Let’s be honest. We’ve all popped the kettle on for another cup of Earl Grey, only to realise that the clock has just struck 8pm! That’s almost my bedtime.
So, when is the best time to drink Earl Grey tea?
And what does this mean for your ready-and-waiting teabag? The one sitting in a cup with a lemon slice, just waiting for a splash of water.
Well, stay tuned. We’re about to dive right into it.
Table of Contents
- Should I Drink Earl Grey in the Morning?
- Should I Drink Earl Grey in the Afternoon?
- How Much Caffeine is in Earl Grey?
- Can I Drink Earl Grey Before Bed?
- Drinking Earl Grey in the Summer
- Drinking Earl Grey in the Winter
- When Do You Like Your Earl Grey?
Should I Drink Earl Grey in the Morning?
I think we can all agree that a warm cup of Earl Grey in the morning sets a pretty good tone for the day.
Not only will that slow-release caffeine help kick-start your day. But drinking Earl Grey can help settle an empty stomach. Just what you need after a nightly fast.
As such, the best time for a morning cup of Earl Grey is around fifteen minutes after breakfast.
But that’s not all.
Hydrating yourself with tea is an excellent way to de-fog your brain after a long night of sleep.
Now that’s a great way to start the day!
Should I Drink Earl Grey in the Afternoon?
We’ve all been there.
You’re halfway through the day when suddenly, you have no energy left. Nothing. Zilch. Nada!
If only there was a way for you to fix that.
Thankfully, Earl Grey tea is the perfect way to overcome that mid-afternoon slump.
Not only that, but it can also help to cut your cortisol levels. In turn, this helps ease you into the second half of the day, stress-free.
But, what does this mean?
Essentially, the caffeine in tea is different from the caffeine in coffee.
Tea is more likely to give you a stable energy boost. Coffee, on the other hand, may give you the jitters!
How Much Caffeine is in Earl Grey?
The caffeine content of Earl Grey greatly depends on four main factors:
- Tea Type
- Tea Amount
- Steep Time
- Water Temperature
However, as a general rule of thumb, 100g of black tea contains between 18mg to 52mg of caffeine.
In comparison, coffee can range anywhere from 40mg to a whopping 500mg per cup.
Now that’s NOT a drink you’re going to want before bedtime!
But what about Earl Grey?
Can I Drink Earl Grey Before Bed?
The bergamot in Earl Grey tea is known for its calming properties. This makes it an excellent sleep aid.
However, Earl Grey also contains black tea.
So, if you have a low caffeine tolerance, you may want to rethink that sip. Especially just before bed.
Typically, your body needs up to ten hours to completely remove caffeine.
Although, this greatly depends on factors such as your weight, age, medication, liver health, and whether or not you’re pregnant.
And while coffee is considerably stronger than tea, its caffeine hit actually wears off faster.
In contrast, the caffeine ingested from that cup of Earl Grey could be in your system for a good while after drinking it.
With this in mind, you may want to stop drinking Earl Grey several hours before you sleep.
But if you simply can’t do without a cup of Earl Grey, there are some alternatives.
So, what are your options?
Decaffeinated Earl Grey
If you’re hypersensitive to caffeine, you should switch out your regular blend with decaffeinated Earl Grey from midday onwards.
Or, at the very least, drink only decaf before you head to bed.
That’s unless you plan on binge-watching the Big Bang Theory all night. In which case, you’ll need that extra caffeine!
Zero Caffeine Earl Grey
However, decaffeinated doesn’t mean caffeine-free.
Therefore, you may want to consider a different tea base.
Something herbal like Rooibos or Honeybush.
Not only are these teas naturally void of caffeine, but several teamakers already sell Redbush Earl Grey blends.
Drinking Earl Grey in the Summer
You might not think it, but drinking a nice cup of Earl Grey in the summer can help you to cool down.
Have you ever wondered why people in countries like Turkey, Egypt, and India commonly drink hot tea in the summer?
Well, it’s because the tea helps your body produce sweat. In turn, this cools you down.
Not convinced?
Earl Grey also makes a splendid cold brew.
Just add some ice, sweetener, and lemon to the cooled liquid for a tasty (American-inspired) Earl Grey iced tea.
Drinking Earl Grey in the Winter
It almost goes without saying. But Earl Grey and winter are a match made in heaven.
Particularly with flu season around the corner!
Thankfully, Earl Grey tea has a number of health benefits. And this includes a boost to your immune system.
A warm winter cup of Earl Grey can also help to increase blood circulation to keep you warm from the inside out.
Plus it helps to aid digestion at a time when a lot of us are eating WAY too much.
Winter is also the perfect time to share a cup of Earl Grey with friends and family. And it’s sure to help keep the winter blues at bay.
When Do You Like Your Earl Grey?
There’s nothing better than both starting and ending the day with a nice cup of Earl Grey.
And now you know the best times to engage in your favourite activity, you can do it all the time!
Better yet, with endless caffeine-free options on offer (Rooibos Earl Grey, anyone?), you can even enjoy Earl Grey tea before bed.
How perfect does that sound?