To go with a variety of sandwiches without adding extra flavour, start by comparing English Breakfast teas with black teas whose ingredients list contains only black tea. Choose an Earl Grey if you’d like a hint of bergamot: neither the blend’s name nor its recommended steeping time guarantees you’ll enjoy it with every filling. Then check the ingredients, brewing instructions and number of tea bags to make sure they suit the way you’ll use it.
If you switch between different sandwich fillings, you could start with products whose ingredients list only black tea. Product information from Lipton, Carrefour and Auchan includes examples like these; check the ingredients on the box you choose.
If you’re after a bolder flavour at lunchtime, compare each blend’s description and brewing instructions. Twinings and Auchan recommend different steeping times for different products: “Breakfast” doesn’t mean every box has the same strength.
If you want the tea itself to add flavour to your meal, look at Earl Grey and other flavoured black teas. It comes down to your taste and the sandwich you’re having, rather than a pairing that works with every recipe.
First decide whether you want black tea with no added flavour or a flavoured cup. Then compare the strength you’re looking for and the format you’ll actually use.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Added flavour | Read the ingredients list: is it black tea only, or does it include flavourings and other ingredients such as bergamot ? | With a filled sandwich, I’d rather not deliberately add another flavour to the meal. Around 40 % of consumers would prioritise keeping the flavour simple. |
| Strength of the tea | Compare the blend’s description and the steeping time on the box, then adjust to suit your taste. | At lunchtime, I’m mainly looking for a bolder cup, even if that means trying a few different steeping times. This would be the main consideration for around 30 % of consumers. |
| Format | Check the number of tea bags and the net weight, as well as the storage instructions. | If I’m trying a blend for the first time, I’d rather buy a small box; if I drink it regularly, I’d also think about restocking. Format would be the top consideration for around 20 % of consumers. |
| Flavour notes | Check the flavours and ingredients listed, then choose a quantity that’s right for trying it out. | I want bergamot or citrus to be part of the flavour of my drink, even if I won’t enjoy it with every sandwich. Around 10 % of consumers would prioritise this kind of flavour. |
The blends and brewing advice vary. Lipton describes a blend of black teas from Kenya, Assam and Ceylon, while Twinings also lists teas from Indonesia and China in its Original English Breakfast.
Read the ingredients where they’re provided, and start with the brewing instructions for the box you’ve chosen. You can then adjust the steeping time to suit your taste.
Bergamot is a key part of the flavour profile you’d expect from Earl Grey. That makes it a different choice if you mainly want to taste the sandwich filling without adding another flavour note.
Check the ingredients rather than relying on the words “black tea” alone, and try a flavoured tea if that’s the taste you’re after.
The pack sizes listed by brands range from 20 to 100 tea bags. With a larger quantity, you’ll also need to consider how quickly you drink it and the storage instructions.
If you’re trying a new flavour or blend, consider a smaller pack. Check the storage information before choosing a larger box.
Anses points out that tea naturally contains caffeine, and that people vary in how sensitive they are to its effects, including on sleep.
If you’re keeping an eye on your caffeine intake, factor in the other drinks you have during the day. If you have a question relating to your medical circumstances, ask a healthcare professional for advice.
These examples let you compare specific ingredients, flavours and pack sizes. A brand name alone won’t tell you whether you’ll enjoy the tea with a sandwich.
The 25-bag English Breakfast is worth considering if you’re looking for a small pack of blended black teas.
Twinings Original English Breakfast is described as a blend of black teas from Kenya, Assam, Indonesia and China.
The 20-bag organic English Breakfast is worth considering if you’re looking for a small pack. The brand also offers flavoured black teas, including Earl Grey.
Carrefour Classic’ offers an English Breakfast in a box of 50 tea bags, weighing 100 g.
The E.Leclerc catalogue lets you find different pack sizes across the Yate and Bio Village ranges.
The Auchan Breakfast black tea in a 100-bag pack is worth considering once you’ve worked out how quickly you’ll use it.
This selection includes English Breakfast and other black teas in tea bags, as well as an Earl Grey if you’re specifically looking for bergamot. Compare pack sizes and check the ingredients and brewing instructions for the variant you choose before buying.
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An English Breakfast in tea bags to consider if you’d like to try a blend with your lunches.
The box contains 25 tea bags. Check the ingredients and brewing instructions for this variant before making it.
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This large pack may suit people who regularly serve black tea to several people.
The title lists 300 tea bags and 750 gr. Check the ingredients, storage information and brewing instructions on the packaging.
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Worth considering if you’d like a hint of bergamot with your meal rather than black tea with no added flavour.
The title lists 20 tea bags. Whether it goes with your sandwich depends on your taste; check the ingredients and brewing instructions for this variant.
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This pack lets you try an English Breakfast without committing to a large box straight away.
The title lists 20 tea bags. Check the ingredients list and brewing instructions on the box to see if it matches the flavour you’re looking for.
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Compare it with Breakfast blends if you’d like to try a different black tea in individual portions with lunch.
The title lists 24 tea bags weighing 48 g. This is a Darjeeling, not an English Breakfast; follow the brewing instructions on the packaging.
Start by deciding how much flavour you want from your tea: an English Breakfast whose ingredients list only black tea suits those looking for no added flavour, while Earl Grey is a good choice if you want bergamot. Check the ingredients for the specific product; neither name guarantees a match with every filling.
Follow the recommended time on the box you’ve chosen, as it varies between products. For its Original English Breakfast, Twinings recommends 3 minutes for a classic brew or 4 minutes for a stronger cup at 95 °C; Auchan recommends 2 to 3 minutes for its 100-bag Breakfast tea. Adjust to suit your taste, rather than automatically applying one brand’s instructions to another.
A small pack lets you try a blend before buying a larger quantity. Compare the number of tea bags and the net weight, then consider how often you drink it and the storage instructions on the box.
Start by checking the product name, ingredients, net quantity, date and brewing advice to tell black tea with no added flavour apart from flavoured tea. For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF states that information must be legible, written at least in French and highlight any allergenic ingredients.
Yes. Tea naturally contains caffeine, so if you’re sensitive to it, take your other drinks throughout the day into account too. Anses notes possible effects on sleep in particular, and advises extra care for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and teenagers, and people who are sensitive to caffeine. For questions about your health or medication, speak to a healthcare professional.