Tea. It's what I start my day with and end my day with. Nothing beats a cup of tea for both it's relaxing qualities and it's ability to soothe your soul. For some tea is so loved and honoured it becomes a ritual in and of itself, and it's easy to see why because there is something almost magical about enjoying a cup of tea with someone, be they a friend or someone you've only just met.
Never a coffee drinker, I've always loved tea. In fact I love it so much my fiance says we have a tea shop in our pantry due to the sheer number of teas I have amassed in there. My favourite tea changes with the season, at the moment it's Lemongrass and Ginger due to it's wonderful winter warming qualities, but at the start of my day it's hard to pass up a cup of Earl Grey tea. Which for me is a green tea based Earl Grey.
There are several stories about how Earl Grey tea came about, but what is undisputed is that Earl Grey tea is named after the 2nd Earl Grey, who went on to become British Prime Minister in the 1830's. The story of how the tea came about, according to the Grey family, was that the tea was specially created by a Chinese mandarin for Lord Grey to suit the water at Howick Hall, one of the families homes, and it used bergamont to offset an excess of lime in the local water. Lady Grey then went on to serve the tea to guests at her home and it proved so popular that she was asked if it could be sold to others, which, apparently, is how Twinings came to market Earl Grey tea. Whatever the truth behind the history of Earl Grey there is no doubt as to it's wonderful uplifting qualities, thanks to the inclusion of bergamont.
My first experience of Earl Grey chocolate truffles came about thanks to my dear friend Caro. When Caro lived in Sydney I travelled there at least once a month for work and we would meet up and go out for the most extraordinary dinners, lunches and deliciously indulgent treats. Being devout foodies, we would spend hours at dinner plotting which bar we would go to next for their delicious cocktails, or where we would visit for desserts, but my favourite memories of our times together are the times that Caro cooked for me. Being an ex pastry chef, and an amazingly talented cook, her food was so delicious it often put what we ate at restaurants to shame.
The day Caro gave me some of her precious Earl Gray chocolate truffles I was still at work, preparing for a stressful and important client presentation later that afternoon. We'd been corresponding via SMS, organising where what time I finished work and where we would go for dinner that night when she mentioned she would stop by to deliver what she called "much needed sustenance" to get me through my client presentation. She stopped by the office with a beautifull presented box wrapped in a red bow and lined with orange tissue paper and inside were the most gorgeous truffles that she had made. The box consisted of two flavours, dark chocolate flavoured with Earl Grey tea and white chocolate flavoured infused with lime. While both were delicious the Earl Gray were my favourite and in fact the memory of how amazing they were still lingers with me. Isn't it wonderful how food can do that?
While sadly I don't have Caro's truffle recipe, I decided to put together my green Earl Grey chocolate truffles in tribute to her. If you haven't made truffles before don't be fooled into thinking they are difficult. In fact they really are quite easy with only a few ingredients required and a couple of steps involved in their assembly. And the best thing about making your own truffles is the ability to customise them with whatever flavour takes your fancy. They also make a wonderfully personal and touching gift!
So tell me, what is the most memorable food gift you have ever received from a friend?
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 160 ml of cream
- 30 g of unsalted butter
- 3 tsp green Earl Grey tea leaves preferably loose leaf
- 180 g of 70% cocoa chocolate chopped
- 1 cup cocoa powder sifted
Instructions
- Bring cream and butter to a boil in a small heavy saucepan and once boiling add the tea leaves and set aside for 10 minutes to infuse.
- Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl and return the cream to the heat and bring to a simmer before removing from the heat and pouring through a fine mesh seive over the top of the chocolate. Press the tea leaves to extract all the cream. Stir with a spoon until smooth and then cover with cling film and refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm.
- Place the cocoa powder in a bowl and use a melon baller to scoop out the truffles from the ganache and roll in your hands to form a ball before lightly dusting with cocoa powder.
- Store the dusted truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.
Jo Romero says
Just found you via Pinterest - love the idea of these truffles - and they seem really simple to make. Might make these as some Christmas presents! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sunshine says
HI THERE, would love to try this, but, I do not know how to convert these amounts...I know cups, and tbsp etc....not grams and ml...?? so how much heavy cream and butter and cocoa???
Jennifer says
Hi Sunshine,
There are some great conversion tools on this website http://www.traditionaloven.com/conversions_of_measures/weight_units.html I hope that helps you 😀
Sophie (thestickyandsweet.com) says
These look scrumptious 🙂
Michelle says
These look amazing and I love the story! I didn't even know there was Green Earl Grey - I just have Twinnings! I'll have to look out for it.
delicieux says
Hi Michelle,
It's definitely a beautiful tea to try and much more delicate the black earl grey.
Erin @ she cooks, she gardens says
I love how simple and lovely these are, I'm definitely going to give them a shot next time I'm hosting afternoon tea.
My mum is always giving gifts of food, if I'm sick with a cold or something she will always make something yummy and bring it over which makes me feel better instantly.
Katie @Epicurean Mom says
These are so creative Jennifer!! I wish you lived close so we could have dinners and dessert together. I would make you bring these 😉
delicieux says
That would be a lot of fun Katie as we seem to have similar tastes 😀
Monica (@gastromony) says
Delicious! I love truffles and can't say I've come across Earl Grey ones. Great to read up on the history of Earl Grey too 🙂
K-bobo @ Gormandize with A-dizzle & K-bobo says
These look lovely! I love how versatile truffles are, they are so easy to make and the flavours you can include are just endless!
Gastronomy Gal says
Arghhhhhh am addicted to tea but not earl grey. However, these def look like a treat I'd love to try x
JJ @ 84thand3rd says
I love it when food evokes memories of a good friend - these sound delicious!
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Yum! How absolutely delicious!
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed says
divine...simply divine.
Heidi xo
tania@mykitchenstories.com.au says
Lovely recipe. I love truffles ,,,,mm. Lovely story .There is nothing more exciting than to share an obsession with someone that is on the same wavelength!
Chris@WeLoveChicken says
I love truffles and these look simply mouth-watering. I wish I had them right here to eat!
Moya says
I agree chocolate truffles are not so difficult to make and home-made truffles make a great present for a foodie! Earl Grey tea is a winner on flavour so I know those truffles will be delicious. 🙂 I received a beautiful gift of infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars from a friend and as I love salads they were put to good use. 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
These are absolutely stunning Jennifer and I love nothing more than a cup of tea with my afternoon break! And one of these too please 😉
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
These truffles look awesome! Such a fun combination of flavors.
Aukse says
They look fantastic! I'd love to have some by my side right now. 🙂
Nic@diningwithastud says
What gorgeous truffles 😀
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
I am most definitely a coffee drinker; preferring it to tea but I'm also most definitely a chocolate lover and these sound elegant and wonderful.
Rosa says
I'm a coffee drinker, but I cannot go through the day without drinking at least one pot of tea and two cuppas.
Earl grey has such a wonderful flavor. Those truffles must be addictive!
Cheers,
Rosa
thelittleloaf says
Your friend sounds like such a sweetheart! One of my friends did something similar when I was having a bad day at work and brought me round a homemade chocolate tartlet. I was in a meeting so she left it at the front desk and it was the most wonderful surprise when I finally picked it up 🙂
These truffles look and sound gorgeous - love the addition of tea!
Nic says
They look delicious, although as I sit here with my hot Ribena (so grown up, I know!) I think I would prefer the lime and white chocolate ones, but I never say no to chocolate in any form!
Choc Chip Uru says
I have heard of tea and chocolate flavour together but have never been gutsy enough to try it - your pictures look irresistible though 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Christina @ The Hungry Australian says
Wow these look stunning, Jennifer. Lovely recipe. Hmmm - I'm not sure of the most magnificent food present from a friend - mostly introductions to new foods and restaurants I imagine - but one year my brother and I gave my dad a basket full of different chilli sauces. I think we had a dozen different bottles - and yes, he loved it!
Kyrstie @ A Fresh Legacy says
Hi Jennifer, what a great combination! Earl Grey is my second favorite tea after Chai. What a beautiful friend you have to bring you such a delicious thoughtful gift. The most memorable food gift I have received was from my mum's friend Brenda. She makes the most divine Pesto. The best I have ever tasted. She never fails to send me a jar when my mum visits.
cc11 says
I am also a tea girl - lvoe earl grey with chocolate!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What beautiful truffles! Earl Grey is one of my favorites too since I like the taste of bergamot.
Chompchomp says
Ooh yeah Earl Grey is one of my favourite black teas. We recently tried Earl Grey tea ice cream at Nobu here in Perth - it was amazing! Now I want to try these truffles!