Clipper Organic Earl Grey: Bergamot, Milk and Brewing

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Earl Grey: A Quieter Bergamot

Most Earl Greys are built as perfume on a light leaf; this one works the other way round, with a fuller black tea carrying a restrained bergamot.

Published 26 Sep 2026 Curator-written, not crowdsourced

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Earl Grey: A Quieter Bergamot, in summary: Clipper turns the bergamot down and lets a round, organic Fairtrade black tea lead. It suits anyone who finds most Earl Greys soapy, takes a splash of milk and forgives an extra minute in the mug.

Last reviewed by the teas.co.uk team in September 2026.

Most Earl Greys are built as perfume on a light leaf; this one works the other way round, with a fuller black tea carrying a restrained bergamot. That one choice explains why it can take milk, why it rarely turns harsh and why fans of the loud style may find it underpowered.

Bergamot as scent, not coating

The label lists organically grown Fairtrade black tea and natural bergamot flavour, with 95% of the ingredients Fairtrade by the published figure. Bergamot is volatile, so it rises off the cup as aroma rather than coating the tongue, and in this blend it is deliberately lighter than in the classic perfumed versions. That is what keeps it clear of the soapy note some drinkers dislike.

Underneath sits a round, faintly malty black tea that does real work in the cup instead of acting as a carrier. Astringency is low and the finish short and clean, so it clears the palate rather than lingering. If you want an Earl Grey you can identify from across the room, this will seem restrained; if the style has always tasted of soap to you, try this before giving up.

The milk question

Milk usually flattens an Earl Grey because the base tea is too light to survive it. Here each bag holds 2.5g, 200g spread across 80 bags, which is heavier than the slim bags many scented teas use, and there is enough black tea behind the citrus for a small splash to soften the scent without washing the cup out. Drunk black, the bergamot sits further forward.

Brew it in water just off the boil for three minutes, covered if possible, and take the bag out without pressing it. It is forgiving: a fourth minute does not make it harsh, which few scented blacks can claim. Drink it soon after pouring, because the bergamot leaves with the steam, and a mug left standing drifts back towards plain black tea.

Unbleached bags and a place on the shelf

Unbleached, in the product name, describes the bag paper: it has not been whitened, so it looks browner in the box. That is a processing choice, not a sign of poorer quality, and it is a statement about the paper alone rather than a claim about plastic or composting. The disposal route is printed on the carton.

Within Clipper's range this is the middle-of-the-day tea: Organic Everyday for milk and the morning rush, the decaf for late cups, and this Earl Grey for the afternoon. It keeps its caffeine, so it belongs on the daytime side of the cupboard. We like it beside shortbread or a butter biscuit, where the citrus cuts through the richness.

The packs we stock

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Earl Grey Tea, 80 Unbleached Tea Bags 200g (barcode 5021991938542)

What the label says

The published ingredient list for Clipper Organic Fairtrade Earl Grey Tea, 80 Unbleached Tea Bags 200g (barcode 5021991938542) names none of the 14 major allergens. Read the current UK box of Clipper Earl Grey before buying; recipes and allergen advice get revised.

Ingredients, as published: ORGANICALLY GROWN FAIR TRADE TEA, NATURAL BERGAMOT FLAVOUR 95% FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS.

Typical values per 100g	Per 100g
Energy	4 kcal
Fat	0g
of which saturates	0g
Carbohydrate	0g
of which sugars	0g
Fibre	0g
Protein	0g
Salt	0g

Ingredient and nutrition data for this barcode: Open Food Facts (openfoodfacts.org), ODbL. If in doubt, the Clipper Earl Grey box itself decides.

What to eat with it

Royal Dansk Danish Butter Cookies, 340g: Danish butter cookies bring a richness that the restrained bergamot cuts through neatly.
Lu Le Petit Beurre Biscuits With Butter & a Hint of Salt, 167g: A plain butter biscuit with a hint of salt that lets a restrained Earl Grey stay in front.
Border Lemon Drizzle Melts Organic Biscuits, 150g: Lemon meets bergamot: two citrus notes that echo each other rather than compete.

Elsewhere in the Clipper range

The full range is on the Clipper brand page.

FAQ

Can you put milk in Clipper Earl Grey? Yes. The 2.5g bag carries a fuller black tea than most Earl Greys, so a small splash softens the bergamot without flattening the cup.

Is the bergamot strong in Clipper Earl Grey? No. It is restrained and comes through as aroma above the cup, so lovers of a loud, floral Earl Grey may find it underpowered.

What does unbleached mean on the box? The bag paper has not been whitened. The word describes the paper only, not the tea inside it.

How long should I brew it? Three minutes in freshly boiled water. It tolerates four without turning hard.

Is Clipper Earl Grey a good late-evening cup? It is a caffeinated black tea, so we keep it for the daytime; Clipper's organic Fairtrade decaf is the box for late cups.

Curator's note: If you have written Earl Grey off as soapy, give this one three minutes and a drop of milk before you decide. Pour it straight away, while the bergamot is still in the steam. Lee, teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.

In short: Clipper Organic Fairtrade Earl Grey: A Quieter Bergamot

Field	Detail
Brand	Clipper
Packs we stock	80 Unbleached Tea Bags 200g
Category	Organic Tea Bags
Allergens (as published)	Clipper lists the Earl Grey's ingredients publicly, and none is one of the 14 major allergens.
Caffeine	caffeinated
Bergamot	Restrained, more scent than flavour
Milk	A small splash works
Best with	Shortbread or butter biscuits