbucks started carrying it on its menu.
Things You'll Need:
1 Mug or Teacup
Tea Strainer or Filter
Tea Kettle
Saucepan
Milk Frother or Cappacino Steamer (optional)
1 tsp Twinings Earl Grey Loose Tea (2 teabags)
½ cup boiling hot water
½ cup steamed half-n-half
¼ tsp Vanilla Bean Paste
Sugar or Vanilla Syrup to taste
Step 1
Put a tea kettle on to boil or push the reboil button on an electric thermo pot. Fill mug or teacup with hot tap water. Set aside until kettle is ready.
Step 2
Add Earl Grey Tea to a tea strainer or filter. Remove the tap water from the mug/teacup and place strainer/filter in the cup.
Step 3
Pour the boiled water over the tea leaves; add vanilla bean paste and let steep for 2-3 minutes.
Step 4
While tea is steeping, heat half-n-half in a saucepan, making sure not to scorch it. Froth is not needed for this recipe, but if you have a milk frother or cappuccino maker, you can use it to create steam.
Step 5
Pour steamed half-n-half into steeped tea and vanilla mixture. Remove strainer/filter and stir to mix.
Step 6
Add vanilla syrup or one to two lumps of sugar to taste. Sit back, prop up your feet and enjoy!
；1 celery stalk, or other Bloody Mary garnishes besides lemon or lime；
lace the dried rosemary in a blender and grind it to a fine powder. You can also grind dried rosemary with a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle.