If I asked you who you thought made the best tea, who would you say? PG Tips? Yorkshire Tea?
Well if you said either of those, you’d be wrong.
According to the consumer website Which?, Asda’s Everyday teabags were voted the best beating the major brands like PG Tips, Yorkshire Tea and Twinings.
Which? conducted a blind taste test of 79 tea drinkers and 12 different teas were put to the test.
The results were unexpected, to say the least.
The Budget Brew That Took the Crown
Which? says in the article that the Asda teabags are just £1.20 for 80 bags, but the last time I checked on the website they were coming up as £1.85 for 80, so potentially they’ve increased the price now.
Even though Asda’s Everyday Tea is one of the cheapest options available, it managed to score an impressive 72% in the blind tasting.
Panelists praised its well-balanced flavour, enticing aroma, and perfect appearance, with 68% judging its colour as spot on and nearly half describing the taste as “just right.”
Who knew a budget supermarket brand would come out on top in a world where household names like PG Tips and Tetley usually dominate the tea aisle?
Big Brands Fall Behind
The race for Britain’s best brew was tight, with PG Tips Original, Sainsbury’s Red Label, and Tetley Original all tying for second place, each scoring 71%.
While these brands are beloved by many, the panel found them only marginally behind Asda’s winning tea.
Surprisingly, Twinings Everyday, a high-end option priced at £4.80 for 80 bags, was ranked joint last, sharing the bottom spot with Tesco Original Tea, both receiving 67%.
While many of us instinctively reach for well-known brands, the Which? survey demonstrates that price isn’t always an indicator of quality when it comes to tea.
Asda’s affordable offering goes to show that sometimes, the best brews come at a fraction of the cost.
Why This Matters to UK Tea Drinkers
In the current economic climate, where food prices have risen dramatically, it’s no wonder that savvy shoppers are rethinking their choices.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the price of teabags has surged 34% over the past few years.
With the cost of a good cuppa rising, discovering that a box of teabags can beat brands costing about four times as much will be music to the ears of many tea drinkers across the country.
Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at Which?, commented, “Our results show that bigger and more expensive brands aren’t necessarily the best for taste. A supermarket own-brand costing less than 2p per cup has emerged ahead of rivals costing up to four times as much.”
A New Contender for the Tea Throne?
The outcome of this taste test might be the reason for you to try something new.
Asda’s victory signals a shift in how we view supermarket brands, proving that high-quality doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.
So, next time you pop to the shops for your tea fix, maybe give Asda’s Everyday teabags a try — you might just find your new favourite brew.
Whether you’re settling down for a quiet moment or entertaining friends, this award-winning budget brew could be the perfect partner for your next pot.