21 Best British Tea Brands You Should Try To Feel Like Royalty

If you can’t make it to the United Kingdom anytime soon, the next best thing is to drink some tea, so what are the best British tea brands you should try?

Though Doctor Who fans might disagree, nothing is more quintessential to a British person than a cup of tea. Almost 80% of Brits drink a cup of tea at least once a week, and a whopping 7.45 million of them drink it at least four times a day or more.

People from all social statuses, from hardworking laborers to members of the royal family, enjoy the beverage, which is why it is no surprise that dozens of the best tea brands in the world are British. Whether you want to spoil yourself with a cuppa before or after work or plan a tea party to treat your friends, here are some of the best British tea brands that will give that royal treatment! You may also be interested in reading our English Breakfast Tea vs. Earl Grey guide.

1. Twinings

Starting off with a classic brand that has stood for over 300 years, Twinings remains one of the most famous tea companies in the United Kingdom. With more than 500 tea varieties, there is something for everyone.

The whole point of Twinings was to challenge conventional flavorings, and there is much to choose from. The brand now dominates kitchen cabinets nationwide, from its classic English Breakfast mix to its delightful cold infusions.

Personally, if elegance and a balanced flavor are what we are after, then Lady Earl Grey takes the cake. This award-winning blend boasts a light and refreshing flavor that features notes of bergamot, orange, and lemon, which will surely perk you up. Learn more about this blend in our Lady Grey Tea guide.

2. Taylors Of Harrogate

Taylors Of Harrogate has been producing premium tea worldwide for more than a century.

You can choose from loose-leaf tea or tea bags, so there’s something for everyone. Additionally, the Rainforest Alliance has verified all Taylors of Harrogate products, assuring that they were produced with ethical consideration for both people and the environment.

One of the most beloved offerings is the breakfast blend, which can be cherished with or without milk and uses tea from prestigious gardens in Assam, Kenya, and Rwanda. Customers describe the flavor as strong, sophisticated, and malty; some even pick up a light, flowery aroma that enriches every drink.

3. Teapigs

Teapigs won’t be able to compete in terms of years of existence. But young as the brand is, it can hold its own against the big players with its playful take on its award-winning tea without compromising the quality.

Teapigs offers a nice range of true teas like green, black, white, and oolong. From single-origin teas like Darjeeling to blends like chili chai, you can surely find something to your liking.

This brand is also big on sustainability. The packaging is environmentally friendly, from the tea bag to its outer carton. You might also be interested in our round-up of the best sustainable coffee brands.

4. Fortnum & Mason

Fortnum & Mason is a department store in London that opened all the way back in the 1700s! It has plenty of high-quality, own-brand products, including an impressive tea collection.

For example, the Royal Blend is a flawless combination of quality pekoe tea leaves from Sri Lanka and Assam leaves from India, bringing a traditional yet invigorating cuppa for tea lovers. This unique blend was first created and served in 1902 for King Edward VII and has remained popular in the United Kingdom ever since. It comes in tea bags or loose leaves, the latter showcasing an aesthetically designed caddy fit for royalty.

5. Clipper

For tea lovers who want to do good in the world, Clipper is the brand for you. It was one of the first British companies to be certified as Fair Trade and is now the world’s largest Fair Trade brand. Plus, with almost 40 years in the business, it’s perfected its tea.

One of the most popular offerings is the Snore and Peace blend; the elegant floral flavor of chamomile and lavender embraces you with every sip.

6. Whittard Of Chelsea

Whittard of Chelsea first opened its doors in 1886 and now operates hundreds of shops and tea rooms. It has a huge selection of teas and tea brewing equipment, as well as hot chocolate and coffee.

You can choose from tea bags or loose-leaf tea. Whether you like green tea, herbal tea, or even flavored tea, you’re bound to discover a new favorite brew. In particular, the Jasmine Green Tea, sourced from southern China, is a perfect soothing drink if you are stressed out from work.

7. Tetley

Tetley’s story began in 1837, and it’s now the biggest tea company in the UK and Canada. While other tea brands have a vast range of offerings, Tetley decided to focus on the classics like black tea, green tea, and a few herbal blends. With that said, it even offers ready-to-drink squash for those who fancy something different.

If you just can’t decide what you’re favorite tea is or are hesitant to try green tea, the Blend of Both combines the full-bodied flavor of black tea and the brightness of green tea. It’s made of 72% black tea and 28% green tea, making it the perfect gateway tea. Learn more in our round-up of the best green tea flavors.

8. ATTIC Teas

The acronym means “All The Teas In China,” and the brand offers a list of teas that will specifically cater to your needs. It was initially a small tea shop in Bristol and is now a booming online business. Unlike some of the other British tea brands, ATTIC tea caters to health-conscious customers, including those keen to take care of their physical and spiritual health.

One of the stars in the ATTIC collection is the Focus Tea. This recharging beverage is made from oolong tea mixed with spearmint, lemon balm, and ginseng.

9. Tick Tock

If you’re a fan of rooibos tea, Tick Tock may be the choice for you. This family-owned brand has been in the tea business for over 100 years, spawning across four generations. Today, it offers an excellent range of rooibos blends, ranging from original and green rooibos tea to Earl Grey and vanilla.

If you’re looking for new ways to enjoy rooibos tea, make sure to check out Tick Tock’s Wellness Blends line. It offers a variety of herbal blends, all designated for a specific purpose, such as chai relax and ginger boost. Learn more in our rooibos tea guide.

10. PG Tips

PG Tips was the first brand to introduce pyramid-shaped tea bags for those who don’t know. The idea was that the tetrahedron shape of the tea bag provides the leaves with more room to move around for better infusion.

Today, PG Tips tea is available as loose tea, pyramid bags, and even as an instant powder. While there aren’t many options regarding the choice of tea, you can choose between different blends and strengths depending on your personal preferences. For those who want to enjoy tea late in the evening, there’s also a decaf version worth consideration.

11. The London Tea Exchange 

The London Tea Exchange is a brand every gourmet tea lover should know about. With a huge selection of over 300 varieties of premium and rare teas, rest assured you’ll never get tired of trying something new. Everything about this brand feels luxurious – even the handstitched cotton bags, which are wrapped in foil to ensure lasting freshness.

Aside from regular packaging, the London Tea Exchange also offers unique collections that make great gifts for any occasion. The Tea Book Collection, which includes hardcover books that contain four different types of loose-leaf teas individually wrapped into crafted boxes, would make the perfect gift for a tea lover in your life.

12. Typhoo

Founded 120 years ago, Typhoo is still one of Britain’s most loved and consumed teas. Back in the day, it was marketized as the “tea that doctors recommend,” which is a great wordplay as Typhoo means “doctor” in Mandarin.

Aside from the regular Typhoo tea, the brand also offers decaf, gold, and extra strong versions. The latter is particularly interesting, as it’s a bold and full-bodied tea made of leaves from the finest tea estates in India and Africa.

13. Pukka

While Pukka offers a small range of black and green tea blends, its herbal and fruit tea blends are worth a mention. Night Time, Winter Warmer, After Dinner, Love, and Revitalize are just a few examples of unique and interesting blends this brand has to offer.

What makes this company stand out from the crowd is the packaging. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing with intricate floral designs, but it’s also eco-friendly. The box is made from sustainably sourced cards, while tea bags are made of wood pulp and cellulose fibers.

14. UK Loose Leaf Tea Company 

If you prefer loose leaves over tea bags, then the UK Loose Leaf Tea Company is the brand for you. The tea is directly sourced from the tea growers and approved quality suppliers, so you can rest assured every tea from this brand is of excellent quality.

From classics Assam, Darjeeling, and Earl Grey to seasonal blends, there’s undoubtedly something you’ll love. I’m not just talking about true teas – the brand offers a nice range of herbal infusions, including Ayurvedic and wellness blends.

15. Ahmad Tea

Even though it has a much shorter history compared to most brands on the list, Ahmad Tea quickly rose to fame thanks to its wide assortment of quality tea blends, both in loose-leaf and pyramid tea bag form.

The brand’s range includes everything, from black and green tea blends to decaf options and herbal infusions for all occasions. There’s also a nice selection of cold brew teas, which brew in just a few minutes instead of the standard 12-24 hours.

16. Darvilles Of Windsor 

Darvilles of Windsor has been around since 1860, making it the town’s oldest family company. During this long period, the brand had enough time to master its craft. Even though the range is limited, everything it offers is exquisite.

You can find classics like Earl Grey, Darjeeling, and Jasmine green tea. Finally, a few herbal and fruit infusions are available, like peppermint and camomile.

17. Harrods

I’m sure you’ve heard about Harrods, a UK luxury department store. Aside from clothes, homeware, and jewelry, the brand also offers a nice selection of luxury teas. Some are sold as loose-leaf and some as tea bags, but all come in lovely tins or boxes.

Whether you’re looking for single-origin or tea blends, the huge range indeed has something for you. Looking for 100% black tea? Well, you still have many options, including Afternoon Ceylon, Assam, Darjeeling, and Royal Flush.

18. Canton Tea

Are you tired of drinking the same old blends? Canton Tea offers a decent selection of rare teas coming from small, family-owned tea plantations. The range includes something for everyone: black, green, white, oolong, and herbal infusions. Whichever type of tea you prefer, there are many origins and blends to choose from.

If that’s not enough, there’s always a selection of limited-edition teas for you to try. Just remember that they’re available in small batches, so don’t wait too long to make your choice.

19. Newby 

Being the world’s most-awarded luxury tea brand, Newby is practically synonymous with quality. It offers only the finest teas from all parts of the world.

While a huge selection of teas is available, the collections are worth extra attention. For instance, the Wellness collection offers a nice mix of energy-boosting and body-balance blends, while the Zodiac collection contains green or black tea blends designated for a specific zodiac sign. All the collections also have unique packaging designs, which makes them a suitable gift for every tea lover.

20. Postcard Teas

What’s unique about Postcard Teas is that every box provides information on where the tea came from. The team behind the brand are British, Chinese, and Japanese. Each of them brings a unique perspective to the product.

The brand believes that learning about the place and people who made a specific blend or single-origin tea helps you understand more about it, and we couldn’t agree more.

What’s also interesting is that Postcard Teas only retails tea grown on farms smaller than 15 acres, which is roughly the same size as two football fields. The range includes black, green, white, oolong tea, pu-erh, and a couple of herbal infusions.

21. Tregothhan 

While tea cultivation requires specific growing conditions, primarily found in the tropics, it isn’t impossible to grow tea in the UK. Tregothan has more than 26 miles of tea bushes successfully growing in Cornwall.

Tregothhan’s range might be small, but the brand’s tea is considered to be one of the world’s rarest and highest-rated. Aside from single-estate black and green tea, many blends like classic Earl Grey and English Breakfast are available.

There’s also a small selection of herbal infusions made of homegrown herbs like chamomile, manuka, and lemon verbena.