This Earl Gray extract is great for baking and will enhance the black tea flavor in your recipes, leaving a floral bergamot aftertaste.
I’m an Earl Gray fan. London fogs are always part of my busy working days. Earl Gray cake is my dear companion when I’m thinking of new recipes.
But sometimes it’s hard to make the flavor of black tea more prominent in a recipe. With that in mind, I decided to start experimenting with this extract, and it was the best thing I’ve done in a long time.
It can be added to many recipes: fillings, cakes, cookies, syrups and even ice creams. And a few drops will make all the difference in drinks, like this Earl Gray Milk Tea.
Some say Earl Gray is reminiscent of lavender. I also love lavender, and I think these two flavors go together really well, but I don’t really find them similar. If you are looking for a lavender extract recipeI also have a post with a step-by-step video on this for you!
Ingredients
Extracts are one of the easiest things to do. As with my lavender extract, you’ll only need 2 ingredients for this one.
Vodka. I usually use vodka for my extracts – it’s about 40% alcohol, and you can’t taste it once the extract is made. Rum also works, but like bourbon, it can leave an aftertaste.
Note: Want to make it alcohol-free? Replace the alcohol with three parts food-grade liquid glycerin and one part water, stirring both ingredients together until well combined.
It has Earl Grey. You can use loose leaves or the contents of tea bags. Both work great for this recipe.
how to do it
Get a clean bottle or jar with a lid, as well as vodka and Earl Gray leaves or tea bags. I prefer to use a jar as it is easier to add the ingredients.
If you are using tea bags, you can do this without cutting the bags open if you prefer. That way, you don’t have to strain it, but remove the bags after the tear time.
In the clean glass bottle or jar, add Earl Gray leaves (or tea bags).
Stir in vodka. Close the lid and give it a good shake.
Place the bottle/jar away from sunlight. Let it break for 3 weeks. Shake the bottle/jar every other day during the extraction process.
After 3 weeks, strain the liquid and discard the Earl Gray leaves. You can use a paper filter to strain it, especially if you want to reduce the oil content (Earl Gray has bergamot oil).
If using tea bags, remove them from the extract. Whether or not you press the tea bags before taking them out is also up to you (it is said that doing so could make the leaves and make the taste more bitter).
This recipe makes about ¾ cup of Earl Gray extract.
You ask what you are doing
While it only takes a few minutes to put the ingredients together, the extraction process takes about 3 to 5 weeks, depending on how strong you want the final flavor to be.
I always use a glass bottle or jars for my extracts as this material will leave no aftertaste. Amber glass is said to be best as it prevents light from affecting the extracts. But don’t sweat it, clear, clear glass bottles or jars are still fine.
storage
Due to the high alcohol content, this Earl Gray extract does not have an expiration date. You can keep it indefinitely.
Just make sure the bottle or jar you use to store the extract is tightly closed and away from light and any heat sources. The best places to store it would be in the pantry or inside a closet.
Yield: ¾ cup
Extract from Earl Grey
This Earl Gray extract is great for baking and will enhance the black tea flavor in your recipes, leaving a floral bergamot aftertaste.
Preparation time
5 minutes
total time
5 minutes
Ingredients
-
4 teaspoons Earl Gray tea (loose leaves or tea bags)
-
1 cup (8 oz) vodka
-
A glass jar with a lid. Get a clean glass jar with a lid.
Instructions
- Get a clean glass jar with a lid.
- Add Earl Gray leaves (or tea bags, if you want to use them).
- Pour the vodka into the bottle or jar, leaving about 1 inch of space between the vodka and the top of the bottle.
- Close the bottle/jar, letting it sit for 3 weeks in a cool place, away from sunlight. Give it a shake every other day.
- After 3 weeks, strain the liquid and discard the Earl Gray leaves.
- If using tea bags, remove them from the extract.
notes
If you are using tea bags, you can do this without cutting the bags open if you prefer. That way, you don’t have to strain it, but remove the bags after the tear time.
You can use a paper filter to strain it, especially if you want to reduce the oil content (Earl Gray has bergamot oil).
Earl Gray extract has no expiration date. You can keep it indefinitely. Keep the jar you use to store the extract tightly closed and away from direct light and any heat sources.
Nutritional information
performance
1
Portion size
1
Amount per serving
calories 0total fat 0 gsaturated fat 0 gTrans fats 0 gUnsaturated fats 0 gcholesterol 0 mgsodium 0 mgCarbohydrates 0 gfiber 0 gsugar 0 gprotein 0 g
Nutritional information is an estimate only and will vary based on substitutions made and/or brands used.