A British tea lover got the shock of his life after realising a forgotten box of teabags lurking in his kitchen cupboard could be sold for a small fortune online.
The lucrative cupboard discovery
The man, known online as ClickWright, stumbled upon a sealed pack of 40 Yorkshire Tea Breakfast Brew Toast and Jam teabags. Upon checking eBay, he was floored to see that other sellers were listing the discontinued product for as much as £39 per box. His own pack, still in date with an expiry of May 2026, suddenly represented a potential goldmine. He promptly announced his intention to sell, writing: "Just found a pack of this in my cupboard. I guess I'd better put it on eBay! £35!"
Why are these teabags so valuable?
The Toast and Jam flavour, described by the manufacturer as "a mighty morning brew with a lip-smacking smattering of toasty, jammy loveliness," has been axed from production. With the tea now unavailable at all major retailers, including Amazon, dedicated fans and curious newcomers are turning to auction sites, creating a booming secondary market. Recent sales data shows the lengths people will go to: on 5 November, a box sold for £35 plus £2.95 delivery, and on 8 December, another fetched £39 with a £4 delivery fee—equating to roughly £1 per teabag.
Online reviews reveal a devoted, almost mournful fanbase. One former subscriber, who had ordered the tea 22 times since October 2021, updated their review to lament: "I am so sad that the Toast and Jam flavour has been discontinued. RIP." Another declared it the "boss of all teas," questioning Yorkshire Tea's decision to discontinue it. However, not everyone is convinced by the hype; one commenter recalled trying them "when they were on the shelves for £2" and preferred a normal English Breakfast, advising others against the inflated prices.
The search for a suitable substitute
For those craving a similar sweet, bakery-inspired cuppa without the hefty price tag, there may be an alternative. Yorkshire Tea's Bakewell Tart flavour is currently available at Ocado for £2.30 for 40 bags—a fraction of the cost commanded by its discontinued cousin. This offers a potential solution for tea drinkers tempted by the Toast and Jam phenomenon but unwilling to participate in the eBay bidding wars.
The story highlights a curious modern niche: the collectible grocery item. What was once a simple staple, bought for a couple of pounds, can, upon discontinuation, transform into a sought-after commodity, proving that value is often truly in the eye (or the taste buds) of the beholder.
