The Most Common Black Tea: English Breakfast Tea
If English Breakfast Tea is the tea that you generally drink, what do you like about it? What are the standout flavors that grab you, stay with you, or put you off? Which other black teas are worth you're trying out?
These are very different questions than what’s the best English Breakfast. The answer to that is of course whatever taste you like because there isn’t much choice in the the flavors of this black tea. Well, it in itself is a flavor or taste, making it a preference tea, that can be maybe considered as a benchmark for exploring the different varieties of black teas. Maybe, it’s because Queen Elizabeth used to drink it, or maybe it’s because it has the name breakfast in it, anyways it is mainstream, familiar, and very popular among black tea enthusiasts.
Now, I won’t become a professional tea taste specialist. I mean, no one would have fun reading me say some words that don’t even relate to tea in any sense. So, I’ll talk about the way this tea tastes compared to other teas, or maybe in a very normal sense that will be fun for you to read and fun for me to write.
Well, if you love tea, you would have come across English Breakfast tea. If not, what is English Breakfast Black tea, you ask? It is a blend of different teas that explodes with flavour and as the name says, had during the early hours of the morning. It is one of the most popular teas among tea enthusiasts and tea lovers around the world. English Breakfast tea is a very popular morning breakfast drink in England and USA and is savored by millions of people around the world. Again, if this is your first time hearing about English Breakfast tea then here is everything you need to know about it!
The Origins: A Strong Start
The history of English Breakfast tea is rich in its flavor. While tea-drinking was already a British tradition, the concept of a strong morning blend originated in the 19th century. Some believe it was created in Scotland, where a tea merchant named Robert Drysdale blended a robust tea fit for breakfast. Others credit Queen Victoria, who popularized the blend in England after tasting it during a visit.
The story of the blend is different and gives more insight into how the blends came into existence. Richard Davies from England started his tea company in 1834 in the city of New York. He mixed Indian and Chinese teas, two very flavourful and robust flavored drinks to create a blend that would be an explosion of flavors. His tea business garnered attention around New York and London and became a staple drink in England and the blend came to be known as the English Breakfast tea.
What is English Breakfast tea made of? The blends of black tea
English Breakfast tea is a myriad of blends and flavourful. It is a full-bodied blend of tea from Ceylon, Africa, and Assam that is rich, robust, and malty. The area of the plantation and the level of humidity play a pivotal role in the flavor of the blend. But a perfect cup of English Breakfast Tea is thick and robust with glorious amounts of malty flavors.
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The Assam Black Tea
The Assam Black tea is one of the important teas in the blend, known for its robust and sensational taste, the best tea in the world is from the lands of Assam. The humidity and the fertility play a vital role in the growth of the leaves known as Camellia sinensis var assamica. It is one of the highest ranked black teas in the world. This provides a base and an encapsulating taste in the blend.
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Ceylon Tea
The famous Ceylon tea gets its name from the state of Ceylon now known as Sri Lanka. Known for its smooth finish and nutty flavor, the Ceylon tea often comes in loose leaves that have golden hints to it. The addition of Ceylon tea to the blend of English Breakfast tea gives it a more nutty and smooth flavor.
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Tea from Keyna
African blends are popularly known for their Crush Tear Curl (CTC) process which makes the tea fine and has an astringent taste to it. The addition of Kenyan Tea to the English Breakfast tea makes the brew more brisk and bright.
The taste of English Breakfast tea is strong, full-bodied, and with a capturing taste that explodes layers of flavor that come together effortlessly.
Why is it called English Breakfast?
The English: English Breakfast is not English. There are two main claims to its invention, an American dealer that I mentioned earlier who spiced it up with Chinese tea. Another Scottish tea blender gave it an energizing touch by adding a little of this and a little of that. He gave it the power to stand together with breakfast and even complement it.
English in effect means ingredients from many countries that are blended in the style and with the skills of the English companies that created the packaged tea industry. The tea got so famous that it even had people writing short essays about it. One of these essays was by Orwell who defines the eleven rules of tea, every one of them being “Chef’s kiss”.
“First of all, one should use Indian or Ceylonese tea. China tea has virtues but there is not much stimulation in it. The tea should be strong. From a pot holding a quart, if you are going to fill it to the brim, six heaped teaspoonfuls should be about right, one strong cup of tea is better than twenty weak ones. Lastly, tea should be drunk without sugar. I know very well that I am the minority here. Tea is meant to be bitter.”
The Breakfast: “Breakfast” here does not only mean something that you would take after just waking up. It does not only relate to the energizing touch it brings. More than all that, it means something strong enough to stand up to your fried, heavy breakfast. It’s the Breakfast thing that gives it a strong flavor, not the English part of the name. English just says where it came from, the ingredients, the companies, and the people.
How to brew the perfect cup of English Breakfast Black Tea
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First, you have to boil the water, don’t just heat it, boil it. Second, add the boiling water to the tea bag, not the other way around. Putting the water in the cup and adding the bag to it, is a recipe for disaster. Unless the water is at boiling point when it makes contact with the tea, the tea will never properly brew.
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Make sure the cup or pot is nice and hot before you start. If necessary, rinse it out with near-boiling water. And keep it covered while the tea is brewing.
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Leave the bag in the water for at least two minutes longer if you like your tea strong. And for goodness sake, resist the temptation to dunk. Just leave the bag alone until the drink is ready! Add milk and sugar if you want, but as we mentioned before, tea should be bitter.
Health benefits of Black tea
Beyond it’s rich taste, English Breakfast tea packs a punch when it comes to health benefits:
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Rich in Antioxidants: Helps combat oxidative stress and supports heart health
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Boosts Alertness: Contains caffeine for a gentle energy life without the jitters of coffee.
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Aids Digestion: Tannins in black tea can soothe digestion and improve gut health.
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Supports Metabolism: Black tea is known to aid in fat metabolism and weight management.
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Promotes Oral Health: The polyphenols in black tea help reduce plaque formation and bacterial growth in the mouth.
Final thoughts: English Breakfast tea!
Few teas have stood the test of time like English Breakfast. It’s bold, comforting, and versatile, whether you’re sipping it in a London café or brewing a cup in your own kitchen. One sip, and you’ll understand why this tea has been a beloved companion to mornings for over a century.
How Do You Take Your English Breakfast Tea?
Are you a traditionalist who enjoys it with milk, or do you prefer a zesty lemon twist? Let us know your favorite way to enjoy this classic brew!