Earl Grey tea is a flavored tea that is typically a black tea base flavored with oil from the rind of bergamot orange, a citrus fruit with the appearance and flavor somewhere between an orange and a lemon with a little grapefruit and lime thrown in. The rinds fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste. Traditionally, Earl Grey was made from black teas such as Chinese keemun, and therefore intended to be served without milk. However, many if not most Earl Greys use artificial bergamot flavor. Other tea bases are also used, including green tea, oolong, and occasionally, green tea leaves or oolong leaves are used in place of the black tea leaves. Earl Grey tea is a flavored tea that is infused with bergamot orange. Flavored teas consist of true tea leaves that are infused or blended with fruit, flowers, herbs or spices. The rind of the bergamot orange is dried and added to black tea leaves to produce Earl Grey tea. Bergamot oil extracted from the rind is also used in certain blends.

In summary, Earl Grey tea is typically a black tea base flavored with oil from the rind of bergamot orange, but other tea bases such as green tea and oolong can also be used. The rinds fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique taste.