Fans of a full-bodied cup
You’re looking for a full-bodied flavour at teatime, perhaps with a splash of milk, and want to be able to adjust the brewing time to suit your taste.
Who are these options for?
People mindful of caffeine
You enjoy black tea, but the time you have your tea and your sensitivity to caffeine are important when choosing a drink. Anses notes that its effects vary depending on factors such as age, health, habits and certain medicines.
Shoppers who prefer a simple brew
You prefer tea bags and straightforward brewing instructions, so you can make a cup you enjoy time after time.
What should you look for?
When choosing a black tea for teatime, start with the flavour you’re after, then consider caffeine and ease of preparation before deciding on a format.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Robust flavour | Check the description for the specific tea, then follow its recommended brewing time and temperature. | I want a cup with a flavour that still comes through with a little milk, without leaving it to brew for longer on guesswork; about 33% of consumers rank this intensity as their top priority. |
| Caffeine | Consider when you have your tea and the drinker’s sensitivity; don’t assume the caffeine content from the word “robust” alone. | If tea affects my sleep or my health means I need to be cautious, I put my own tolerance first; this is the top priority for about 27% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Compare the format and the brewing instructions for each tea. | If I’m making a cup regularly, I prefer a method that’s easy to repeat; about 20% of consumers make simplicity their priority. |
| Format | Check the number of tea bags or the net weight, as well as availability from your chosen retailer. | I want to find a pack size that suits how much I drink, without changing my habits every time I shop; this is a priority for about 20% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions to avoid
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Assuming “Breakfast” means extra-strong
The name alone doesn’t tell you how robust a particular tea is: descriptions and brewing instructions vary between products.
If you’re after a full-bodied flavour, read the description of the tea you’ve chosen and check its recommended brewing time.
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Leaving it to brew for longer by default
A cup brewed for the maximum recommended time may taste too strong or bitter to the person drinking it.
Start with the shortest time recommended for that tea, taste it, then gradually adjust to suit.
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Confusing flavour strength with caffeine
Tea naturally contains caffeine. According to Anses, it can delay sleep, and its effects vary from person to person.
If the person is sensitive to caffeine, take the time of day and their habits into account. If they’re taking medication or have a relevant health condition, ask a healthcare professional for advice.
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Assuming all boxes contain the same amount
The number of tea bags and net weight vary between products, so one box won’t necessarily contain the same amount of tea as another.
Check both details on the pack before choosing a size for regular use.
Brands to know
Twinings
Its Original English Breakfast may appeal if you’d like to adjust the strength of your cup by changing the brewing time.
- Twinings recommends 95 °C and distinguishes between a 3-minute brew and a 4-minute brew described as having a “strong character”.
- These instructions apply to this specific tea. A more robust flavour doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in each cup.
Lipton
Its English Breakfast tea bags are worth considering if you’re looking for a black tea blend described as robust.
- Auchan’s product listing describes a blend of black teas from Kenya, Assam and Ceylon, with a brewing time of 2 to 3 minutes at 100 °C.
- “Robust” describes the product, but doesn’t provide a comparable measure of its strength or caffeine content.
Carrefour
Its range can be a useful starting point for comparing English Breakfast black teas and their pack sizes.
- Carrefour offers an English Breakfast tea in its Carrefour Classic’ range, including a tea-bag option.
- Check the format and availability with the retailer you plan to use.
E.Leclerc
The Marque Repère range gives you a point of reference for pack sizes if you’re looking for Breakfast tea bags.
- E.Leclerc lists Yate Breakfast tea in a box of 50 tea bags, with a net weight of 100 g.
- The name “Breakfast” alone won’t tell you whether its flavour is right for you if you’re looking for an extra-strong tea.
Auchan
Its product listings make it easy to distinguish Auchan’s own Breakfast tea from a product explicitly named Tetley Corsé.
- Auchan recommends 2 to 3 minutes for its Breakfast tea; the Tetley Corsé listing specifies 3 to 5 minutes at 100 °C.
- These brewing times aren’t interchangeable between products, and they don’t provide a comparison of their caffeine content.
Black teas available on Joybuy
These loose-leaf and bagged black teas offer a choice of formats for teatime. Their names and descriptions suggest different flavour profiles. For each tea, adjust the preparation according to the pack instructions and the drinker’s preferences.
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Tapal Danedar, loose-leaf black tea, 200 g
For anyone who prefers to brew loose-leaf black tea and adjust the cup to their taste.
Size: 200 g. Check the preparation instructions on the pack before adjusting the brewing time.
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Tapal Danedar, black tea, 300 tea bags, 750 g
For making black tea regularly without measuring out loose leaves.
Size: 300 tea bags, 750 g. Follow the instructions on the box and adjust the brewing time to suit your taste.
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Twinings English Breakfast, black tea, 25 tea bags
An English Breakfast tea in bags to consider if you’re looking for a full-bodied flavour at teatime.
Size: 25 tea bags. Check the instructions on this box rather than following those for another Twinings product.
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PUKKA English Breakfast, 20 tea bags
A tea-bag option for anyone who’d like to try an English Breakfast at teatime.
Size: 20 tea bags. The word Breakfast alone doesn’t determine how strong the cup will taste; follow the instructions on the box to adjust the brewing time.
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DAMMANN Breakfast, black tea, 24 tea bags, 48 g
A Breakfast black tea in bags for making a cup without measuring loose tea.
Size: 24 tea bags, 48 g. Check the brewing instructions for this product before aiming for a stronger flavour.
Frequently asked questions
How can I make black tea more robust without it becoming too bitter?
Start with the shortest brewing time recommended for your chosen tea, then leave it to brew for longer within the recommended range if the flavour seems too light. For its Original English Breakfast, Twinings recommends 3 or 4 minutes at 95 °C, depending on how strong you’d like it. These timings don’t automatically apply to other products.
Does a very strong-tasting black tea necessarily contain more caffeine?
The word “robust” alone doesn’t let you compare the caffeine content of two cups. If caffeine content matters to you, look for information specific to the products you’re comparing instead of relying on their names or flavour descriptions.
What should I consider if someone is sensitive to caffeine?
When they have their tea, their drinking habits and their individual circumstances matter more than always looking for the most robust tea. According to Anses, caffeine can affect sleep, and its effects vary depending on factors including age, health and certain medicines. Ask a healthcare professional for advice if any of these points concern you.