How English Breakfast Tea Is Made

August 7, 2026 - By Sarah Thompson

First, there is the tea estate. Here, every cup of tea is made from tea leaves that have been harvested, processed, oxidized, graded and blended. The main difference between English Breakfast Tea and other teas are the processes that are carried out on the tea leaves. Even if two brands use tea from the same region, the differences in processing can have a large impact on the taste, aroma and strength of the tea.

By understanding the process of black tea production, it will explain how English Breakfast Tea produces the rich flavor and dark color, and how it can produce a great cup of tea that is made with milk.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Harvesting the Tea Leaves

To start off with a bit of background information, all true teas (which include green tea, white tea, oolong tea, and black tea) are made from the leaves of a single plant called Camellia sinensis. The major difference between the various teas is the way that the leaves are treated after they have been picked from the tea plants.

High quality tea is hand picked from tea estates around the world. Tea leaves are picked in the morning, usually by hand, and then immediately taken to the processing area to begin withering. Only the top two leaves of the tea plant, and the unopened bud are picked to ensure the highest quality of tea.

Cultivated teas are often harvested using machines which can strip the estate of older growth material, and include stems, allowing for greater production but less complex flavor than teas that have been hand-plucked by skilled tea workers.

Step 2: Withering

The fresh tea leaves picked from the tea plants contain about 75-80% moisture and are too soft for processing as they are.

The freshly picked tea leaves are spread out on large trays where they are allowed to dry in the warm air for several hours. The leaves lose their moisture and become flexible, so that when the leaves are rolled they do not break.

This stage starts to create some of the flavor components of the tea.

Step 3: Rolling

After withering, the leaves are rolled.

The rolling of the leaves gently twists and bruises them, in the process, the cell walls are broken, allowing the leaves’ natural enzymes to mix with oxygen.

Rolling serves two purposes:

It shapes the leaves.
It prepares them for oxidation.

There are two ways to process tea leaves, one to produce premium, loose-leaf teas using the orthodox method and the other, to make lower-cost, breakfast teas, using the CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) method.

Both of these processing styles result in a different style of tea, and there is nothing better than the other, as they are simply two different ways.

Orthodox Tea	CTC Tea
Larger leaves	Small pellets
Slower infusion	Faster brewing
More layered flavor	Stronger initial flavor
Common in loose-leaf tea	Common in tea bags

If you have ever noticed that English Breakfast tea bags darken in color within a minute or so, it is most likely due to the tea having been processed using CTC (Cut, Twist and Curve) method.

Step 4: Oxidation

This is the stage that transforms green leaves into black tea.

During the process of the leaves being rolled, they are exposed to controlled humidity and temperature to allow for a slow oxidation of the leaves. The naturally occurring enzymes within the leaf are reacting with the oxygen, and are converting the green of the leaf to a copper like color, which eventually turns to a dark brown color.

Oxidation is responsible for developing many of the flavors that English Breakfast Tea can offer, for example:

Maltiness
Toast-like notes
Rich aroma
Deep amber liquor
Smooth body

These are also responsible for much of the tea’s flavor, contributing to the color, body and briskness of the tea, with theaflavins contributing a lively finish, and thearubigins contributing to the dark color and full mouthfeel.

These contribute to a tea with brightness and a lively finish, and to the dark color and full mouthfeel of the tea.

Step 5: Drying and Sorting

Finally, the tea leaves are dried in order to stop the enzymatic processes and to prepare them for packaging and distribution to shops around the world.

They’re then sorted according to size.

Note that tea leaf grades are not indicative of the tea’s quality and that they simply refer to the size of the leaves after processing.

For example:

Whole leaf
Broken leaf
Fannings
Dust

Broken leaves and fannings are not inferior materials and are used for Tea Bag infusions because they are able to infuse more quickly than whole leaves.

What Does English Breakfast Tea Taste Like?

English Breakfast Tea is an English Breakfast Tea – it’s difficult to describe the flavor of English Breakfast Tea to someone who has never had a cup before.

A well-made English Breakfast Tea is rich but not too strong, bold but not harsh, and smooth to drink.

There are so many flavors that there are many different notes in English Breakfast Tea, which unfold during drinking of the tea.

Most people notice:

Malty sweetness
Toasted grain notes
Gentle earthiness
Mild natural sweetness
Slight briskness
Clean finish

The exact balance depends entirely on the blend.

The only difference is that the Assam rich tea blends taste sweeter than the Ceylon rich tea blends, and they are fuller in the mouth.

How Different Origins Change the Taste

Tea Origin	What It Adds to the Blend
Assam	Rich malt, full body, natural sweetness
Ceylon	Brightness, citrus notes, crisp finish
Kenya	Briskness, strength, darker liquor
China	Smoothness, subtle sweetness, refined finish

This is why tasting notes can vary significantly between brands.

Why Does Some English Breakfast Tea Taste Bitter?

Bitterness does not have to mean a low quality tea.

In reality, bitterness is caused by the way tea is brewed, not by the tea itself.

The most common reasons include:

Brewing for Too Long

Black tea releases tannins over time.

These compounds provide the structure or body to a tea and as they are extracted, they can provide a dry feeling on the roof of the mouth and are described by many as being bitter.

For most breakfast teas 3-4 minutes is long enough to extract all the flavors.

Using Too Much Tea

Adding extra tea leaves does not necessarily mean a better cup of tea.

However, instead of a great cup of tea, you will get an overly concentrated, bitter and astringent brew.

Water That’s Too Hot for Too Long

Freshly boiled water is ideal for English Breakfast Tea. Repeatedly boiling the same kettle of water will result in a flatter cup of tea, due to the lower level of dissolved oxygen in the water. Using fresh water each time will result in a noticeably brighter cup of tea.

Using fresh water each time produces noticeably brighter flavors.

Poor Blend Quality

There are many inexpensive English Breakfast Teas on the market today that are made up mostly of low-grade CTC tea leaves.

These types of tea leave can become harsh if left to steep for too long but do brew quickly.

All CTC tea is not of poor quality. It does require more attention when it is being prepared though.

Tea Expert Tip: If your English Breakfast Tea becomes bitter after two minutes then try using less tea instead of decreasing the steep time to try and improve the flavor.

Why English Breakfast Tea Pairs So Well With Milk

There are very few teas that are as commonly drunk with milk as English Breakfast Tea.

That’s not simply a matter of tradition.

Milk complements English Breakfast Tea particularly well, because black tea contains polyphenols and tannins. These create the structure of the tea, and also a slight astringency.

Milk softens the tea’s sharp edges and turns them into a smooth and creamy drink. The flavors of the tea remain intact, especially in the case of Assam-heavy English Breakfast blends. Their rich malt flavors will remain evident even when they are mixed with milk.

Assam-heavy breakfast teas will retain much of their strong flavor, rich maltiness and crunchy mouthfeel even when added to milk.

However, a lighter English Breakfast Tea, which includes Darjeeling tea leaves, can lose all of its delicate flavoring when made with milk and sugar.

Should You Drink It Black or With Milk?

There’s no universally correct answer.

This is one of the few teas that can be enjoyed either black or with milk, depending on your preference of tea and the particular blend.

Drinking it black allows you to really appreciate the complexity of the tea, the regional characteristics, the natural sweetness of the tea and it allows you to really evaluate the tea quality.

This makes for a great breakfast drink and adds to the smooth mouthfeel.

Here’s a simple guideline:

Drink it black if you want to:

Appreciate the blend’s complexity
Notice regional characteristics
Taste natural sweetness
Evaluate tea quality

Add milk if you prefer:

A smoother mouthfeel
Less astringency
A richer breakfast drink
Traditional British-style tea

Try it with and without milk to see which way you like it best. Many tea professionals taste black first and then decide if adding milk improves the tea.

Does English Breakfast Tea Contain Caffeine?

Yes.

Caffeine is contained in English Breakfast Tea as with all traditional black teas.

However, the amount is often misunderstood.

Most websites mention the amount of caffeine in tea, but this amount can vary greatly. The amount of caffeine in tea depends on several factors, for example the type of tea, the grade of the leaves, the way of brewing and the amount of tea in a cup.

A typical 240 ml cup contains approximately:

Beverage	Average Caffeine
English Breakfast Tea	40–70 mg
Green Tea	20–45 mg
Earl Grey	40–70 mg
Coffee	90–120 mg
Espresso (30 ml)	60–65 mg

These figures are averages rather than fixed values.

As an example, a tea bag made from fine CTC leaves will release more caffeine in the first cup than a bag made from large orthodox leaves. A 5 minute brew will contain more caffeine than a 3 minute brew.

Is English Breakfast Tea Stronger Than Coffee?

Not in terms of caffeine.

The taste of English Breakfast Tea is bold and it is very common for people to assume that it is very strong in terms of caffeine. Although it does contain a lot of caffeine, the average amount of caffeine found in English Breakfast Tea is roughly half the amount of a standard cup of coffee.

This can provide a feeling of alertness that lasts for some time without feeling ‘fixed’ or ‘stunned’ by the caffeine.

It’s the perfect drink for centuries because of a delicate balance of taste and caffeine levels that are high enough to wake you up but not so intense as to be disturbing.

Next Part: Is English Breakfast Tea Good for You? → Final Thoughts & FAQs.

Is English Breakfast Tea Good for You?

As a healthy addition to a balanced diet English Breakfast Tea is suitable for most healthy adults. While many see English Breakfast Tea in terms of flavor and caffeine, it also contains other naturally occurring plant compounds that may provide health benefits.

English Breakfast Tea does contain antioxidants and can be part of a healthy lifestyle. This, however, is only true when English Breakfast Tea is drunk in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced diet.

Rich in Antioxidants

Black tea contains a lot of antioxidants.

The compounds theaflavins and thearubigins are formed in tea leaves during oxidation. They are powerful antioxidants that can protect plant cells from oxidation. Researchers continue to study the health effects of these compounds.

Note, though, that English Breakfast Tea contains far more of the antioxidants in English Breakfast Tea (from the oxidation of the tea leaf compounds) than it does of the catechins found in high quantities in green tea.

May Support Heart Health

Several observational studies have suggested that consumption of black tea can support heart health as part of a healthy diet.

This is due to the natural polyphenols found within tea. Some research has explored the effects that these can have upon blood vessel function and circulation.

Tea does not have the power to prevent heart disease. Healthy lifestyles and habits such as regular exercise, quality sleep, healthy and balanced diets, and not smoking are far more powerful.

Can Improve Alertness and Focus

Of course, most tea drinkers drink tea for the caffeine. But there is more to English Breakfast Tea than caffeine. For one, there is the L-theanine which is found in tea in addition to caffeine.

The Tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid in the Tea which is not similar to the caffeine and therefore has a different effect.

This balanced focused energy is in stark contrast to say the sharp, high pitched and very short lived energy provided by a shot of coffee.

This is why Tea is so popular with the working man or woman.

Naturally Low in Calories

A plain cup of English Breakfast Tea contains almost no calories.

Serving	Calories
Plain English Breakfast Tea	0–2 kcal
With a splash of milk	10–25 kcal
With one teaspoon of sugar	Around 16 kcal

For those monitoring the intake of calories, the added ingredients will make a greater difference than the tea itself.

English Breakfast Tea Nutrition Facts

English Breakfast Tea contains a variety of naturally occurring plant compounds. English Breakfast Tea is not a source of vitamins or minerals in eating plans.

A typical cup provides:

Virtually no fat
No protein
Negligible carbohydrates
Small amounts of potassium and manganese
Natural polyphenols
Flavonoids
Trace minerals

English Breakfast Tea is considered to be part of a healthy eating plan as it contains very few calories.

Are There Any Side Effects?

English Breakfast Tea, like other caffeinated beverages, should be consumed in moderation.

Most people are not affected by the consumption of English Breakfast Tea, but excessive consumption may cause unwanted effects.

Too Much Caffeine

Drinking several strong cups throughout the day may contribute to:

Difficulty sleeping
Restlessness
Increased heart rate
Nervousness
Headaches in sensitive individuals

Is English Breakfast Tea going to keep you awake?

Reduced Iron Absorption

As the tea is black, it will also contain tannins that can reduce the amount of non-heme iron from plant foods that the body can absorb when consumed with meals.

Drink tea between meals to ensure iron is absorbed. If you have iron deficiency or are on iron supplements, make sure to drink tea between meals rather than when you are having meals with iron-rich foods.

Tooth Staining

English Breakfast Tea can cause tooth staining, due to the tea containing natural pigments (tannins) that can cause tooth staining, especially if consumed frequently.

Rinsing your mouth out with water after drinking tea, and keeping your teeth and gums clean with regular brushing, can help stop tea staining your teeth over time.

Can You Drink English Breakfast Tea Every Day?

Yes.

There is no reason why English Breakfast Tea cannot be drunk every day by healthy adults, provided that they do not consume excessive amounts of it and are not excessive consumers of sugar, adding it to their tea.

As long as you are a healthy adult, drinking one to four cups of English Breakfast Tea a day should be no problem. This is roughly the amount that many UK residents drink every day. It is also important to remember to not add too much sugar to your tea, as this can cause problems for people who regularly drink it.

English Breakfast Tea can be drunk every day but it is recommended to check with your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a health condition. Also, you should check with your doctor how much caffeine you can have each day.

How to Brew the Perfect Cup of English Breakfast Tea

Even the best tea can taste awful if it has been brewed wrong.

How to Make the Best Cup of English Breakfast Tea Ever.

You’ll Need

1 tea bag or 2–3 grams of loose-leaf English Breakfast Tea
Fresh filtered water
A kettle
A teapot or mug

Step 1: Use Fresh Water

Always start with freshly drawn cold water.

Boiling water (repeatedly boiled water) has lost its oxygen, so it makes for a very poor tea.

Step 2: Heat the Water Properly

English Breakfast Tea is unlike the green teas that require almost boiling water to make. English Breakfast Tea is best made with water near to boiling point.

Aim for:

95–100°C (203–212°F)

Using water that is too cool will not extract enough flavor from the tea leaves, producing a weak tea with little body.

Step 3: Measure the Tea

For a standard 250 ml cup:

1 tea bag
or about 1 teaspoon (2–3 grams) of loose leaves

Adding more tea to your pot won’t necessarily result in a better cup of tea, it will just become more bitter.

Step 4: Brew for the Right Amount of Time

Brewing Time	Result
2 minutes	Light, mild cup
3–4 minutes	Balanced flavor (recommended)
5+ minutes	Stronger, more tannic, slightly bitter

All premium English Breakfast teas are brewed for around 3-4 minutes to achieve the best flavor.

Step 5: Add Milk or Sweetener (Optional)

Remove the Tea Leaves or Tea Bag from Your Cup.

Then decide whether you’d like to enjoy it:

Black
With milk
With a slice of lemon
With honey
With sugar

Tasting your tea black before adding any milk (and/or honey/sugar etc) is the best way to appreciate the full flavors of any new tea blends.

Common Mistakes That Ruin English Breakfast Tea

They are caused by a variety of simple mistakes.

Using Boiling Water for Too Long

Freshly boiled water is the best; leaving the kettle on and boiling water repeatedly can flatten the flavors of the tea.

Over-Steeping

Many people assume longer brewing means stronger tea.

Over-Steeping Teabags: The Biggest Mistakes for Strong Tea

Poor Water Quality

Hard water can mute delicate flavor notes.

Filtered water will usually produce a cleaner cup of tea than very mineral-rich tap water.

Storing Tea Incorrectly

Tea absorbs moisture and odors surprisingly easily.

Avoid storing English Breakfast Tea:

Next to spices
Above the stove
In direct sunlight
In unsealed containers

An airtight container kept in a cool, dry cupboard will keep your English Breakfast Tea for months to come.

Tea Expert Tip: I have recently switched to a premium loose-leaf English Breakfast Tea, and initially it tasted weaker than my usual tea bag. Although this Tea is of high quality, it tastes weaker than my usual tea bag, until I realized that the Tea was a loose-leaf Tea, and that I needed to allow it to infuse for a longer period of time, in order to release all the flavor.

Can You Make Iced English Breakfast Tea?

English Breakfast Tea Can Be Served As Iced Tea.

English Breakfast Tea also makes a great iced tea. The strong flavor will still be obvious when it has been chilled, unlike with some of the lighter teas.

To make it:

Brew the tea slightly stronger than usual.
Allow it to cool for a few minutes.
Pour it over plenty of ice.
Add lemon slices, fresh mint, or a little honey if desired.

Because of its strong, malty flavor, English Breakfast Tea makes a great base for flavor infusions, such as peach, orange or berry flavored teas that can be enjoyed as a cool summer drink.

English Breakfast Tea vs Earl Grey

English Breakfast Tea and Earl Grey are generally placed on the shelves of supermarkets, and therefore people assume they are comparable to one another. English Breakfast Tea is made from black tea and therefore, unlike Earl Grey, it does not contain any added flavorings to the tea base.

The biggest difference lies in flavor.

English Breakfast Tea is made from 100% black tea leaves. It is often compared to Earl Grey tea, which is also made from black tea but is flavored with the oil of bergamot from the rind of the bergamot orange.

This single ingredient completely changes the tea’s aroma and character.

Feature	English Breakfast Tea	Earl Grey
Tea Base	Black tea blend	Black tea
Added Flavor	None	Bergamot oil
Taste	Malty, rich, full-bodied	Citrusy, floral, fragrant
Best With Milk	Yes	Optional
Best Time to Drink	Morning or throughout the day	Afternoon or evening

This tea is great for those who like to drink a strong traditional cup of tea, often served at breakfast time. For those who like something a bit lighter with a fragrant citrus flavor then Earl Grey is definitely worth a try.

English Breakfast Tea vs Irish Breakfast Tea

Irish Breakfast Tea is stronger than English Breakfast Tea.

The reason is simple.

Many Irish Breakfast Teas are composed of a higher percentage of Assam tea than English Breakfast Tea to create a stronger, full-bodied tea with a deeper, sweeter maltiness.

English Breakfast Tea aims for balance.

Irish Breakfast Tea prioritizes strength.

Feature	English Breakfast Tea	Irish Breakfast Tea
Flavor	Balanced	Very bold
Body	Full	Extra full
Assam Content	Moderate to high	Usually very high
Brightness	Higher	Lower
Best With Milk	Yes	Yes

If you are transferring from coffee then the most powerful tea would be Irish Breakfast, but if you are looking for a day to day tea then English Breakfast is a much more versatile tea.

next?

English Breakfast Tea vs Assam Tea

It can be easy to get confused over this comparison as the tea Assam is often used in for English Breakfast Tea.

The difference is straightforward.

Assam tea is made from tea grown in one region of northeastern India.

English Breakfast Tea can contain Assam tea as well as teas from countries such as Sri Lanka, Kenya and China.

Think of Assam as an ingredient.

English Breakfast Tea is a mix of teas, and for that reason English Breakfast is the “finished article”.

Because it is a single origin tea, Assam has a more distinct personality than English Breakfast Tea.

Expect:

Deep maltiness
Honey-like sweetness
Thick body
Rich finish

In contrast to English Breakfast Tea which includes some sweetness and brightness from Ceylon teas or some briskness from Kenyan teas, for example, to soften the deep malt and honey flavors of the Assam, there is nothing to soften the flavors of the Assam in single origin teas of Assam.

So if you like strong black teas then Assam is worth a look.

English Breakfast Tea vs Darjeeling

Darjeeling is sometimes called the “Champagne of teas” and, having recently tried a bottle of this, it’s easy to see why.

Instead of deep, rich, floral and fruity flavors and a refined complexity, including a delicate floral aroma, honey-like sweetness and rich, full bodied mouth feel and finish, including notes of muscatel, Darjeeling tea is valued for its very delicate floral aroma and refined complexity.

Feature	English Breakfast Tea	Darjeeling
Style	Blend	Single-origin tea
Flavor	Rich and malty	Floral and fruity
Best With Milk	Yes	Usually no
Body	Full	Light to medium
Drinking Style	Everyday tea	Tea to savour slowly

People often ask which tea is “better.”

There isn’t a right answer.

They simply serve different purposes.

If you want a comforting morning cup, English Breakfast Tea is hard to beat.

Darjeeling Tea also provides a great opportunity to examine the many subtle characteristics of premium tea.

How to Choose the Best English Breakfast Tea

Shopping for English Breakfast Tea can be a hassle in supermarkets and online shops, because of the large choice of more than hundred different English Breakfast Teas.

Price alone doesn’t determine quality.

Instead, focus on a few important factors.

Check the Ingredient List

A traditional English Breakfast Tea should list only one ingredient:

Black tea

If you are purchasing a classic breakfast tea then it will not contain any of the following:

Artificial flavorings
Sweeteners
Other unwanted ingredients

Decide Between Loose Leaf and Tea Bags

Neither option is automatically better.

Loose-leaf tea generally provides:

More complex flavor
Larger leaves
Better aroma
Multiple infusions

Tea bags offer:

Convenience
Faster brewing
Consistent results
Easy cleanup

Tea for Beginners: Quality Tea Bags are Perfect; But For Tea Connoisseurs, Only the Best Loose-Leaf Tea Will Do.

Look at the Blend

Many premium brands explain where their tea comes from.

For example:

Assam-heavy blends are richer and maltier.
Ceylon-forward blends feel brighter.
Kenyan-rich blends are stronger and brisker.

Reading these descriptions makes it much easier to choose a tea that matches your preferences.

Consider Freshness

Tea gradually loses aroma after prolonged exposure to air, moisture, and sunlight.

Products will have been purchased by the retailer at some point in the past and will be degrading with time, so it’s far better to source products from a retailer with a good turnover of stock.

How to Store English Breakfast Tea Properly

Even excellent tea can lose much of its flavor if it’s stored incorrectly.

Tea leaves are surprisingly sensitive to their surroundings.

They readily absorb:

Moisture
Strong odors
Heat
Sunlight

To keep your breakfast tea tasting fresh:

Store it in an airtight container.
Keep it in a cool, dry cupboard.
Avoid transparent jars exposed to sunlight.
Keep the tea away from spices, coffee and strongly scented foods.

The black tea leaves can retain a large percentage of their quality for over a year, but at their best within a few months after opening the container.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is English Breakfast Tea?

English Breakfast Tea is a mixture of black teas, mostly from Assam, Ceylon, Kenya and some Chinese teas. They are a strong, full-bodied tea, best drunk with breakfast, but also very suitable for drinking at other times.

Is English Breakfast Tea black tea?

English Breakfast Tea is made from 100% black tea leaves but it is a mixture of different teas from around the world.

What is in English Breakfast Tea?

English Breakfast Tea is typically made up of black teas and may consist of teas such as Assam, Ceylon, Kenyan and Chinese black teas. The exact composition of any given English Breakfast Tea blend will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Does English Breakfast Tea have caffeine?

The amount of caffeine in a cup of tea can vary depending on the tea blend, the method of which it is made, and the quality of tea leaves used. On average, however, a cup of tea can contain anywhere between 40–70mg of caffeine.

Can you drink English Breakfast Tea every day?

English Breakfast Tea is a normal part of the diet of most healthy adults and can be drunk every day.

Is English Breakfast Tea stronger than coffee?

It’s strong in taste but low in caffeine compared to a cup of coffee.

Is English Breakfast Tea from England?

The name comes from the traditional English way of drinking tea and from the fact that many of the teas are grown in countries such as India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Kenya and China.

Can English Breakfast Tea be served cold?

Yes. English Breakfast Tea can also be served as an iced tea and is a very nice, refreshing tea.