When you think of citrus and tea, lemon is probably the citrus fruit that springs to mind first. But don’t forget limes, oranges, and others—they add zest to your teatime!
Quick quiz: How many citrus fruits can you name?
- Orange — duh! everyone thinks of this one; increasingly common in flavored teas and herbals. The bergamot orange is the flavoring used in Earl Grey tea.
- Lemon — the second most common pairing with tea, often added to black teas such as Assam.
- Lime — slightly less sour than lemons; also used in desserts like key lime pie and tea-inspired desserts.
- Grapefruit — rich in fiber and nutrients; sometimes referred to as a “diet fruit.”
- Pummelo — larger than grapefruit with thicker skin and a milder flavor.
- Tangelo — a cross between tangerine and grapefruit; rich in vitamins.
- Mandarin — sweet, easy-to-peel, and high in fiber.
- Tangerine — slightly less acidic; rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Kumquat — edible skin; often used in cooking and beverages.
- Clementine — seedless and high in vitamin C and potassium.
- Minneola — a tangelo variety known for its easy-to-peel skin.
Teas and herbals that contain citrus: Flavored teas continue to grow in popularity, with citrus-infused blends becoming more common.
- Earl Grey tops the list, being one of the oldest and most recognized citrus-flavored teas. Popular options include Bewley’s Earl Grey tea bags, Davidson’s Earl Grey loose leaf tea, Harney & Sons Earl Grey, The Republic of Tea Earl Grey loose leaf, Revolution Earl Grey Lavender tea, Stash Earl Grey tea, Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey Green Tea, and Twinings Earl Grey loose tea, along with Double Bergamot Earl Grey and British Earl Grey White Tea. For more history, see this overview of Earl Grey tea origins and history.
- Black teas with citrus additions include black tea with lemon blend, cranberry orange flavored black tea, orange spice flavored black tea, blood orange flavored black tea, and orange blossom white tea.
- Herbal options include Twinings Honeybush Mandarin Orange herbal tea, Tangerine Rooibos herbal tea, Florida Orange Rooibos tea, Sunshine Lemon Rooibos tea, and Davidson’s Tangerine Almond herbal tea.
Treats with citrus: Citrus flavors also pair well with foods served alongside tea.
- Spreadable options include Seville orange marmalade, orange curd, lemon curd, key lime curd, and jalapeño tangerine jam.
- Scones such as lemon poppy seed scone mix and cranberry-orange scone mix.
- Flavored honeys like lemon honey sticks.
- Cookies and cakes including Norfolk Manor lemon biscuits, key lime tea cookies, Bolands Lemon Puffs, Jacob’s Jaffa Cakes, Key Lime Coolers, and Mr Kipling Lemon Slices.
One thing is certain: lemon and milk together in your tea is not one of life’s great experiences. Why? In a word—curdling. As noted in this reference to Richard Feynman’s humorous account involving tea etiquette, even the idea itself can earn a surprised reaction. Consider yourself warned!
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