For millions of people across the UK, making a cup of tea is an almost automatic part of daily life. Whether it is the first thing after waking up, a mid-morning break, or an evening wind-down, the humble tea bag is a staple in most kitchens. Yet with supermarket shelves now lined with own-brand options alongside established favourites, the question many shoppers quietly ask is whether premium names really justify their higher prices.
That question was put to the test by Telegraph food writer Xanthe Clay, who carried out a comprehensive blind tasting of standard black tea bags from across the major supermarkets. In total, 22 different teas were assessed, all sticking to their basic versions rather than Gold, Extra Strong or English Breakfast blends.
Before tasting even began, Clay explained what separates good tea from bad. Black tea, she noted, is broadly divided into four grades. The highest quality is orange pekoe, followed by broken pekoe, then fannings and finally dust, sometimes known as sweepings. Tea bags almost always contain fannings and dust, which release flavour quickly and deliver strength fast – ideal for Britain’s “dunk-and-go” approach to brewing. However, those same tiny particles can also release bitterness and unpleasant flavours if mishandled.
When it comes to how the cup of tea should look, she wrote: “Tea made from bags should be darkish red in colour, not dull or murky looking – signs it may have been exposed to moisture or that it contains too much dust which can pass through the bag, leaving a deposit at the bottom of the cup.”
On flavour, the tasting looked for pungency, full body and complexity with good length. Red flags included stale aromas or over-caramelised notes, which can point to problems during the drying, or “firing”, stage of production.
To ensure fairness, all tea bags were removed from their packaging and anonymised with letters from A to V. Each was brewed in professional tasting cups for the time specified on the packet, then tasted blind both without milk and with milk. After brewing, every bag was split open so the contents could be examined.
Among the strongest performers were the supermarket own brands, which delivered impressive quality at low prices. Lidl’s Knightsbridge Red Label Tea Bags earned four stars. At £2.79 for 240 bags, or just 37p per 100g, it proved excellent value. Although the dry tea looked paler than Aldi’s version, once brewed it was “virtually identical”, producing a good colour and a flavour that “hits the spot”.
Aldi’s Diplomat Red Label Tea Bags also received four stars and matched Lidl on price per 100g. The tea produced a deep reddish colour, with moderate astringency and a fresh profile that included “a bit of fruitiness”. Crucially for many drinkers, it took milk well and delivered exactly what most people expect from a daily cup of tea.
The poorest performer came as a shock. Sainsbury’s Red Label Tea Bags were awarded zero stars despite costing more than both Aldi and Lidl at £3.20 for 240 bags. The verdict was scathing, describing the tea as “too astringent and over fired”. Clay added bluntly: “Makes me not want to carry on. Dismal. I’ve been given similar on an aeroplane.”
Yorkshire Tea, often viewed as the gold standard of British tea, landed firmly in the middle of the pack. Priced at £3.85 for 80 bags from Ocado, it received three stars. The review described it as “a touch bland but not offensive”, with a “nice, long-lasting aftertaste”. With milk, it produced a “good solid cup of tea”, but its relatively restrained flavour meant it was outshone by cheaper rivals in blind tasting.
At the very top of the table sat Teapigs All Day Brew Tea Bags, which achieved a five-star rating. Unsurprisingly, they were also the most expensive, costing £5.25 for just 40 bags at Waitrose. However, the bags are currently on offer for £3.
Clay wrote: ”A much bigger leaf than the other bags – as you’d hope at this price. The flavour is bright and interesting with some complexity, but it’s better drunk black, as it is too delicate to withstand milk.”
