THE best teabags can cost more than 50 times as much as cheaper rivals, a taste test found.
Pricey cuppas got top marks for their appearance, aroma, texture and taste from Good Housekeeping experts.
While the best selling brands such as Tetley and PG Tips or the typical supermarket own brand can cost between 1p and 2p a bag, the top ranked one by the mag costs 30p a bag and the second placed one is an eye watering 66p a teabag.
Good Housekeeping’s experts sipped a variety of cuppas, assessing appearance, aroma, texture and test to discover which is the best and few of the best sellers and none of the own brands got a look in.
Top of the teas is Whittard English Breakfast at £7.50 for 15 bags which is unlikely to appeal to anyone on a budget.
But the GH testers reported: “The bitter, woody taste combined with the body creates a balanced and comforting drinking experience.”
In second was the most expensive brand of all, Ahmad Tea Royal Breakfast costing a whopping £10 for just 15 bags but, in the opinion of GH, contains ‘an intoxicating blend of sweet, dried fruit notes with caramel undertones and herbal scents.’
NOT JUST A HOT DRINK
That may not satisfy those who simply want a hot, wet drink to start their day or dip their digestive into during the afternoon.
Others in the eight recommended brands are a bit more affordable though.
Teapigs Everyday Brew in third place costs £5,00 to 50 bags and Twinings, one place further back, is a more reasonable £5.00 for 100 bags.
The list also includes Clipper’s Organic Fairtrade in fifth with all of the top five being traditional English Breakfast blends.
Twinings’ Earl Grey flavour is in sixth, Whittard’s version of the same blend is in seventh and Clipper’s Organic Earl Grey makes up the eight.
Good Housekeeping said: “There’s something very comforting about a hot cup of tea on a cold, rainy day. It’s like a hug in a mug; the tea’s warmth and pleasantly complex taste wonderfully soothing.
“English Breakfast tea has evolved into a mix of Assam, Ceylon and Kenyan tea for a smoother drinking experience.
“When blended with milk, it’s not uncommon to pick out the scent of warm toast and honey.
“Earl Grey tea, however, is one for those who love floral flavours. It makes a perfect mid-morning pick-me-up.
“Whether you’re enjoying your tea first thing in the morning or as an afternoon treat, it’s important to get it just right. You can add just the right amount of milk, but if you haven’t selected the bag for you, there’ll be no saving your cuppa.”
