While many black tea brands are available on the market, what is Yorkshire tea? Keep reading to find out.
Yorkshire Tea is the most popular traditional black tea brand in the United Kingdom. It is now the best-selling tea brand in the UK, surpassing Twinings and Typhoo. It was first created by Bettys & Taylors Group in the 1970s but is now manufactured by Taylors of Harrogate, a third-generation Yorkshire family business born in 1886.
In this article, you will learn why Yorkshire Tea is one of the best brands and which Yorkshire Tea varieties are suitable for you.
Why Yorkshire Tea Is The Best
Drinking tea has several health benefits, but only high-quality tea offers all these advantages. There are also many different tea brands available on the market, and choosing one may be overwhelming.
So, what is the secret to the rich flavor of Taylors of Harrogate’s Yorkshire Tea? Well, it is a blend of teas from different parts of the world. The manufacturer often tastes up to a thousand teas a day to find the perfect one for its blends.
Check out our Firebelly tea review.
Why Is It Called Yorkshire Tea?
A tea’s name is usually from its place of origin — like Kenyan tea, Rwandan tea, and so on!
What if it is a blend, though? Tea blends typically have creative names because it is not practical to call them after all the individual teas. English Breakfast tea, for example, is a blend of different types of black teas from around the world.
Another good example is the Russian Caravan, combining oolong, Keemun, and Lapsang Souchong teas.
As mentioned earlier, Yorkshire tea is also a blend of teas. However, contrary to what many believe, the name does not suggest that the tea was grown in Yorkshire.
The Taylors of Harrogate have been making blends in North Yorkshire since the late 19th century, and Yorkshire Tea is named after the place where the blends are made.
You might also be interested in learning about Ceylon tea.
How To Choose The Best Yorkshire Tea
Yorkshire Tea is available in a few varieties. If you have decided to try this tea brand, consider the following factors to choose the perfect brew.
Flavor
If you are looking for a cup of tea for breakfast with a rich flavor, you can buy classic black teas like Yorkshire Gold or Yorkshire Red. Taylors of Harrogate also offers fun flavor varieties that you can choose from, including Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew and Yorkshire Tea Toast and Jam Brew.
Most people prefer black tea, so it’s a safe option if you have guests over.
Regular Or Decaf
As you may already know, tea contains caffeine. So, if you like to drink tea in the evening or before bedtime, you may want to buy Yorkshire Tea Decaf.
Tea Bag Or Loose Leaf
There is some truth to the claim that loose-leaf tea has a richer flavor than tea bags, which is why some people prefer to buy it.
As the leaves used for tea bags are crushed, there is a good chance that the essential oils will evaporate, making the tea’s flavor less intense. However, this should not be an issue with well-known brands like the Taylors of Harrogate.
The main advantage of tea bags is that they are more convenient. On the other hand, loose-leaf tea requires you to measure the tea and water and spend some time brewing it.
You may also be interested in reading our tea bags vs. loose-leaf guide.
Yorkshire Tea Varieties Ranked
1. Taylors Of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold
The Yorkshire Gold is the finest blend and one of the most popular tea varieties created by the Taylors of Harrogate. It is the premium version of the classic Yorkshire black tea that is enjoyed even by people with sophisticated palates.
Yorkshire Gold is a blend of high-quality teas from Africa and India – Assam, Kenya, and Rwanda – and makes a rich, smooth, and incredibly satisfying brew. It also has a malty flavor with hints of caramel that is enhanced when you add milk to your tea. You can also add sugar if you are looking for a sweeter taste.
Yorkshire Gold has a rich golden red hue when brewed. It is very refreshing — the perfect drink for your morning routine. Yorkshire Gold also comes in a loose-leaf variety.
2. Taylors Of Harrogate Yorkshire Red
The Yorkshire Red is a true classic — and it is a blend of black teas, too. The main difference between Yorkshire Red and Yorkshire Gold is that the Gold variety has a smoother and richer taste. Nevertheless, Yorkshire Red is still an excellent high-quality tea blend made from Kenyan and Assam teas.
Taylors of Harrogate never compromises on quality. Even though Yorkshire Red costs less than Yorkshire Gold, you will still get a tea with a rich and balanced flavor. Many people choose Yorkshire Red over Yorkshire Gold, as it has a simpler taste.
Yorkshire Red has a full-bodied flavor that most people would definitely enjoy. This tea works well for making a traditional brew for the whole family, especially for breakfast.
Like the Yorkshire Gold, Yorkshire Red is also available in a loose-leaf variety.
3. Taylors Of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew
Some people love tea so much to the point that they can drink the same tea every single day. However, if you ever get tired of drinking the same tea too often, then you should definitely add the Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew to your tea collection.
The Biscuit Brew variety is simply black tea with natural flavoring — but it tastes like biscuits, especially when you add milk. It also has a malty flavor that will truly satisfy your cravings for a real biscuit.
4. Taylors Of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea Bedtime Brew
Some teas have a calming effect, which is why some people prefer drinking it at night or before going to sleep. It is very important to choose the tea that does not contain any caffeine. Otherwise, the drink will have the opposite effect and prevent you from falling asleep.
The Yorkshire Tea Bedtime Brew is the perfect choice if you are looking for a tea to drink before bed. Not only is it free from caffeine, but it also has vanilla and nutmeg flavors for the perfect cozy drink.
For the best calming effect, the Bedtime Brew variety is blended with lemon balm and nutmeg. Lemon balm is a calming herb that belongs to the mint family, and nutmeg has a calming effect when consumed in smaller doses. These two ingredients take this bedtime tea to a whole new level.
You can also add some milk if you do not mind taking extra calories. The milk will enhance the malty flavor of this tea, which makes it creamier and even more delicious!
- Decaf
- Bedtime Brew
- 40 tea bags, 100g
5. Taylors Of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea Decaf
The Yorkshire Tea Decaf tastes just as good as the regular black teas. Although Yorkshire Tea Decaf does not contain any caffeine, it still makes a full-flavored brew that is perfect for people with caffeine sensitivity.
6. Taylors Of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea Toast And Jam Brew
You should try the Yorkshire Tea Toast and Jam Brew if you are looking for something more interesting than the Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew. Taylors of Harrogate combined the taste of one of the world’s classic breakfast combo – jam on toast – into an extra strong Yorkshire Tea blend!
Yorkshire Tea Toast and Jam Brew has a strawberry jam flavor with a bit of a toasty taste. It is recommended to brew this tea for a good few minutes if you want the flavor to stand out.
You may also be interested in reading our guide on what is Russian Tea.
