Earl Grey tea is a classic traditional tea blend that has stood the test of time. What sets it apart is the additional citrus flavor from the bergamot oil. With this bergamot orange kick, you’ll find an incredible fusion of flavors that bring a refreshing, citrus burst over the earthy flavor of kratom. If you are looking for a mild caffeine kick with your kratom paired with an invigorating citrus infusion, keep reading below for your passport to a new cold, summer drink.
Black Teas and Kratom
Black teas are known for having a stronger taste than some of the other teas with lighter notes. With kratom, this is actually an advantage if you are looking to mask the taste of kratom completely. One of the most common complaints among kratom enthusiast is that it doesn’t have a pleasant taste and finding ways to mask it should help make it more enjoyable.
Black teas are also popular for its long shelf life and ability to be enjoyed either hot or cold. While this recipe calls for a cold beverage, black teas and kratom pair particularly well together when hot. The preparation period is also significantly shorter as kratom is brewed for 15-20 minutes and the addition of tea in a hot drink would only be a few minutes. Some companies in Europe have started to sell teas and kratom packaged together with single serve drip filter bags. These are super convenient and take all the guessing out of how to prepare it! Nectar Leaf is one brand who sells these. You can find them here.
When it comes to black teas regarding your health, you’ll find that black teas are full of antioxidants. Polyphenols, including catechins and theaflavins, are the main source of antioxidants found in Black Tea and are very important in promoting overall health. According to one study which examined rats to better understand the role of theaflavins in black tea,the results showed reduced cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Additional studies have shown that it may boost heart health, reduce blood sugar, and lower bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. All that while delivering a nice caffeinated boost!
If you are looking for an added energy kick with your kratom, black teas are one of the best ways to go. The caffeine content in black teas range from 40-80mg Caffeine, with Earl Grey being around 55-80mg of caffeine per 8oz cup. For many, this is the perfect amount to pair with a white or green kratom strain that already has an energy boost on its own.
Many people wonder why Earl Grey Tea has stood the test of time. Earl Grey’s staying power is undoubtedly credited to the addition of bergamot. Bergamot tea is commonly comprised of black tea leaves and the fruit of the Citrus bergamia tree. To produce this tea, the leaves are either sprayed with bergamot extract or essential oil, or mixed with dried bergamot rinds. Like many other citrus fruits, the addition of bergamot has a distinctive fragrance and citrus flavor. While this tea received its name from the British prime minister Earl Grey and is often credited as a British staple, it is actually native to Southeast Asia.
Cold Brewed Earl Grey Kratom Tea Recipe
To get started creating this refreshing beverage, it’s important to have quality ingredients. For that, I have used Nectar Leaf’s Earl Grey tea. This tea is incredibly aromatic and is fused with fresh, floral notes. The signature citrus undertones are what really set this drink apart. Nectar Leaf’s high quality teas are shipped all over Europe and are definitely one to consider for both the convenience and consistent high quality.
To begin, you’ll want to brew your kratom according to the normal tea preparation. To learn about this in detail, you can visit our Kratom Preparation 101 page. For a quick recipe reminder:
- Measure out around 2.5 – 3 grams of kratom for each serving
- Heat 8oz of hot water per serving. You’ll probably want to use 2-3 cups of hot water
- You may bring your water to a boil and let sit for a few minutes or bring to just under a boil. Add kratom to water and stir.
- At this point, you want to wait for your water to come down to room temperature. You can either leave your kratom mix out or put it in the fridge to cool down. You may also add ice to speed up this process after your kratom has been sitting in warm water for 15-30 minutes.
- When it is finally cool, you can begin your Earl Grey addition!
Earl Grey and Kratom Infusion
- With your room temperature or cold kratom mix, you’ll want to add your Earl Grey tea. The ratio for this cold brew tea is 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea per 1 cup of water.
- Simply pour the loose leaf tea into the water and stir everything together. Close your mix back up and leave refrigerated at least 4 hours or overnight.
- When you are ready to finally drink your caffeinated citrus kratom tea, strain it into a new pitcher or container using a cheesecloth or coffee filter. Both your kratom and loose leaf tea will have settled to the bottom making this very easy to filter. In a pinch, you can even pour it out into a new container or glass without straining and simply stop your pour before the heavier settled contents pour over the edge.
- At this point, you may add honey or milk to change the taste depending on your preference.