A taste test conducted by culinary journalist Tomé Morrissy-Swann has named Clipper Organic and Fairtrade English Breakfast Tea as the best traditional black tea, outperforming household names like PG Tips, Yorkshire Tea, and Twinings.
Writing in the i newspaper, Morrissy-Swann tested 18 readily available black tea brands, brewing each with freshly drawn water left to cool slightly after boiling, steeping for four minutes, and tasting without milk. His focus was on English breakfast or 'Everyday' varieties, which around 41% of Britons drink regularly.
PG Tips scored only 2.5 out of five, described as 'unsubtle' and 'bitter and astringent'. Twinings English Breakfast Tea was criticised as 'rather one-note, with a bitter astringency', while Tetley Everyday teabags were deemed 'powerful' but lacking depth. Yorkshire Tea, despite celebrity fans including Russell Crowe and Patrick Stewart, was called 'well-balanced, even if it's not quite spectacular'. Duchy Organic Everyday Tea, at £3.50 for 100 bags, was deemed 'nice, but not wow'.
Clipper tea bags, priced at £2.80 for 40 bags, impressed with a 'well-rounded' flavour featuring 'a hint of lemon, a touch of toffee, a little bitterness, and the right astringency'. The brand is widely available at supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Co-op, and Morrisons, as well as online via Amazon.
Morrissy-Swann noted that drinking tea without milk maximises its health benefits, as milk proteins can bind to beneficial compounds, reducing antioxidant absorption and cardiovascular advantages.
