For those moments when you’re craving a main course that’s as comforting as your afternoon tea, we’ve brewed up something truly inventive. Forget the standard honey-mustard glaze; we’re infusing your table with a flavor you can feel, and it all starts with the bold, aromatic power of the black tea and citrus.
Our Double Bergamot Earl Grey is the hero of this dish. While standard Earl Greys might offer a polite nod to citrus, our blend is like spending a whole getting to know it. This tea is infused with double the bergamot for an intensely aromatic experience that leaves you feeling bright and balanced. When reduced into a silky, savory-sweet glaze, it transforms a classic ham into an elevated centerpiece that’s pure, free-spirited, and uplifting.
Here is how to steep some serious flavor into your next gathering.
The Ingredients: Because We’re Ingredient-Obsessed & Proud of It
- The Hero: 6-8 Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey tea bags.
- The Base: 1 (8-10 lb) fully cooked bone-in ham. Spiral cut works too.
- The Sweetness: 1 cup brown sugar (for that velvety, caramelized finish).
- The Zest: ½ cup orange juice and 1 tbsp orange zest.
- The Spice: 1-2 tsp Dijon mustard.
- The Infusion: 1 cup boiling water.
The Ritual: How to Infuse Your Dinner Moment
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The Masterful Steep: Place your Stash tea bags in a heat-proof bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Let them steep for 8–10 minutes. Don’t be afraid to go bold here; we want a concentrated flavor that can stand up to the richness of the ham.
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The Reduction: Squeeze the bags to release every last drop of Earl Grey essence, then pour the tea into a small saucepan. Stir in the brown sugar, orange juice, zest, and mustard. Simmer over medium heat until the mixture reduces into a thick, syrupy glaze.
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The Roast: Score the surface of your ham in a diamond pattern. Think of this as a canvas for flavor. Place it in a roasting pan with a splash of water at the bottom. Brush a layer of your Earl Grey glaze over the top. Tent it with foil.
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The Baste: Bake at 325°F for 1 ½ to 2 hours, depending on the instructions on the package. You want roughly 60 minutes left on the cook when you begin really glazing the ham. Remove the foil and glaze the ham every 20 minutes. Put the ham back in the oven, uncovered in between. You’re looking for a dark, burnished mahogany crust.
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The Finish: Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to settle and the citrus notes of the bergamot to truly shine.
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The Optional: Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme to the pan while reducing for an extra layer of flavor. Or a pinch of clove for a subtle warm hum. You can insert cloves into the middle of the diamond patterns as well. You can also cut the brown sugar in half and add half a cup of marmalade for extra across-the-pond flavor.
Why It Works
At Stash, we believe tea is more than a drink; it’s a ritual that transforms the everyday into something extraordinary. The tannins in the black tea cut through the richness of the ham, while the double dose of bergamot adds a sophisticated brightness that you won't find in any grocery store kit.
It’s deliciously-inventive and exactly what your dinner table deserves.
How to Mix it Up
Replace the tea with one of your other favorites. We suggest Tangerine Honey White Tea, Orange Ginger Herbal Tea, Chai Spice Black Tea, or Double Spice Chai Black Tea, depending on what you enjoy most. Or use Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea with a tablespoon or two of soy sauce for an Asian inspired ham. You can also switch the orange juice and zest for apple juice and pair that with Peach Black Tea for a Southern Sweet Tea Glaze that will have guests licking their plates.
