Monday, March 31, 2008

English Breakfast


English Breakfast tea is my all-time favorite. It is always a black tea blend, and it is meant to be prepared with milk and sugar. Black tea rests best with me in the mornings (probably because of the caffeine!). And, really, there's just something about the name "English Breakfast" that says "If you're drinking this in the morning, you are doing the right thing."


The heart of any meal named an "English breakfast" is bacon and eggs. Yet, you'll find that no matter how you prepare a cup of English breakfast tea, it won't taste like bacon and eggs! Apparently, it was so named because it was/is specifically blended to go well with an English breakfast, and to be prepared in the style of the English. An entertaining, informative article on the subject can be read at Ask Mr. Breakfast.


Mr. Breakfast claims that "When blended with milk, [English Breakfast tea] produces a comforting aroma eerily similar to warm toast and honey." I can't say I've had that experience, but I am aware that different English Breakfast teas have slightly different tastes, and thus scents. Tea in general is a comforting thing, but moreso the English Breakfast tea. And it's all about the preparation:


Warm milk is a source of comfort and security for babies. I believe that the addition of milk to a warm cup of tea does something to soothe a person's deep unconscious by bringing him back to that day when milk could solve all problems.


Sugar is cheering. It makes you happy. It gives you energy. The tea doesn't have to actually be sweet - in fact, too much sugar will confuse your taste buds, and you won't get the full flavor of the tea itself!


So we have, in one cup, the following:



  • Caffeine, to keep you awake for your responsibilities of the day.

  • Warm milk, to calm your nerves and prepare you for your day.

  • Sugar, to provide a bit of instant energy, a "spark" as you go in to work or as you begin your daily responsibilities.

  • Tea, to hydrate and refresh you, to give you that five minutes of breathing time before you rush off to work (or to clean the house, or make breakfast for the kids)

I think you'll agree that this is a pretty amazing combination to have in one cup. This is really what you need to start your day, every day! Here are some very basic instructions for the new English Breakfast tea-drinker.



  • Water temperature: Boiling! Not boiled, not almost-boiling. Really, really hot.

  • Use a regular size mug or tea cup - nothing too big for this first cup, so the proportions of milk and sugar won't be off.

  • Put an English Breakfast tea bag into the mug and pour the boiling water over it, leaving about an inch of space at the top of the mug.

  • Let it steep at least 4 minutes. It shouldn't get too bitter, and the sugar and milk will help any over-steeping that happens, so don't be afraid to make it dark!

  • Remove the tea bag. Stir in 1-2 teaspoons of sugar. I like less sugar; others like more. If you are using a smaller tea cup, I would definitely go with less sugar. You can always add more later if you think it needs it!

  • Milk: This is a toughie for me. I don't actually know how much milk I pour in! Generally I pour in milk until the tea is the "right" color, but that is subjective. I did about two minutes of internet research and couldn't find a lot of opinions. So experiment. Pour in enough milk for the level of liquid to rise about 1 centimeter. Swirl it with a spoon and take a sip.

At this point, consider the strength of the tea, the sweetness, and the taste of the milk. If you aren't enjoying the taste, there are a few things to keep in mind:



  • I prefer some brands of English Breakfast tea over others. Stash is the kind I drink most often. It might be worth it to experiment with different brands, though I haven't done a lot of experimenting myself. I found one I liked and stuck with it!

  • If you are new to tea, feel free to overdo the sugar and the milk. In fact, English Breakfast might be one of the most friendly teas for new drinkers.

  • I use real sugar. Here I'm going to be a snob and say you should too! If you are diabetic or cannot consume sugar for health reasons, I have no recommendations for you - would you experiment and let me know if there is still a way to enjoy this tea? Of course, some people forego the sweetner altogether, and I think if the milk were done right it would still be a satisfying cup.

  • I use whole milk. Not cream. Not skim. 2% I have used before with only mildly disappointing results. Here my snobbishness comes through again - please, please use whole milk! You have to be able to taste it in the tea!

Order Stash English Breakfast Tea online!

Please tell me about your experience with English Breakfast tea, and if you have any additional comments (especially if you are a bigger snob than me!) - theteasnob at comcast.net.

25 comments:

Sir Brian The Manly said...

Good heavens...who knew so much could be said about tea?

Amber said...

And I thought I tried to keep it short!

April said...

Thank you for this!

Unknown said...

What's particularly wrong with 2% milk as opposed to whole milk? I drink my Tazo brand English breakfast tea with 2% milk and unprocessed sugar. :)
What should I try instead?

AshasMom said...

I really enjoyed this article. I'm lactose intolerant, so I will try almond milk in mine. Thanks for the info!

Unknown said...

Ha! The tea snob had to do an internet search about adding milk? Sounds like a typical snob....

Unknown said...

My Boyfriend likes milk in his tea, I've never tried it... However I think he should probably heat up the milk first because it curdles when you add the cold whole milk to the tea. I'm lactose intolerant though, so I'll drink it with vanilla almond milk for an extra twist - haha. Gonna try it! Thanks for this!

Unknown said...

Always been kinda scared to try English Breakfast being how intimidating the name is, however this article definitely gave me the greenlight! Lol

Unknown said...

Hey, I thouroughly enjoyed reading your post, very fun. I really enjoy black tea myself, came in to see if I was preparing it correctly and you´ve confirmed that I am. I sometimes use natural honey to sweeten this drink, you should try it, highly recommended.

Unknown said...

A a girl who has been drinking tea since before she could walk, I can confirm that it doesn't curdle

Unknown said...

Really appreciate the emphasis on the whole milk. I love English Breakfast tea. Lately I've been wondering why I cant. get the taste I'm looking for. You'll be surprised at the difference a small detail like whole milk vs cream makes Maybe that's where I made the mistake (using cream ). Well, just like in life, It's the little things that make all the difference.

Unknown said...

Really appreciate the emphasis on the whole milk. I love English Breakfast tea. Lately I've been wondering why I cant. get the taste I'm looking for. You'll be surprised at the difference a small detail like whole milk vs cream makes Maybe that's where I made the mistake (using cream ). Well, just like in life, It's the little things that make all the difference.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the information. I was just gifted a beautiful mug and set of English teas. I have never drank English breakfast tea before and had no idea where to begin. Now I feel a little more confident in making my first cup!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the information. I was just gifted a beautiful mug and set of English teas. I have never drank English breakfast tea before and had no idea where to begin. Now I feel a little more confident in making my first cup!

Unknown said...

Could you include a photo of how the tea should look when adding the milk till it has the "right" colour?

Unknown said...

I'm attempting to make the switch from coffee to tea and chose English Breakfast, thanks for confirming my choice :)

Unknown said...

Thank you so much!!!
Best tea I have ever had.

Black-Eyed Borgia said...

Have you ever tried your tea with evaporated milk..best thing ever! I like my tea dark, rich and sweet(not sickly) and anything but evap just comes off insipid. But I want to try having my "English Breakfast" tea without caffeine so any suggestions as to which caffeine-free tea to try. Don't want to do any of those decaf teas that have had the caffeine "removed", but a real caffeine free tea that would go well with milk and sugar. Any suggestions?

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Unknown said...

I'm not English, or live in the UK. However,I am a tea snob. I've tried the usual brands. Twinings,etc. but the best tea ( in my opinion ) is Ahmad. It's a little more expensive, but we'll worth it. Especially English breakfast black.
I've heard ( I'm not sure) that the milk in UK is a little sweet. Like I said, I don't know, but going on that I tried coffee-mate sweet cream instead of milk. Not too much. Not everyone will like it. If you've ever used it in coffee, give it a try in tea. I can't think of anything better. I've tried some other brands. Don't use the dunkin donut brand unless you want your mouth to turn inside out. It's over the top too sweet.
Use Ahmad English breakfast black tea with the sweet cream coffee-mate and tell me what you think.
ESPECIALLY U BLACK-EYED BORGIA since u like condensed milk. u may like this also.

Black-Eyed Borgia said...

Thanks Trudy, I have actually tried Ahmad tea and I do like it but still prefer my Extra Strong tea by Tetleys (or better yet, the M&S brand)
Also I have my tea with EVAPORATED milk, not condensed milk (eww..too sweet)
Ps. I have also tried tea with the coffee creamer, while it's ok, I find it a little cloyingly.
Thanks for the recommendation though ;)

Tealove😍 said...

I love tea me and my husband have been drinking pg tips black tea and we only drink it the English way. we drink it in the afternoon and night time before bed. I can honestly say making it the English way is so much batter.

Denita said...

Ohhhh myyyy just tried your suggestions....yummmmmm!!! Thanks loved reading your blog lol

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