Organic English Breakfast Black Tea

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Organic English Breakfast Black Tea

This Fair Trade Certified organic tea blend makes the perfect breakfast tea, with a nice medium-body and a full organic black tea flavor that is not overpowering. Particularly enticing with milk, this English Breakfast consists of a blend of high and low grown organic Indian tea, giving it a cup that is brisk and slightly coppery with a somewhat lemony quality.

Ingredients: organic and Fair Trade Certified Indian black tea

What are Blended Teas?

Our delicious blended teas use the same top-quality organic teas and/or botanicals offered in our single origin varieties, but are comprised of teas, herbs, fruit, and/or flowers of multiple origins and/or varieties. When blending our teas, our goal is to create a cup with a specific flavor profile in mind. Unlike single origin teas, which can vary from harvest to harvest (just like wine!), blended teas trade seasonal variation for year-to-year consistency. As a result, the formula and/or appearance of our blends may change over time, but you can rest assured that you’ll always receive an organic cup of tea with consistent flavor.

Steeping Instructions

At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend black teas to be steeped for 3 to 5 minutes in water heated to a full, rolling boil. For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible, and avoid overboiling. Try not to steep your tea longer than necessary, as you’ll extract undesirable bitterness from the leaves. If you want a stronger brew, don’t steep longer, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!

Looking for more info? Check out our How-To Guides and Eco-Brewing Tips!

Staff Perspectives

Trish
"I love keeping this classic on hand for guests at home. A crowd pleaser!"
Aubrey
"This blend stands up to my memories of falling in love with English Breakfast tea while travelling through the UK as a teenager."

Health Benefits

Like all true tea, black tea offers many potential health benefits. Research has found that tea (Camellia sinensis) can have many positive effects on human health, including improved cardiovascular function, cancer risk reduction, improved immune function, improved oral health, and help with weight management. Tea is also full of polyphenols, which are a class of antioxidant that help your body maintain homeostasis and balance your stress levels. Black tea specifically has been found to regulate blood sugar in diabetics better than other types of tea, according to a study done by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

For more information about the health benefits of black tea and other types of tea, and for direct sources of the above information, check out our Tea Health Benefits page!

Please note: the information above is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

British Afternoon Tea

Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, is credited with the origination of afternoon tea in the early 1800s. In Anna's day, lunch was served at noon, with dinner often put off until well into the evening. As the story goes, Anna decided that a light meal over tea in the late afternoon would be the perfect solution to her between-meal hunger. Given Anna's social stature, the concept took off among the upper class, proving to be an excellent social venue. The term "high tea" is actually owed to England's working class, who transformed the afternoon tea into their primary evening meal, serving much heartier fare such as meats, cakes, bread and pies. High tea is a reference to the table the working class sat at while taking their tea - tall in comparison to the low, delicate tables at which the gentry took their lighter, more formal tea. Queen Victoria introduced the English to the Russian custom of adding lemon to their tea after visiting one of her daughters in Russia - before that, the English took only milk with their tea.

For even more information about this and other traditions, visit our Tea Traditions page!

Customer Reviews

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5

Awesome tea

Posted by Patricia Boynton on 18th Dec 2023

I just received my english breakfast tea in the mail and made a cup right away. I love it! I drink it with milk but I think it would be fine without. I’ll be back for more!
5

Excellent Blend

Posted by Will Hamilton on 18th Feb 2023

This is a very pleasing blend. It has all the flavors you're expecting, and nothing extra to get in the way.
5

Organic English Breakfast Tea

Posted by Kevin English on 28th Nov 2022

This tea is EXCELLENT! I just tried this blend for the first time and can't believe how smooth it is. Great tea flavor that is even without a hint of acidity. This will be a staple tea for me going forward.
4

a classic English breakfast tea blend

Posted by Skye on 10th Nov 2022

Apologies if my reviews duplicate, I wasn't logged in to my account when I reviewed this tea earlier. Just the aroma of this tea brings me back to my childhood in England. My father is Scottish and this is the type of blend he prefers to drink. If he was still in my life, I'd probably buy a full size of this tea to serve him but at the end of the day, English breakfast tea isn't my favorite. I did a tea tasting with my friend and she said that she actually prefers Lipton (!) I think if Lipton is your tipple and you want an ethical alternative, then you will be happy with this tea.
4

a classic English breakfast tea

Posted by Skye on 10th Nov 2022

I bought samples of every black tea that was in stock to taste. Just the aroma of this tea transported me instantly to my childhood in England. If my Scottish dad was around, I would buy this to keep on hand for him. I have to admit, these days English breakfast tea isn't my favorite, so I don't think I'll be buying myself a full sized bag but this is a beautiful English breakfast tea. Perfect for serving with desserts.
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4

Pretty Good

Posted by Willie Dillon on 21st Apr 2022

This is a decent English breakfast. I could maybe have it a bit stronger, but it's enjoyable.
5

Perfect

Posted by Bonnie on 4th Aug 2021

This replaced my morning cup of lipton black tea after I wanted to switch to something a bit more environmentally friendly. Quality is excellent and the best part is its fair trade!
1

English Breakfast Tea

Posted by Claude Vidal on 15th May 2021

I had liked Arbor Tea’s Lapsang Souchon so much that I tried their English Breakfadt tea. Sadly, it has no taste I am very disappointed.
5

Hooked!

Posted by Serena Sato on 12th Dec 2020

We're new to Arbor and my husband is picky about his tea, and after one order he is hooked! He loves the flavor and aftertaste. He drinks it all day, and does about half and half with milk. We will be ordering Arbor regularly...eager to try a few more teas in our 2nd order! Thank you for such a delicious, organic, fair trade option.
5

Great English Breakfast

Posted by Siana on 14th Aug 2020

This is probably the best English Breakfast Tea I've had. It's a great way to start the day (or have an afternoon pick-me-up!).
5

great classic

Posted by Amanda Blaisdell on 28th Jul 2020

I use this tea for all sorts of things - brewing kombucha, iced tea, or a simple hot mug when it's rainy outside. Very versatile, smooth, and great flavor. My most unique use of this tea - in fermented pickles! A teaspoon of tea leaves helps keep pickles crunchy, and adds a subtle flavor.
4

English Breakfast

Posted by Kari B on 26th Dec 2017

For me, this is a good, reliable, strong cup of tea. I like my black teas strong so I usually steep for four minutes. It's good with, or without, lemon, honey, or almond milk.
5

My Favorite Iced Tea

Posted by Sam on 22nd Apr 2017

I prefer my tea Iced down, somewhere around 60 degrees (but who's counting, ha ha). This tea is one of my favorites. Rich and smooth, copper colored. I steep the leaves twice, always great flavor.
5

Love tea

Posted by Unknown on 26th Mar 2017

I drink this tea throughout the day. English breakfast is my favorite.
4

A delicious daily starter

Posted by Unknown on 11th May 2016

Richly flavored without bitterness or astringency - a perfect start to the day.
5

Starts my day

Posted by Libby on 6th Apr 2016

This is one of my two favorite teas, Second flush Darjeeling being the other one. It is full bodied without any astringency. A fine, satisfying cup of tea.
5

Never run out of this tea!

Posted by Unknown on 19th Mar 2015

Simply delightful! I drink this tea everyday. It has a deep depth of flavor that I find myself missing when I'm not able to have a cuppa. Never buying from another supplier again! Thank you Arbor Teas!
5

Best thing to start my day

Posted by Sonja Lund on 2nd Aug 2014

I've had many English Breakfast teas over the years, and while several have been lovely, this one leaves (heh) them all behind. The leaf quality itself is impeccable, and every cup I've brewed has been delicious. When I take the time in the morning to brew some of this tea, it makes that morning that much more relaxing, and I feel better about the day to come. Another thing I appreciate about this tea is that its flavor is strong without being too bitter. I am much more partial to strong, even tannic drinks (red wine over white, for instance), and this tea meets my standards in that area.
5

Hands down the best

Posted by Unknown on 2nd Aug 2014

I've had many English breakfast teas, and I work at a coffee and tea shop that has their own brand, but Arbor Teas has the best I've ever tasted. Every morning I drink it is a morning spent relaxed and happy. Because of this tea, I recommend Arbor Teas to anyone looking for a quality cup.
5

Best English Breakfast Tea~

Posted by Laura on 18th May 2013

I love Arbor's English Breakfast tea cause the leaves are not broken down to into small bits but the whole leave & are perfect. As I brew this tea, I have noticed it has not become bitter tea, but easy to love. I have had occasion where the past brand I used to buy if you added a bit too many leaves it became bitter; not with Arbor tea it just gets a bit more carmel color. You will love this tea too.
4

Good tea

Posted by Lauren on 7th Apr 2013

This is a good, basic morning tea. The flavor is good, but I wish it was a bit bolder. I prefer the Irish breakfast tea in the morning.
4

Good

Posted by Unknown on 16th Dec 2012

I thought this was great for an English breakfast tea but I wanted more complexity. Thats just my nature but for a person looking for a straight forward cup of tea that's of great quality this is it.
3

Good, But Something's Missing

Posted by Joseph Paulson on 19th Jul 2012

The dry leaf is dark brown and longer than many English Breakfasts out there. Particularly those with a CTC in the blend. The dry tea smells of fruit leather and the brewed tea carries this quality forward. The aroma is fruity, jammy. The liquor pleasantly dark. The tea is bold, enough. Bracing, enough. Never overly tannic or atringent. And it does stand up well to heavier, more flavorful breakfast foods. In short, a satisfying breakfast tea even if it does leave you wishing there was something more to it.
5

The best

Posted by Libby on 10th Dec 2011

I love AT's English Breakfast. It's the most flavorful EB out there. Makes all the others wimpy.
5

English Breakfast

Posted by Unknown on 21st Apr 2009

I can't start my day without this tea. It's the best English Breakfast I have ever had.
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