Organic English Breakfast Tea

English Breakfast Tea is the classic morning black tea: bold, malty and full-bodied, made to be strong enough for the first cup of the day and to hold its own with milk. Ours is organic loose leaf black tea with toasted grain notes, a gentle caramel sweetness and a brisk, clean finish.

• Size: 1 oz of loose leaf tea.
• Ingredient: Organic black tea (Camellia sinensis).
• Caffeine: Contains caffeine, roughly 40–70 mg per 8 oz cup.
• Brew: 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz of water at 200–212°F. Steep 3–5 minutes, then strain.

What Is English Breakfast Tea?

English Breakfast is a style of black tea rather than a single variety. It became popular in Britain in the 1800s as a robust morning cup, and it is traditionally a blend of strong black teas, often from Assam, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Kenya, chosen to brew a dark, malty cup that takes milk and sugar well.

Black tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant and fully oxidized, which gives it its copper color, deeper flavor and more caffeine than green or white tea. Ours is organic black tea selected for that same malty, full-bodied English Breakfast character. For the full history, read our guide to English Breakfast tea.

Meet Our English Breakfast

The dry leaf is dark, with a warm, malty smell. It brews quickly to a deep copper-red cup. Plain, it tastes of toasted grain and malt with a light caramel sweetness and the brisk, slightly drying finish that tea drinkers call “briskness.” Add milk and it turns rich and rounded without going flat, which is exactly what an English Breakfast should do. Packed to order in a 1 oz size.

How To Brew English Breakfast Tea

Plain: heat fresh water to a full boil (200–212°F). Use 1 to 2 teaspoons per 8 oz and steep 3 to 4 minutes for a smooth, bright cup, then strain.

With milk: use a heaping teaspoon (or two if you take plenty of milk) and steep 4 to 5 minutes so the tea is strong enough to stand up to it. Strain, then add milk and sweetener to taste.

Iced: brew it double-strength (2 teaspoons per 8 oz, 4 minutes), then pour over a full glass of ice. Add lemon or a splash of milk.

How Much Caffeine Is In English Breakfast Tea?

A typical 8 oz cup of black tea like English Breakfast contains roughly 40–70 mg of caffeine, about half of what a similar cup of brewed coffee has. The exact amount depends on how much tea you use and how long you steep it: a 3-minute steep gives a gentler cup, while 5 minutes pulls more caffeine and more body. If you are sensitive to caffeine, enjoy it in the morning and switch to one of our caffeine-free herbal teas later in the day.

English Breakfast vs. Our Other Black Teas

• English Breakfast – bold, malty and brisk; the all-rounder for milk and sugar.
• Assam Black Tea – the maltiest and heaviest, for a very strong cup.
• Ceylon Black Tea – brighter and more citrusy, lovely plain or iced.
• Organic Earl Grey Creme Tea – black tea with bergamot and vanilla for a softer, fragrant cup.
• Organic Black Tea – our everyday black tea for a simple, versatile cup.

Browse them all in our loose leaf black tea collection, or learn more in our guide to the types of black tea.

Who English Breakfast Is Best For

• Anyone who wants a strong morning cup with real body.
• Tea drinkers who take milk and sugar: this is the tea it was made for.
• Coffee drinkers looking for a lighter caffeine option that still tastes bold.
• People making iced tea who want a classic, full-flavored base.
• Anyone new to loose leaf who wants a familiar, reliable black tea to start with.