A British tea lover got the surprise of his life after discovering a forgotten box of teabags in his kitchen cupboard that are now fetching eye-watering sums online. The man, known online as ClickWright, stumbled upon a sealed pack of 40 Yorkshire Tea 'Breakfast Brew Toast and Jam' teabags, a flavour that has since been discontinued by the manufacturer.
The eBay Gold Rush for a Discontinued Brew
Upon realising the tea was no longer on sale, he checked eBay and was "floored" to see the prices being asked. Listings showed that sealed packs of the unique flavour were selling for as much as £39, plus delivery. One buyer paid £35 plus £2.95 postage on November 5, while another spent £39 with £4 delivery on December 8. That works out to roughly £1 per teabag, a stark contrast to its original retail price of around £2 for the whole box.
The tea, which promised a taste of "toasty, jammy loveliness" according to Yorkshire Tea's own description, is now unavailable at all major retailers, including Amazon. This scarcity has created a secondary market where fans and collectors are willing to pay a premium.
Fan Devotion and Divided Opinions
Online reviews reveal a passionate, almost mourning fanbase. One devoted Amazon customer, who had ordered the tea 22 times since 2021, updated their review in December 2024 to express sadness at its discontinuation, stating they would "really miss" their regular delivery. Another called it the "boss of all teas," lamenting its loss.
However, not everyone is convinced the flavour is worth the inflated price. In the comments on the original post, one person advised against paying the high sums, having tried them when they were on shelves and preferring a normal English Breakfast tea. Taste, it seems, is subjective; one reviewer noted her husband "loathed" the tea while she loved it.
What's a Tea Lover to Do?
For those curious about Yorkshire Tea's novelty flavours but unwilling to splash out on eBay, there are more affordable alternatives still in production. Yorkshire Tea's Bakewell Tart teabags, for instance, are available at Ocado for £2.30 for 40 bags. It serves as a reminder that while the hunt for a discontinued favourite can brew excitement, sometimes the best cuppa is one that doesn't break the bank.
The saga of the Toast and Jam tea highlights a quirky side of consumer culture, where everyday grocery items can transform into sought-after collectibles overnight, leaving one man to ponder whether to sip his find or sell it for a small fortune.
