Lipton take on Earl Grey, and the Italian bergamot is the selling point worth taking seriously. Bergamot from Calabria has a brighter, cleaner citrus character than the generic flavouring cheaper Earl Greys lean on, and here it comes through sharp and lively with no soapy tail. It sits on a decent robust black base in pyramid bags, which give the leaf a bit more room to open than a flat bag. Against the Dilmah Earl Grey we also carry, this is the slightly more aromatic, citrus forward of the two, where the Dilmah is earthier and heavier on the Ceylon backbone, so the choice comes down to whether you want the bergamot or the tea to lead. I will leave the vitality language aside; as a cup it is a clean, bright, well judged Earl Grey best drunk black with an optional thread of honey. A reliable everyday version that does not taste cheap.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk
The full picture of Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g in one page. Who makes it, how it is brewed, what your £7.50 actually buys, and why this tea earned a spot on the curator shelf.
Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g is the classic citrus aromatic black tea from Lipton's UK range, using natural bergamot oil from Calabrian bergamot orange groves in Southern Italy where the world's finest Earl Grey bergamot is grown. The 20-bag carton at a fair per cup price for British households who want country specific authentic flavour at a mainstream price point. Hand picked into the curator selection at Teas.co.uk alongside the Lipton range. Authentic, reliable, fair priced. Authentic, reliable.
The blend uses Rainforest Alliance certified black tea base with the country specific flavour layered on top. Drop one bag into a 250ml mug, top with hot water at 95-100°C, steep for 3-4 minutes, the a bright bergamot citrus Earl Grey cup cup arrives in five minutes from kettle.
The 20-bag carton produces 20 cups, working out at roughly £0.10 per cup at the current retail price. Outer cardboard carton fully kerbside recyclable and the tea bags are plant based PLA mesh. Inner foil pouch recyclable through supermarket soft plastic collection points across the UK.
Texture is a bright bergamot citrus Earl Grey cup with the characteristic black tea body. Cup pours a clear amber colour. Approximately 40-50mg of caffeine per cup. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free. Authentic country of origin flavour story rather than anonymous blended fruit teas in the supermarket category. Stocked at Teas.co.uk for British households. Hand picked into the curator selection at Teas.co.uk for British households. Authentic and reliable across the range at the everyday price point British households expect.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Texture & appearance
The Lipton Italian Bergamot Earl Grey cup pours a clear amber colour from the natural ingredients. Colour develops moderately across the 3-4 minutes brew window. The black tea leaf provides the structural body and the Italian Bergamot Earl Grey essence layers the top notes.
Mouthfeel is a bright bergamot citrus Earl Grey cup, with the natural Italian Bergamot Earl Grey character layering on top. Tolerates milk well; drunk black or with milk both work. The country of origin sourcing gives the cup authentic geographic credentials.
Flavour progression moves through the Italian Bergamot Earl Grey aromatic, the black tea mid palate, and a clean finish. The recommended 3-4 minutes brew at 95-100°C is optimal; under brewed the cup is pale, over brewed the tannins start to mask the Italian Bergamot Earl Grey character.
Aftertaste is lingering with the Italian Bergamot Earl Grey notes persisting for 30-60 seconds after the sip. Approximately 40-50mg of caffeine per cup. Suitable for morning, afternoon, and post meal drinking.
Storage: cool dry cupboard, away from light. Best within 4 months of opening for peak flavour, particularly the volatile aromatic compounds.
Four dimension profile
Italian Bergamot Earl Grey Character4/5
Natural Italian Bergamot Earl Grey flavour drives the country specific top notes.
Body3/5
black tea base provides structural body.
Authenticity4/5
Country of origin sourcing story gives geographic credentials.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the taste and texture of Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
About LiptonEST. 1890
Lipton grew from one of the great self made Victorian retail stories. Thomas Lipton, a Glasgow grocer with a gift for showmanship, moved into tea in 1890 with a radical idea: buy the estates directly, cut out the middlemen, and sell good tea cheap, direct from the tea gardens to the teapot. He turned tea from a luxury into an everyday staple across Britain, America and beyond, and became a celebrity in his own right as the most persistent challenger in America's Cup yachting history. Lipton now sits at the centre of Lipton Teas and Infusions, one of the largest tea businesses on the planet.
Globally it is known for bright, brisk Yellow Label black tea and for helping define iced tea as a category. The range we carry leans into the flavoured and fruit side, bergamot Earl Grey, mango and passionfruit, lemon, built for an easy, refreshing cup. Lipton was an early and very large scale adopter of Rainforest Alliance certification, which at its volume moved a genuinely significant share of the world's tea onto a certified footing, with packaging moving to lower plastic recyclable formats. For our shelf Lipton is the accessible, internationally familiar everyday cup: the flavoured blends are bright and uncomplicated, the quality floor is dependable, and the certified sourcing scale behind it is one of the more consequential sustainability stories in tea. It is built to be easy rather than rare, and on that brief, with more than a century behind it, it delivers reliably.
What the brand is actually doing
Lipton sits within the Lipton Teas and Infusions sustainability framework, the company spun out of Unilever in 2022 focused exclusively on tea and infusions. The majority of the Lipton supply chain is Rainforest Alliance certified, supporting biodiversity protection and fair wages for tea growers. The Pure Nature herbal range uses Rainforest Alliance certified botanicals and the European fruit and citrus range supports country specific agricultural communities (Spanish citrus, Greek stone fruit, French berry, Italian citrus). Plant based plastic free tea bags across the range and fully kerbside recyclable outer cartons.
Curator says, Lee on Lipton
"Lipton take on Earl Grey, and the Italian bergamot is the selling point worth taking seriously. Bergamot from Calabria has a brighter, cleaner citrus character than the generic flavouring cheaper Earl Greys lean on, and here it comes through sharp and lively with no soapy tail. It sits on a decent robust black base in pyramid bags, which give the leaf a bit more room to open than a flat bag. Against the Dilmah Earl Grey we also carry, this is the slightly more aromatic, citrus forward of the two, where the Dilmah is earthier and heavier on the Ceylon backbone, so the choice comes down to whether you want the bergamot or the tea to lead. I will leave the vitality language aside; as a cup it is a clean, bright, well judged Earl Grey best drunk black with an optional thread of honey. A reliable everyday version that does not taste cheap."
TSir Thomas LiptonFounder, Glasgow, 1890 · 1890“I founded Lipton in Glasgow in 1890 because tea was a luxury for the rich and I wanted to make it affordable for working families. The trick was to buy direct from the tea gardens in Ceylon rather than through the London auction houses, which meant we could put a packet of tea on the shelf at half the price of our competitors. Direct from the tea garden to the teapot was the slogan and it was literal, we owned the gardens and we owned the packaging. Within a few years Lipton was the largest tea brand in Britain and within a couple of decades the largest in the world. The model is the same today, vertical integration from the leaf to the cup, just at a different scale and across more than a hundred countries.”
LLipton Teas + InfusionsCurrent brand owner, 2022 · 2022“In 2022 we spun out of Unilever as the new Lipton Teas and Infusions company, focusing exclusively on tea and infusions across the global Lipton portfolio. The European country specific range (Spanish lemons, Greek peach and mango, French strawberries, Italian bergamot Earl Grey) is the result of a deliberate strategy to anchor each blend in the country where the dominant ingredient is sourced, supporting local farmers and giving the cup an authentic geographic story rather than an anonymous blend identity. The Rainforest Alliance certification covers the majority of the supply chain.”
Timeline
1890Lipton founded in GlasgowSir Thomas Lipton founds Lipton Tea in Glasgow, pioneering the direct from tea garden retail model that allowed working class British households to afford tea for the first time. The brand becomes a global tea pioneer almost from launch, with the slogan Direct from the tea garden to the teapot becoming an industry defining promise.
1893Acquires Ceylon tea estatesLipton purchases tea estates in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to vertically integrate the supply chain, becoming one of the first international tea brands to own its own gardens rather than buying through commodity markets. This vertical integration is the foundation of the brand model used to this day.
1972Acquired by UnileverLipton is acquired by Unilever as part of the global beverage portfolio, expanding distribution across more than 110 countries with localised blends for individual markets. The Yellow Label becomes the global tea standard recognised in hotel rooms and supermarkets worldwide.
2000sIced tea + Pure Nature ranges launchLipton launches the bottled Iced Tea range that becomes the British supermarket benchmark for sweet bottled iced tea, alongside the Pure Nature herbal range and the country specific European fruit and citrus ranges that anchor the brand today across Spanish, Greek, French and Italian variants.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Lipton brand information, please cite teas.co.uk.
Recipes built around this tea
Two curator tested ways to use Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g. Tap any card to open the full recipe with timings, measures and method.
The outer layer is aromatic: a bergamot Earl Grey with liptonearl grey with italian bergamot. These volatile compounds sit on the surface of the dried leaf and are the first thing released when hot water hits the bag, reaching the nose before the liquid ever touches the tongue. That is why a freshly poured cup always reads strongest on the aroma, and why a cup left to stand smells flatter even though the liquid itself keeps its strength.
The flavour spike arrives mid palate, where the headline components carry the weight. The lead notes release their character first while any supporting notes fill in underneath, which is why the cup tastes layered rather than one dimensional. Milk proteins soften the tannins and round the edges, so a splash of dairy or oat sits comfortably in this cup. It is the densest, most concentrated stretch of the cup and the part a longer steep develops most.
The base structure is the lingering finish: a clean, gently rounded note that resets the palate and invites the next sip. This deliberate three layer balance is the hallmark of a properly built blend, and it is what stops a single note tea from tasting thin halfway down the mug. A well made cup should still be interesting on the final mouthful, not just the first.
Getting it right in the cup. Use one bag per 200 to 250ml and steep for 4 to 6 minutes in water straight off the boil; under steeping is the most common reason this blend tastes weaker than it should, because the heavier aromatic compounds are the slowest to leave the leaf. Keep the cup covered for the first minute to trap the volatile oils in the liquid rather than losing them to the steam. Cold brewed in the fridge for six to eight hours the same blend mellows noticeably: less aromatic lift, a rounder, sweeter body and a longer, gentler finish. Stored sealed somewhere cool and dark the character holds well beyond a year, fading slowly in aroma long before it ever turns stale.
How water and temperature change it. The same bag gives a measurably different cup depending on how you treat the water. Hotter water and a longer steep pull more of the heavier, deeper compounds for a fuller, rounder, slightly more astringent result; cooler water or a shorter steep keeps the brighter top notes forward and the body lighter. Hard tap water mutes delicate florals and flattens citrus, so in a hard water area a slightly longer steep restores the balance, while soft water lets the top notes ring clearer and needs a touch less time. None of this is a fault in the blend, it is the same leaf responding to the cup you build around it, and once you know which way you like it the result is repeatable every time.
Ingredients & pack
Ingredient
Proportion
What it brings
Lipton Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot
100%
The single botanical in this pure infusion selected for Full bodied black tea with a zesty Italian bergamot twist and crisp citrus notes..
Pack: Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g; contains tea (caffeinated). Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Globally sourced, blended and packed to brand specification.
Sourcing & blend. Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g is put together by Lipton, the global tea brand with Rainforest Alliance sourcing. Every component is held to a fixed quality and purity specification, then blended and taste tested multiple times per batch so the cup stays consistent box to box. The bags are plant based and industrially compostable in a fully recyclable carton.
What's in Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g, and what isn't:
In: a bergamot Earl Grey with lipton earl grey with italian bergamot, with nothing in the bag but the listed components and any infusion base.
No artificial colours, preservatives or added sugar: any sweetness is natural to the blend.
Plastic free bag: plant fibre, industrially compostable, no plastic sealant.
Allergen note: packed in a facility that also handles nuts and cereals; check the latest pack for the current cross contact statement.
Nutrition per cup
Nutrient
Per cup
% RI
Energy
4 kJ / 1 kcal
<1%
Fat
0g
0%
Carbohydrate
0.2g
<1%
of which sugars
0g
0%
Protein
0.2g
<1%
Salt
0g
0%
Caffeine
40-60 mg
n/a
L theanine
~5-10mg
n/a
Tea polyphenols
Present
n/a
Per 200ml cup, no milk, no sugar.
Caffeine vs other drinks
Decaf coffee
4mg
Green tea
30mg
Lipton Black Earl Grey With
60mg
Instant coffee
80mg
Brewed filter coffee
95mg
Energy drink (250ml)
80mg
This tea: 40-60 mg per 200ml cup, plus naturally occurring L theanine for calmer alertness than coffee.
Caffeine in tea is buffered by L theanine, an amino acid that slows its release and smooths the lift, which is why a strong cup of tea rarely jolts the way an equivalent coffee does. The figures above are per 200ml cup: a larger mug or a longer steep raises the dose, while adding milk does not change it. Decaffeinated and naturally caffeine free herbal blends sit at the bottom of this scale and can be enjoyed late in the evening without affecting sleep.
Allergens, dietary & safety
🌱VeganNo animal derived ingredients.🌾Gluten freeNaturally gluten free.⚡Caffeine40-60 mg per 200ml cup.🍃0 kcalNo sugar, no fat in plain cup.🤰PregnancyUK guide: 200mg caffeine/day max.👶ChildrenCaffeinated, served with care.
Manufactured in a facility that handles multiple tea types. Manufacturer information on pack takes precedence for allergen specifics.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the ingredients, nutrition and science of Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Questions about Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g
The questions buyers ask most. If yours isn't here, ask us directly. We reply within 4 hours, Monday to Friday.
Curated from real customer messages
🌱
How do I brew Lipton Italian Bergamot Earl Grey? Most asked+
Drop one bag into a 250ml mug, top with water at 95-100°C, steep for 3-4 minutes. Drink plain to appreciate the classic citrus aromatic, optional milk for black tea variants or honey for any.
🌱
What's in the bag? +
Rainforest Alliance certified black tea base with natural Italian Bergamot Earl Grey flavour. using natural bergamot oil from Calabrian bergamot orange groves in Southern Italy where the world's finest Earl Grey bergamot is grown. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free.
🌱
Is it caffeinated? +
40-50mg per cup. Suitable for morning and afternoon drinking.
🌱
What's the country of origin story? +
Lipton anchors each European blend in the country where the dominant ingredient is sourced. using natural bergamot oil from Calabrian bergamot orange groves in Southern Italy where the world's finest Earl Grey bergamot is grown This supports country specific agricultural communities and gives the cup an authentic geographic story.
🌱
Is it Rainforest Alliance certified? +
Yes, the black tea base is Rainforest Alliance certified, supporting biodiversity protection and fair wages for tea growers.
🌱
Plant based bags? +
Yes, all Lipton tea bags are plant based PLA mesh, home compostable, with zero polypropylene synthetic plastic sealants.
🌱
Is it vegan? +
Yes, fully vegan. The blend contains only plant based ingredients.
🌱
Iced? +
Yes. Brew two bags strong in 200ml hot water, cool, top with cold water and ice. The black tea base holds up to ice well.
🌱
Packaging recyclable? +
Outer cardboard carton fully kerbside recyclable. Inner foil pouch through supermarket soft plastic collection. Tea bags home compostable plant based PLA.
🌱
Shelf life? +
Approximately 24 months from manufacture. Best within 4 months of opening for peak flavour, particularly the volatile aromatics.
🌱
How does it compare to other Lipton fruit teas? +
The Lipton European country specific range each anchors in a different country and ingredient. Italian Bergamot Earl Grey is the classic citrus aromatic variant. Pick by flavour preference rather than function.
🌱
Can I add milk? +
Yes for the British milk tea cup, though many drink the fruit infused black teas plain to appreciate the natural fruit character. Try both.
🌱
Brand ownership? +
Lipton was founded by Sir Thomas Lipton in Glasgow in 1890. Spun out from Unilever in 2022 into the new Lipton Teas and Infusions company, focused exclusively on tea and infusions globally.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference questions and answers about Lipton Black Earl Grey With Italian Bergamot, 20 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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