Nothing quite beats a cup of Yorkshire Tea – or does it? The Mirror’s Niamh Kirk tried a bunch of supermarket brews to see if you can enjoy a cuppa without breaking the bank
If Brits take one thing seriously – it has to be our beloved cups of tea.
Whether you prefer your brews milky and sweet, or love a strong builder’s tea, there’s something quintessentially British about sipping on a cuppa (grown in Sri Lanka and India, of course). Taylor’s Yorkshire Tea is a firm favourite, and arguably the best blend out there.
But, the nation’s treasured Yorkshire Tea bags don’t come cheap anymore, with a box of 80 costing an eye-watering £3.30 from supermarkets like Tesco. So, in honour of National Tea Day (April 21) The Mirror’s lifestyle writer Niamh Kirk set out on a mission to see whether any own-brand tea bags could compete – saving you pennies with every sip. See her thoughts below.
For this test, I have made the tea all in the same mug, because as we all know, the finest of teas can be spoiled by not being in the correct mug. So, with my trusty mug and some semi skimmed milk, I put the kettle on to see if I could be converted from my ultimate champion the Yorkshire Tea.
Some were warming and hearty, others were bland and tasteless. But, one thing was for sure – they were much cheaper than the big name brands.
Asda: £1.20 for 80 bags
For just £1.20, I wasn’t sure what I was going to get with this brew. It was the last box on the shelf right at the back, so I knew it was a popular one to say the least. Brewing it wasn’t too bad, it seeped out quickly and the teabag wasn’t as flimsy as I thought it would be given the price-tag.
Taste-wise, it was quite average – not quite Yorkshire Tea standards but not bland either. It also has a strong inviting fragrance and hearty hue. I would buy this again, but only if there weren’t any other options.
Rating: 4/10
Lidl: £2.19 for 240 bags
This was the worst cuppa of the lot. I was questioning if there was actually any tea in the tea bag and the only thing giving it away was that it had a brown tint to the water.
It was really, really bland. I even left the tea bag in for longer to try and squeeze some flavour out which made it darker but didn’t improve the taste. The box was massive which gave me high hopes, but it turned out to be quantity over quality here. The only time I’d say yes to this sad brew would be at a footie game or camping, just to warm up my hands.
Rating: 1/10
Morrisons: £1.29 for 80 bags
This cuppa was pretty average, it gave a good strong colour, and had that pleasant, comforting tea smell too. The taste wasn’t too bad, however left a subtle bitter aftertaste.
The teabag felt rather flimsy, so I was worried about squeezing it too hard and ruining my brew with an explosion of tea particles. A little pricier than the first two, it was a slight improvement, not no Yorkshire Tea.
Rating: 5/10
M&S: £2.20 for 50 bags
Maybe I am biased because this was the only square shaped bag, which resembled my beloved Yorkshire Tea, but it was really good. It brewed well, gave a strong colour and had a nice strong flavour. The teabag was also quite sturdy so I didn’t have to worry about breakage. It’s the priciest supermarket tea I tried, but did taste the best, and still cheaper than a box of Yorkshire! Truly top tier. You can grab a box of M&S’ English Breakfast tea on Ocado.
Rating: 10/10
Tesco: £3.20 for 240 bags
I was really pleasantly surprised by this one, it had a good taste of tea and didn’t need too much brew time unlike some of the others. Tesco’s bags were the only ones that weren’t foiled for freshness, but this didn’t negatively impact the taste. It didn’t have much of that lovely tea smell, but it was still a hearty cup and I would happily try again!
Rating: 8/10
The verdict
When it comes to the battle of the supermarket brews, M&S was on top, followed by Tesco. I would happily buy either of these teas again, whereas the Lidl own brand I wouldn’t reach for again in a hurry. I still don’t think I can give up on my all time champion Yorkshire Tea, although there are now some fierce contenders in the running.
Before this test, I wouldn’t have tried another brand of tea, through fear of ending up with a cup of disappointment. But, now I would definitely reconsider as the cost of food is rising, it’s a good way to save a few pounds on your next shop if you’re a tea addict like me.
A version of this article was first published on July 10, 2023.
What’s your favourite tea? Let us know in the comments section below
