Product Review: Tetley British Blend Tea

Are you a tea drinker? While here in America, coffee seems to be the number one choice for many people's morning beverage, tea can be a nice change. Some people, in fact, prefer tea for its smooth, delicate flavor. Also, it seems not to cause as much problems with the "jitters". And then there have been many studies linking tea specifically to antioxidants and other healthful benefits. If you do drink tea, Tetley British Blend is a good choice for breakfast.

With less than half the caffeine of coffee, Tetley British Blend wakes you up, but doesn't make you jittery. I am sensitive to caffeine, and found the tea to be a pleasing pick me up. I enjoyed the tea the British way, adding a spoon of sugar and a splash of milk. That seems to make this robust blend more palatable and gentler on the stomach. The tea bags themselves were hefty, having more tea per bag than average brands, 2.5 grams vs. 2 grams. I found the box fragrant upon opening, which is always a good sign of a fresh pick. The tea was very affordable, costing under three dollars for an 80-bag box.

I have bought many teas from specialty stores before for a much higher price, with less quality. In fact, I would say this is a fine Indian tea, comparable with the robust Darjeeling blends or maybe an English Breakfast. This tea was harvested from India, as is a huge majority of the world's tea. I made iced tea with this blend later, and found it to be strong, but mellow. The tannins were not overexposed in the blend, which means many young tea tips were used, vs. cheaper brands that use more stems and older leaves. The tea is very similar in flavor to a popular brand the World over, PG Tips.

This tea is special in that it needs proper brewing to ensure its full, rich flavor. First of all, it goes without saying that if at all possible, use a tea kettle! Tea just doesn't taste the same with microwaved water. Start with cool fresh water, filtered if possible. Place the tea bag in the cup. Their round bags fit perfectly.

Bring the water to a full, rolling boil, and pour over the bag. Instantly, the tea will darken. This blend is very finely ground, so it will not need a lot of time to grow strong. However, give it a full 3 to 5 minutes before removing the bag. The first minute or so, mostly caffeine and color are released. The full tea essence takes a couple minutes more.

Add your lemon, milk or sugar, if that is your preference, and remove the bag. Now is a good time to grab a cookie or biscuit and relax with the paper. As Tetley says on the box, this tea is "A captivating combination that's sure to make any day extraordinary!" I thoroughly enjoyed this blend, and will continue to have a cup in the morning, and in the afternoon. For any tea enthusiast, this would make a great blend. Tea, there's nothing better.