Lady Londonderry Afternoon Tea Loose Leaf Black Tea

🍵 The Blend — A full-flavoured Earl Grey base lifted with cool, clean mint — a considered house blend designed with the afternoon cup firmly in mind

🍵 The Colour — A rich amber-copper liquor with an inviting depth, brightened by the fresh aromatic lift of mint as the steam rises

🍵 The Character — Bergamot's floral citrus warmth meets the cool brightness of mint for a cup that is both grounding and gently invigorating

🍵 The Occasion — Ideal for afternoon tea, especially alongside delicate sandwiches, shortbread, or a well-made scone

Earl Grey with mint is one of those combinations that rewards every instinct that led someone to try it in the first place. The floral, citrus-forward warmth of bergamot and the clean, cooling brightness of mint are natural companions — each sharpening the other without either taking over — and this house blend captures that balance with care.

Earl Grey itself carries one of the great backstories in British tea culture. Named after Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey and Prime Minister of Britain in the early 1830s, the blend's origins are pleasingly hazy — part legend, part diplomacy, part happy accident. What is known is that Lady Grey, his wife, used it to considerable effect when entertaining as a political hostess in London, and its reputation spread from there. It has been a cornerstone of the British tea tradition ever since.

This blend takes that foundation and introduces a mint note that transforms the afternoon drinking experience. Where a classic Earl Grey leans aromatic and refined, the mint addition brings an uplifting freshness that makes each cup feel lighter and more reviving — well suited to the mid-afternoon moment when something restorative is called for.

The liquor is a rich, warm amber with genuine depth. Drunk without milk, the bergamot and mint play off each other in full. A splash of milk softens everything into something altogether more comforting, without obscuring the blend's character.

Black tea is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, and many people find the aroma of both bergamot and mint to be naturally uplifting. This is a blend that earns its place in the afternoon ritual.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists. With over 350 teas and infusions — one of the largest collections in the country — we have spent nearly two decades sourcing blends that genuinely merit a place in your caddy. This house blend is one of our own, and we are quietly proud of it.

Ingredients: Black tea, bergamot flavouring, mint.

Brewing Note: Use freshly boiled water and allow it to cool for just a moment — around 95°C is ideal, which avoids any harshness from the bergamot while keeping the mint lively and fresh. One heaped teaspoon per cup, steeped for 3 to 4 minutes, produces a bright, well-balanced result. For a stronger, more full-bodied cup, extend the steep to 5 minutes rather than adding more leaf, which can tip the balance. This blend is equally good without milk — the bergamot and mint are at their clearest served black — but it takes a dash of milk gracefully if that is your preference.