Earl Grey French

Western style - 2-4 g/250 ml, 95 degC. Soak for 2 1 / 2 -3 1 / 2 minutes, then strain. Delicious with or without milk.

4-5 gongfu style in a 120-150 ml pot at 95 degC; quick rinse; first 20-25 sec infusion, then 10-15 sec each round.

Iced/Cold brew - 8-10 g in 1 L. Cold steep 6-8 hours in fridge, strain and serve on ice. Or make 3 minutes of hot brew and flash-chill.

Heart & blood-pressure markers (tea overall): Controlled trials and a 2021 dose–response meta-analysis report that regular black tea intake can modestly improve blood-pressure measures (including variation over 24 h). Effects are small but consistent across long-term use. American Journal of Clinical NutritionRSC Publishing

Attention & alertness (tea’s caffeine + L-theanine): Recent systematic reviews of RCTs find tea, and theanine with caffeine, can acutely support attention and task performance in healthy adults. Benefits are context-dependent and typically modest. Oxford AcademicCambridge University Press & Assessment

Gut-microbiota interaction (mechanistic): Black tea theaflavins are transformed by gut microbes into smaller metabolites; emerging work suggests these may contribute to tea’s physiological effects. Human-relevance is still being clarified. MDPI

Soothing support from mallow (traditional use): European Medicines Agency monographs recognise mallow flower (Malva sylvestris) preparations for traditional use in mild oral/throat irritation due to their demulcent mucilage. European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Rose aroma & mood (context note): Trials of Rosa damascena (often via aroma or extract, not tea) show signals for reduced anxiety and improved sleep quality; these findings relate to rose constituents rather than brewed petal tea per se. Europe PMCScienceDirect

Evidence mainly reflects black tea and specific herbal monographs; benefits from the small amounts of petals/flavouring in this blend are primarily sensory.

Contains caffeine. Avoid if you are sensitive to caffeine or are told to limit stimulants.

Reflux patients may want shorter steeps.

Allergies: avoid if you have an allergy to tea or any of the listed botanicals (Sunflower; Asteraceae for chamomile; Asteraceae for nettle; Asteraceae for nettle; Asteraceae for nettle; Asteraceae for nettle; Asteraceae for nettle; Asteraceae for nettle; Asteraceae for rose; Asteraceae for nettle; Asterace Malvaceae for mallow).

It is a flavoured blend - avoidance of sensitivities to natural flavourings is advised. Not recommended during pregnancy or nursing without professional advice.