STEEP Organic Earl Grey Tea - Bigelow

A Classic Bergamot Black Tea, Made Organic

Few teas are as instantly recognisable as Earl Grey. That bright, perfumed note of bergamot lifting off a cup of honest black tea has been a morning ritual for well over a century, and Bigelow's STEEP Organic version brings that tradition into a cleaner, certified-organic format. It is a full-bodied black tea scented with citrusy bergamot oil, packaged in convenient tea bags and blended and packed right here in Canada. If you want the comforting, slightly floral character of a proper Earl Grey without fuss, this is a dependable everyday choice.

This blend suits the person who reaches for something with backbone first thing in the morning. It is robust enough to wake you up, refined enough to feel like a small luxury, and flexible enough to take milk, lemon, or a touch of sweetener depending on your mood. Whether you are new to bergamot-scented tea or you have been drinking it for years, this organic take is an easy one to keep stocked in the cupboard.

What Bergamot Actually Tastes Like

The signature of any Earl Grey is bergamot, a small, fragrant citrus grown mostly around the Mediterranean. Its oil is not quite orange, not quite lemon — it sits somewhere brighter and more floral, with a faint perfume that some people describe as soapy in the best possible way. Laid over a solid black tea base, it gives this brew its distinctive lift.

In the cup you can expect a deep amber liquor with a malty, brisk black-tea body underneath the citrus. The bergamot reads as aromatic and slightly sweet on the nose, then carries through to a clean, gently astringent finish. It is fragrant without being overpowering, which is exactly what you want from a daily cup. Drunk plain, the brew leans crisp and citrus-forward; with a splash of milk it turns rounder, creamier, and more mellow. That versatility is a big part of why bergamot black tea has stayed popular for generations.

How to Brew It Properly

Getting the most out of this blend comes down to three things: fresh water, the right temperature, and enough time. Because this is a true black tea, it wants near-boiling water and a slightly longer steep than delicate greens or whites.

• Bring fresh, cold water to a near boil — aim for 95 °C. If your kettle does not show temperature, boil it and let it sit for about 30 seconds.
• Use one tea bag per cup (roughly 240 ml of water).
• Pour the water over the bag and steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Four minutes gives a brighter, lighter cup; five pulls out more body and a touch more astringency.
• Lift the bag out gently without squeezing too hard — wringing it can push extra bitterness into the cup.

That is genuinely all there is to it. The single biggest mistake people make is under-heating the water, which leaves the black tea base thin and the bergamot flat. Give it proper heat and the full 4-to-5-minute window and the brew rewards you with a far rounder, more aromatic result.

A Quick Note on Water

Tea is mostly water, so the quality of what comes out of your tap matters more than you might think. If your water is heavily chlorinated or very hard, a simple filter can noticeably clean up the flavour. Always start with fresh cold water rather than reheating water that has already been boiled, which tastes flat because the dissolved oxygen has cooked off.

Milk, Lemon, and Other Ways to Drink It

One of the joys of Earl Grey is how well it takes to small additions. There is no single correct way — it really comes down to the cup you are in the mood for.

• With milk: A splash of dairy or oat milk softens the citrus and brings out the malty depth of the black tea base. This is the classic British-style serve and pairs beautifully with breakfast.
• With lemon: A thin slice or a squeeze of lemon amplifies the bergamot and keeps the cup bright and clean. If you go this route, skip the milk — citrus and dairy do not get along.
• With a touch of sweetener: A little honey or a small spoon of sugar rounds off the brisk edge. Honey in particular complements the floral bergamot note.
• As a London Fog: Steep one bag strong, add steamed or frothed milk and a splash of vanilla syrup. It turns this everyday tea into a cosy café-style latte.
• Iced: Brew it double-strength, cool it, and pour over ice with a slice of lemon for a refreshing summer drink.

If you usually drink your tea black, try it plain first to appreciate the citrus, then experiment. Many people keep two routines going — milk in the morning, lemon in the afternoon.

When to Drink It and What to Pair It With

This blend is built for mornings. Its full body and caffeine make it a natural alternative or companion to coffee, and the bright bergamot does a good job of clearing the cobwebs. That said, it is perfectly at home mid-afternoon when you want a lift without the heaviness of a fresh pot of coffee.

On the food side, the citrus character of this tea cuts through richness and complements baked goods especially well. Some pairings worth trying:

• Buttery scones, shortbread, or a plain croissant — the bergamot and butter are a classic match.
• Lemon loaf, pound cake, or anything with a citrus or vanilla note that echoes the bergamot.
• Dark chocolate, where the tannins in the tea play against the cocoa.
• A simple breakfast of toast and eggs, where milk-softened Earl Grey acts almost like a lighter coffee.

Because of the caffeine, most people prefer to keep this brew to the first half of the day. If you love the flavour but want a cup in the evening, brew it short and weak, or save it for an afternoon treat.

Caffeine and Ingredients

This is a caffeinated black tea, so it does contain caffeine — that is part of what makes it such a reliable morning cup. As a general guide, a standard cup of black tea carries noticeably less caffeine than a cup of brewed coffee, though the exact amount depends on steep time and how strong you make it. A longer five-minute steep will give you a bit more of a kick than a quick four-minute one.

The blend itself is built on organic black tea leaves scented with bergamot, which is what gives Earl Grey its name and aroma. Being certified organic, it is produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers — a small but meaningful difference for people who care about how their tea is grown. The format is straightforward bagged tea, so there is no measuring, no infuser to clean, and no loose leaf to fish out. If you are sensitive to caffeine, treat this as a daytime tea and consider a shorter steep.

How to Store It So It Stays Fresh

Tea is more delicate than it looks. Bergamot oil in particular is volatile and will fade if the bags are left exposed to air, light, heat, or strong odours. A little care keeps every cup tasting the way it should.

• Keep the bags in an airtight container, away from light — a tin or a sealed jar in a cupboard is ideal.
• Store them somewhere cool and dry, well away from the stove, kettle steam, or a sunny windowsill.
• Keep tea away from strong-smelling foods like spices and coffee, since the leaves readily absorb surrounding aromas.
• Do not refrigerate or freeze tea bags — condensation introduces moisture, which dulls the flavour.

Stored well, the blend will hold its character for a good long while, though like all aromatic teas it is at its best when reasonably fresh. Buying from a retailer with healthy stock turnover, rather than a box that has sat on a shelf for a year, makes a real difference to the bergamot.

Why Buy This Tea from LocoYoko

LocoYoko is a Canadian coffee roaster with our comprehensive Tea collection and tea shop, and we ship across Canada. When you order this blend from us, you are buying from a Canadian retailer holding fresh stock — not waiting on a slow cross-border parcel or gambling on a dusty box. Because Bigelow's STEEP organic line is blended and packed in Canada, it fits naturally alongside the rest of our curated lineup.

A few things that make ordering easy:

• Free shipping on orders over $50 for tea or our Coffee, so it is simple to stock up or pair your tea with coffee and other favourites.
• A 30-day happiness guarantee — if the tea is not for you, we will make it right.
• Fast Canadian fulfilment and fresh inventory, so the bergamot you taste is the bergamot the blend is meant to deliver.

Whether this is your everyday morning cup or a new addition to a growing tea shelf, we w

To round out your tea shelf, try Cinnamon Blackberry.

You might also enjoy Decaf Tea.

To round out your tea shelf, try Chai Tea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Earl Grey caffeinated?

Yes. It is a true black tea and contains caffeine, which makes it a great morning brew. A standard cup carries less caffeine than brewed coffee, and a shorter steep produces a gentler cup if you are watching your intake.

What is the best way to brew it?

Use water at 95 °C, one bag per cup of about 240 ml, and steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Four minutes gives a brighter cup; five gives more body. Lift the bag out without wringing it to avoid extra bitterness.

Can I add milk?

Absolutely. A splash of milk mellows the citrus and brings out the malty depth, which is the classic serve. If you prefer lemon instead, leave the milk out — citrus and dairy do not mix well together.

Is this tea organic?

Yes, it is certified organic, meaning the leaves are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. It comes in convenient tea bags and is blended and packed in Canada.

How should I store it to keep it fresh?

Keep the bags in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry spot, away from heat, moisture, and strong odours. Do not refrigerate or freeze them, as condensation dulls the bergamot aroma.

What does it pair well with?

It shines with buttery baked goods like scones and shortbread, citrus cakes, and dark chocolate. With milk it works alongside a standard breakfast as a lighter alternative to coffee.