Supermarket own-brand teabags have outperformed leading household names in a blind taste test conducted by consumer watchdog Which?. Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Co-op teas secured the top three positions, all priced at approximately 2p per teabag, while the winning brew came in at 2p per cup versus 5p for the leading name brand.
Which? taste test results
Which? put supermarket own-brand teabags head-to-head with popular brands including PG Tips, Tetley and Yorkshire Tea, alongside varieties from Asda, Lidl, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco and others. A panel of 67 tea enthusiasts sampled the offerings.
Jessica Carson, Which? taste test expert, said: "Given how much many of us drink tea, costs can quickly rack up. Our blind taste test pitted household names against supermarket teabags, with the winning brew coming in at 2p per cup versus 5p for the leading name brand."
Top-rated teas
Sainsbury's Red Label scored 75%, with nearly two thirds of testers confirming they'd be content making it their go-to brew. The tea scored well for its colour and aroma, with over two thirds approving of its appearance. More than half deemed its flavour strength spot on, while its bitter notes appealed to most palates. Priced at less than half that of Tetley and Yorkshire, it represents an affordable option.
Waitrose Essential Original Blend also scored 75%. Two thirds of participants would gladly enjoy it as their daily cuppa, noting it appeared "just right". It also scored highly for texture on the palate, with bitterness and overall taste proving satisfactory for most testers.
Co-op Fairtrade 99 Tea Blend scored 74%, with three quarters confirming they'd be pleased to drink it regularly and over half finding the taste perfectly balanced. A notable two thirds felt the bitterness level was exactly right.
Branded options and value picks
Morrisons Everyday Tea scored 73%, with more than half of participants adopting it as their regular tea, though approximately half found it somewhat mild. Yorkshire Tea (Taylors of Harrogate) scored 72% and, at 5p per bag, was the priciest option on the list, yet it secured the top marks amongst the branded teas. Half the tasters appreciated its flavour and bitterness, though nearly a third deemed it overly bitter.
Lidl Knightsbridge Red Label scored 71% as the most affordable bags tested, with six out of 10 tasters content for it to become their everyday choice. Asda Everyday Tea Bags and PG Tips Original both scored 70%, with Tetley Original also at 70%. M&S Everyday Tea scored 68% and Tesco Original Tea scored 67%.
