After water, tea is the next most consumed drink in the world. It can be served both hot and cold, acting as a soothing cup of comfort or a refreshing thirst quencher. While there are many types of teas available today, like the viral Matcha tea, the simplest go-to for many is the English breakfast tea. For that reason, we have decided to share our list of the 5 best English breakfast tea brands in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Traditionally made from Assam, Ceylon, and Kenya teas, black tea is full-bodied, rich in flavor, and enjoyed both with and without milk or sugar.
- A good English breakfast tea should be strong yet smooth, with a dark reddish-brown color and an inviting aroma.
- From Taylors of Harrogate (best overall) to TAZO Organic (best organic), Stash Tea (best decaf), Harney & Sons (best loose-leaf), and Twinings (best budget), there are high-quality options for various preferences and lifestyles.
- Many premium tea brands emphasize fair trade, regenerative agriculture, and environmental initiatives, ensuring both quality and responsible practices.
- Tea is rich in antioxidants like catechins and polyphenols, which can reduce inflammation, support heart health, and lower chronic disease risk.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Taylors of Harrogate English Breakfast Tea
- Best Loose-Leaf: Harney & Sons Loose English Breakfast Tea
- Best Organic: TAZO Organic Awake English Breakfast Black Tea
- Best Decaf: Stash Tea Decaf English Breakfast Black Tea
- Best Budget: Twinings of London English Breakfast Tea
What is Breakfast Tea?
Breakfast tea refers to a traditional blend of black teas, particularly from the regions of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenya [1]. It’s one of the strongest and most popular blended teas compared to matcha teas, green teas, or herbal teas in British and Irish tea culture.
The taste of it can be described as being robust, full-bodied, and rich. It can either be consumed on its own or paired with milk or sugar.
What Makes a Good English Breakfast Tea?
What distinguishes a good English breakfast tea from an average tea comes down to the blend of tea leaves. A good English breakfast tea should be full-bodied and robust in flavor, but ensuring that it should not be bitter.
Other characteristics to take note of include:
- Color: Should appear dark reddish-brown.
- Aroma: The aroma should be comforting and invigorating to take in.
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Download Eato For FreeRanking the Best English Breakfast Tea Brands
1. Best Overall: Taylors of Harrogate English Breakfast Tea
Credit: Amazon
Taylors of Harrogate is a family-owned business that has been established in Harrogate, England, since 1886. As an independent brand that has been around for over 130 years, you can put full confidence in them that they will be able to produce teas of high quality.
Not only is their English breakfast tea smooth to taste, but it also has a rich and strong aroma that brings about a sense of calmness. What I really like about this brand is that each box comes with 100 individually wrapped tea bags to ensure it maintains its freshness and does not lose flavor. Plus, you also have the option to go for their loose-leaf tea if you are not fond of tea bags.
Taylors has also made it known that they prioritize sustainability in what they do. Their tea leaves are sourced ethically, and for every profit that is earned, a portion of it is reinvested into community and environmental projects to improve the livelihoods of their suppliers, smallholders, and workers.
User ratings: 4.7/5 Stars
Tea blend: Blend from Africa and India (Assam)
Format available: Tea bags or loose-leaf
2. Best Loose-Leaf: Harney & Sons Loose English Breakfast Tea
Credit: Amazon
Harney & Sons is a renowned American tea company that has been family-run since 1983, with a strong reputation for producing premium teas sourced from the finest regions around the world. To date, their product offerings have expanded to over 300 tea blends, tea gifts, and teaware. Their Loose English Breakfast Tea, while simple and traditional, is one of their best-selling product.
Unlike many brands that source from India and Ceylon for their English breakfast blend, Harney & Sons uses Chinese tea leaves for it. As a result, the flavor is bold yet mellow, with notes of honey and toast. Unlike the regular tea bags, making tea using its loose-leaf format allows the full character of the leaves to develop, giving you a fresher, more robust cup every time.
Similar to Taylors, Harney & Sons also pledged to support sustainability, with every 1% of total sales given to environmental organizations of their choice.
User ratings: 4.5/5 Stars
Tea blend: Blend from China
Format available: Loose leaf, sachets, or tea bags
3. Best Organic: TAZO Organic Awake English Breakfast Black Tea
Credit: Amazon
TAZO is a brand that was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1994. TAZO Organic Awake English Breakfast Black Tea is a blend made up of organic, fair trade black teas from Assam, Kenya, and Darjeeling. All of these combined bring a full-bodied flavor that stands out. It’s a good option for those who are serious about their teas.
In addition, the tea is made from ingredients grown with regenerative agriculture practices. This means that ingredients are grown while being conscious of the need to protect nature, encourage biodiversity, and that it is sustainable for all, including workers and suppliers.
Currently, TAZO is USDA Organic, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Kosher, and Non-GMO verified. This highlights their commitment to sustainability and the quality of their products.
User ratings: 4.8/5 Stars
Tea blend: Blend from Assam and Kenya
Format available: Tea bags, or K-Cup pods
4. Best Decaf: Stash Tea Decaf English Breakfast Black Tea
Credit: Tienda360
Stash Tea has been crafting high-quality teas since 1972. They first started as a small mail-order company in Oregon before expanding into a globally recognized brand. With decades of experience, they’ve become known for their bold flavors and wide range of blends.
Their Decaf English Breakfast Black Tea is an excellent option for tea lovers who want to enjoy the classic, full-bodied taste of English Breakfast without the caffeine. It’s rich, smooth, and satisfying, making it perfect for evening relaxation or for those who are sensitive to caffeine but still love the ritual of a strong cup of black tea.
Like every other brand so far, Stash also prioritizes sourcing ingredients responsibly and ensuring consistency in flavor across every blend.
User ratings: 4.8/5 Stars
Tea blend: Unknown
Format available: Tea bags
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Download Eato For Free5. Best Budget: Twinings of London English Breakfast Tea
Twinings of London is a tea company founded in 1706, with over 300 years of experience in crafting quality teas. As a globally trusted brand, Twinings delivers consistent flavor and quality at an affordable price, making it a go-to choice for daily tea drinkers.
Their English Breakfast Tea is robust, full-bodied, and perfect for a morning pick-me-up or a classic afternoon cup. It offers a strong, malty flavor with notes of mild natural sweetness. Not too overpowering, and great to drink with milk, sugar, or even just enjoying it plain. If you’re looking for a high-quality English Breakfast tea that’s gentle on the wallet but doesn’t compromise on taste, Twinings is an excellent choice.
User ratings: 4.8/5 Stars
Tea blend: Blend from four regions: Kenya, Malawi, Assam, and China
Format available: Tea bags
Types of Teas
All types of teas are derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant, but each variety differs in the way that they are grown, harvested, and crafted.
The common types of tea are Black tea, White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Rooibos tea, Pu’er tea, herbal tea, Chamomile tea, Hibiscus tea, and Peppermint tea.
Even though herbal tea is technically not considered a “true” tea type because it is not made from the Camellia Sinensis plant, it is still considered a type of tea for many people.
Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
According to Harvard Health, there are numerous studies that suggest drinking tea could be beneficial in reducing inflammation, lowering the risks of chronic diseases, reducing cortisol and stress, and improving mental health [2].
Tea is rich in catechins and polyphenols, which have high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They can help our bodies to fight the free radicals that may cause damage to our cells and reduce the chances of getting heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.
The Final Takeaway: Choosing an English Breakfast Tea Brand
Choosing the right English Breakfast tea comes down to your taste preferences, lifestyle, and budget. Whether you prefer the rich tradition of a premium brand, the convenience of loose-leaf options, or an affordable daily staple, there’s always a blend or brand out there that will cater to your needs.
If you are undecided on what type of brand to go for, you could always utilize the Eato app to assist you. Simply scan the product and get access to all the nutritional facts, flavors, and whether it can fit in your diet plans all in one app. Try it today for free!
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