If you’ve looked at a restaurant menu lately, chances are you’ve seen earl grey somewhere on it. Supermarket News lists earl grey as one of the top 10 trends of 2018, and it’s easy to see why: this tea flavor is booming, appearing on 1 in 10 menus, and not just in the tea category, according to Mike Kosto, senior publications manager at food trends market research giant Datassential. Following the rise of matcha as an ingredient used far beyond the teacup, earl grey is being used to flavor non-beverage items, mostly desserts and cocktails. Check out these earl grey desert and cocktail recipes to get in on the trend:
DESSERTS
Honey Earl Grey Fig Cake
This cake from The Little Epicurian tops an earl grey-flavored cake with honey cream cheese frosting and garnishes it with real figs, honey, and pistachios. The cake batter uses milk that’s been infused with earl grey tea and egg whites, resulting in a soft and delicate texture. The author feels that the cream cheese frosting “works well to enhance the orange notes of Earl Grey,” and we have a feeling you’ll agree.
Earl Grey And Mango Tiramisu
This recipe from Red Magazine offers three new flavors to this traditional Italian dessert: earl grey, mango, and pistachio. Sponge biscuit fingers are soaked in earl grey tea, then lovingly layered with cream and mangoes. Dust with pistachios for a crunchy finish!
Earl Grey Chocolate Pots de Crème with Honey Coconut Whip
This recipe from The Pig & Quill pairs earl grey with chocolate in an adorable medium: pots de crème. Light coconut milk is used as a healthy substitute to half and half. Begin by steeping earl grey tea in coconut milk, then add to a mixture of chocolate chips, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Pour into individual glasses and chill at least four hours—or, ideally, overnight—and then top with honeyed whip, chocolate chips, and crushed cookies. Picture-perfect and oh-so-delicious!
Earl Grey Chocolate Bread Pudding
This recipe from Bite Me More elevates classic bread pudding with chocolate and earl grey tea. Add whipped cream for a silky finish and you’re off to the races.
COCKTAILS
Earl Grey Martini
This martini recipe from Olivia’s Cuisine combines strong earl grey tea with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg whites. Says the author, “The subtle botanicals in the gin pair nicely with the earl grey and lemon flavors, making this a very delicate and aromatic cocktail.”
Earl Grey Margarita
This margarita recipe from Hope & Glory features a bitter dose of earl grey to balance out the sweet and sour tastes of a classic margarita. Bottom’s up!
Earl Grey Blackberry Bourbon Cocktail
This cocktail recipe from Beginning With Bergamot is a simple combination of bourbon whiskey, earl grey tea, blackberry, and simple syrup. A rosemary and blackberry garnish finishes things off. The author promises the cocktail is “rich, warm, and fruity.” Sounds good to us!
Earl Grey Lemon Vodka John Daly Cocktail 
This cocktail recipe from Boulder Locavore is the perfect way to dress up vodka with flavor and fun. Start with earl grey iced tea, add lemonade and lemon vodka, and presto: it’s happy hour.