Anywhere selling decent strong tea bags locally?

[Sue]

Is there anywhere, preferably local, I can get strong tea bags? Both ordinary and decaf?

Since PG Tips changed to something approximating very weak dishwater, I am struggling to find anything where I don't think I might as well not be bothering to put a  teabag in at all 🙄

I know M&S do "strong" bags but I wasn't all that impressed with them either 🙄

[Penguin68]

You can buy little holders for loose tea which allow you to use them as if they were a teabag, but using your own mix of loose tea. If you make up the mix in advance they are not much of a faff to use. Loose tea is of course more expensive than blended tea in tea bags, but that's because it's generally better quality (more flavoured). But good quality teabags (Assam from Sainsbury's for instance) can be OK. The tea aficionado's would suggest letting the bag steep for up to 5 minutes to achieve a full flavour. Maybe just doing that could help you enjoy blended teas more?

[tiddles]

Has anyone else noticed that Yorkshire Tea seems less flavoursome?

[Sue]

14 minutes ago, tiddles said:

Has anyone else noticed that Yorkshire Tea seems less flavoursome?

Yes.

3 hours ago, Penguin68 said:

You can buy little holders for loose tea which allow you to use them as if they were a teabag, but using your own mix of loose tea. If you make up the mix in advance they are not much of a faff to use. Loose tea is of course more expensive than blended tea in tea bags, but that's because it's generally better quality (more flavoured). But good quality teabags (Assam from Sainsbury's for instance) can be OK. The tea aficionado's would suggest letting the bag steep for up to 5 minutes to achieve a full flavour. Maybe just doing that could help you enjoy blended teas more?

Thanks. I keep the teabag in the mug!

[The Minkey]

Have you tried Thompson’s? Morrison’s sell it. I like my tea strong & much prefer it over Yorkshire. Both their Punjana & their pricier Signature blend are good. I usually stock up when I find it on offer. Signature on offer at £2 for 80 bags atm.

Edited July 1, 2024 by The Minkey
Added more detail

[Sephiroth]

Barrys Irish teabags are my goto - Tesco sell them near me so other supermarkets may as well

 

 

[HeadNun]

Barry's is the best. 

[NewWave]

Yorkshire gold teabags are the best..available in most supermarkets

[Huggers]

Barrys is best and can be weirdly got from ethnic world food aisle of Peckham Morrisons with the Irish produce- NOT in tea section. 

It’s also available Bellenden Road deli (village store) a bit more expensive than Morrisons but - for me- a lot nearer home.

clippers everyday breakfast tea is a good second ( I think the non organic is stronger)

Dorset tea is quite nice- some Waitrose do it or order online.

Edited July 1, 2024 by Huggers

[Underhook]

I have found the same w PG Tips. I buy the Sainsburys Gold bags now which taste a bit better (to me at least)

From time to time I buy boxes online from this company. Expensive but very nice -

https://www.brewteacompany.co.uk

 

[Sue]

Thanks all, I will check out all your suggestions. I like strong tea so I  will try Barry's and Thompson's first (never previously heard of either of them!). Glad they are available reasonably nearby!

I thought something had gone wrong with my taste buds when suddenly PG Tips tasted of nothing, but googling found a load of similarly affected and disgruntled people.

It was very disconcerting, as I had used them for years!

[Nigello]

I’ve had the misfortune to drink lots of Barry’s. It’s weak on flavour. M and S Gold leaf tea is great - either in a pot or a tea ball thing, left in the cup if needed. Teabags use the dregs (or whatever the dry version is) so leaf will always be better. Bung the cooled, wet leaves on your  pot plants, garden or in the compost. ♻️ 🫖 

[Sue]

37 minutes ago, Nigello said:

I’ve had the misfortune to drink lots of Barry’s. It’s weak on flavour. M and S Gold leaf tea is great - either in a pot or a tea ball thing, left in the cup if needed. Teabags use the dregs (or whatever the dry version is) so leaf will always be better. Bung the cooled, wet leaves on your  pot plants, garden or in the compost. ♻️ 🫖 

Oh no! I had high hopes for Barry's after reading the posts above!

 

 

[hpsaucey]

Another vote for Barrys! The Red box original. There's also the green box 'Irish'. Also available online through Ocado.

 

HP

[HydroSmart]

I prefer to have Clipper organic it is absolutely the best tea on the retail market unless you buy imported loose leaf from a specialist.

• Its organic 
• Very strong when brewed 
• The bag has no plastic in it and it's plant based so it's fully biodegradable 
• The Box is recycled
• Its fairtrade  

Yes, you pay a little more but for the right reasons. (Clipper teas are not paying me)

[Sephiroth]

just to check - when people are brewing their tea bags they aren't jut leaving for a minute or two, right? Need 4-5 mins IMV

[KidKruger]

Yorkshire Teabags at Centra Store corner Hindmans/Underhill.

[Huggers]

On 01/07/2024 at 22:36, Sue said:

Oh no! I had high hopes for Barry's after reading the posts above!

 

 

Well youve only had one nay sayer against loads of positives so give it a go.

i am really fussy about tea. I love 
barrys - the red box- stronger than the green. 

[Sue]

My partner just bought me some breakfast tea bags from Fortnums for my birthday (not my only present obvs!) as he happened to be passing 😂

Though it says on the box it's a blend, but also says it's pure Assam, so that's a bit confusing!

[Penguin68]

I'd assume that it's a blend of Assam teas from more than one grower. Probably a cooperative of a number of plantations pooling their resources to process their tea together. 

[Alec1]

I always buy Twinings Strong English Breakfast Tea.   Their decaf everyday tea is also pretty good. 

[Sue]

1 hour ago, Alec1 said:

I always buy Twinings Strong English Breakfast Tea.   Their decaf everyday tea is also pretty good. 

Thanks I will try, but am put off Twinings by their terrible (in my opinion) herbal teas 🤣

[Alec1]

3 hours ago, Sue said:

Thanks I will try, but am put off Twinings by their terrible (in my opinion) herbal teas 🤣

Yeah, the ones I have tried aren't great.  I like strong tea, so for me, this works.

[malumbu]

I drink Darjeeling loose leaf, don't buy the expensive stuff.  It's light and I contaminate it with soya milk.  Purists drink it black.  It doesn't work in a bag, as the leaves need to be large.

I worked with a gent who was a tea taster in a family firm in Newcastle, and chatting to him - Sainsburys Taste the Difference is fine he told me but M&S was better.  If you want a stronger tea go for Assam

Clipper as others said will work well - can't drink it any more as the tannin gets me.  I'd put a link on M&S but oddly don't get any direct hits on Google, perhaps I am profiled as a Lidl shopper (proud to be!)

 

[Sue]

On 02/07/2024 at 08:26, HydroSmart said:

I prefer to have Clipper organic it is absolutely the best tea on the retail market unless you buy imported loose leaf from a specialist.

• Its organic 
• Very strong when brewed 
• The bag has no plastic in it and it's plant based so it's fully biodegradable 
• The Box is recycled
• Its fairtrade  

Yes, you pay a little more but for the right reasons. (Clipper teas are not paying me)

Just visited my daughter, got a fantastic strong mug of tea and yes, it was Clipper.

I'm now a convert!