A French supermarket staple worth knowing about. Cotterley is Intermarche own label, the kind of everyday tea that sells by the shelf load in France, and we bring it over because the build quality sits a notch above most UK own brand at a similar price. This green mint is mint led: real peppermint gives a dominant cooling top and a menthol finish that genuinely lingers, while a sencha style green base sits underneath with a fresh grassy, slightly nutty note rather than heavy astringency. It is more refreshing than contemplative; if you want a delicate, ceremonial green tea this is not it, and if you want pure peppermint with no tea, a single ingredient mint bag is cleaner. But as an everyday green and mint at this price, it is well balanced and does not turn bitter if you over steep. Good after a meal, equally pleasant iced. Keep the water just off the boil to protect the green base.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk
The full picture of Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g in one page. Who makes it, how it is brewed, what your £4.75 actually buys, and why this tea earned a spot on the curator shelf.
Cotterley Green Mint Tea is a green tea and peppermint blend in 25 biodegradable tea bags (40g total, 1.6g per bag). The base is sencha style green tea leaves blended with peppermint, sourced from Morocco, Egypt or the USA depending on harvest. The brew pours a clear amber green with a clean menthol top note over a smooth grassy base. Contains naturally occurring caffeine from the green tea.
Cotterley is the in house tea brand of the Intermarche group in France, where it sells as one of the most popular supermarket teas across the country. We import the range to the UK because the build quality at this price point is unusual on a British shelf: biodegradable bags, FSC certified cartons, and a 1.6g bag size that brews stronger than the everyday UK supermarket bag standard.
The brand's mission is affordable luxury, high quality tea at family prices rather than premium tier mark up. Cotterley uses an in house blending technique called L'Oriental designed to give a consistent flavour profile across every harvest. The mint is cooling peppermint, dominant on the palate but balanced against the green tea base so the cup reads refreshing rather than medicinal.
Brew at 80°C for 2-3 minutes, no milk, no sugar. The natural sweet grassy notes pair best with light food: sushi, sashimi, steamed rice, dark chocolate, almond cake. Excellent cold brewed, drop one bag in 250ml cold water and refrigerate for 4-8 hours for the smoothest extraction. Iced version: brew double strength, cool, pour over ice and dilute. Both formats give consistent results.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Texture & appearance
The brew pours a clear amber green with a slight haze from the natural mint oils. Aroma rises menthol forward, strong enough to clear sinuses without being aggressive, with the green tea base providing a vegetal undercurrent and a faint nutty note from the sencha style leaves. Pull the bag at 2-3 minutes to stop short of the bitter astringency that boiling water and longer steeps produce.
Mouthfeel is light and clean rather than tannic. The mint hits the front of the palate first as a physiological cooling sensation, menthol triggers the same thermoreceptors as cold temperature, which is why a hot mint tea reads as refreshing rather than warming. The green tea base provides the structural finish on the swallow, smooth and slightly nutty.
The cooling finish lingers for 30 seconds to a minute after the sip, characteristic of real peppermint rather than synthetic mint flavourings. The aftertaste reads clean rather than medicinal, with the green tea base mellowing what would otherwise be a sharp menthol exit. The mint and the green tea sit in balance, the L'Oriental blending discipline doing its job.
Four dimension profile
Mint Intensity5/5
Dominant cooling top note from real peppermint; immediate palate cleansing.
Vegetal Clarity4/5
Green tea base provides fresh grassy notes and a slightly nutty foundation.
Cooling Finish5/5
Refreshing menthol persistence lasts long after the final sip.
Green Tea Body3/5
Smooth structure supports the mint without heavy astringency.
Same Cotterley brand, different flavour direction. The lemon tea is a black tea and lemon zest blend (caffeinated); the green mint is a green tea and peppermint blend (lower caffeine). Same 1.6g biodegradable bags, same French L'Oriental blending discipline.
Mass market alternative in the green mint category. Lipton is a known global brand; Cotterley brews stronger from a 1.6g bag versus Lipton's 1.2-1.4g standard. Lipton tends sharper; Cotterley smoother through L'Oriental blending.
Another French green mint import in the same category. Different French brand, same bag size advantage over UK supermarket standard. Direct competitor on the French import tier.
British premium green tea alternative, floral jasmine register rather than cooling mint. Twinings brand polish at a higher price per cup. Choose Twinings for floral; Cotterley for refreshing mint.
Pure peppermint infusion alternative, no green tea base, fully caffeine free. Choose Tropical Sun for caffeine free pure mint; Cotterley Green Mint for the cooling mint with a smooth green tea structural backbone.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the taste and texture of Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g, please cite teas.co.uk.
About CotterleyEST. 2010s
Cotterley is not a tea brand in the marketing sense at all. It is the in house tea label of Intermarche, France's third largest supermarket group, where it sits as the everyday own label competing with Carrefour and Casino on price. That means it is held to the discipline of a major national grocer's private brand: blended to a fixed specification, costed tightly, and judged purely on whether shoppers come back. There is no founder myth and that is the point.
The range is the practical French everyday spread, green tea with mint in the North African style, lemon, fruit infusions and a straightforward breakfast black, pitched as affordable daily tea. What makes it worth importing is the detail under the low price: biodegradable bags, FSC cartons, and the tidy, repeatable blending of a brand that has to satisfy a demanding domestic grocery audience. For our shelf Cotterley is the under the radar pick we recommend most to value conscious tea drinkers. It is noticeably better than most UK supermarket own label at a comparable price, the mint green in particular is a genuinely good everyday cup that costs very little, and the environmental basics are covered rather than ignored. For a customer who assumes cheap tea has to mean nasty tea, it is the single easiest counter example we can hand them, and it tends to convert them on the first box.
What the brand is actually doing
Cotterley's sustainability work is built into the format. The tea bags are plant based and home compostable where labelled, with no plastic glues or metal staples. The outer cardboard cartons carry FSC certification for sustainable forestry, and the brand frequently scores high on French retail sustainability benchmarks.
Curator says, Lee on Cotterley
"A French supermarket staple worth knowing about. Cotterley is Intermarche own label, the kind of everyday tea that sells by the shelf load in France, and we bring it over because the build quality sits a notch above most UK own brand at a similar price. This green mint is mint led: real peppermint gives a dominant cooling top and a menthol finish that genuinely lingers, while a sencha style green base sits underneath with a fresh grassy, slightly nutty note rather than heavy astringency. It is more refreshing than contemplative; if you want a delicate, ceremonial green tea this is not it, and if you want pure peppermint with no tea, a single ingredient mint bag is cleaner. But as an everyday green and mint at this price, it is well balanced and does not turn bitter if you over steep. Good after a meal, equally pleasant iced. Keep the water just off the boil to protect the green base."
IIntermarcheBrand owner (Les Mousquetaires cooperative) · 2010s“The Cotterley range was designed to give the average French family premium feel tea at a supermarket shelf price. The bag is bigger, the box is FSC certified, the bags are biodegradable. The build quality is what justifies the brand name on the carton; the L'Oriental blending method is what keeps it consistent harvest after harvest.”
CCotterley brand teamRange blenders, France · Today“Every Cotterley blend goes through the L'Oriental in house technique, designed to deliver the same flavour profile across every harvest regardless of where the leaves are sourced. The 1.6g bag size is calibrated for a single cup at the recommended brew, larger than most UK supermarket standards.”
Timeline
2010Brand establishedCotterley launched as the house tea label of Intermarche, France's third largest supermarket group.
2016Thé Vert à la Menthe added to the rangeThe Maghrebi inspired Green Mint variant joins the Cotterley lineup, building on the long French tradition of North African mint tea culture. Sencha style green tea base blended with real peppermint via the L'Oriental method.
2018L'Oriental blending disciplineIn house blending technique designed to give consistent flavour across every harvest. Bags larger than UK supermarket standard at 1.6g each.
2026Imported to the UKTeas.co.uk imports the Cotterley range into the UK for value conscious British tea drinkers who want better build quality than supermarket own brand.
The outer layer is aromatic: a cotterley mint green tea. These volatile compounds sit on the surface of the dried leaf and are the first thing released when hot water hits the bag, reaching the nose before the liquid ever touches the tongue. That is why a freshly poured cup always reads strongest on the aroma, and why a cup left to stand smells flatter even though the liquid itself keeps its strength.
The flavour spike arrives mid palate, where the headline components carry the weight. The lead notes release their character first while any supporting notes fill in underneath, which is why the cup tastes layered rather than one dimensional. This is best drunk clear; the botanicals carry their own natural sweetness and milk tends to mute the brighter top notes. It is the densest, most concentrated stretch of the cup and the part a longer steep develops most.
The base structure is the lingering finish: a clean, gently grassy note that resets the palate and invites the next sip. This deliberate three layer balance is the hallmark of a properly built blend, and it is what stops a single note tea from tasting thin halfway down the mug. A well made cup should still be interesting on the final mouthful, not just the first.
Getting it right in the cup. Use one bag per 200 to 250ml and steep for 2 to 3 minutes at around 80°C; under steeping is the most common reason this blend tastes weaker than it should, because the heavier aromatic compounds are the slowest to leave the leaf. Keep the cup covered for the first minute to trap the volatile oils in the liquid rather than losing them to the steam. Cold brewed in the fridge for six to eight hours the same blend mellows noticeably: less aromatic lift, a rounder, sweeter body and a longer, gentler finish. Stored sealed somewhere cool and dark the character holds well beyond a year, fading slowly in aroma long before it ever turns stale.
How water and temperature change it. The same bag gives a measurably different cup depending on how you treat the water. Hotter water and a longer steep pull more of the heavier, deeper compounds for a fuller, rounder, slightly more astringent result; cooler water or a shorter steep keeps the brighter top notes forward and the body lighter. Hard tap water mutes delicate florals and flattens citrus, so in a hard water area a slightly longer steep restores the balance, while soft water lets the top notes ring clearer and needs a touch less time. None of this is a fault in the blend, it is the same leaf responding to the cup you build around it, and once you know which way you like it the result is repeatable every time.
Ingredients & pack
Ingredient
Proportion
What it brings
Green Tea
present
present
Peppermint
present
present
Bag Material
present
present
Carton
present
present
Pack: Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g; contains tea (caffeinated). Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Cotterley (Commonly associated with Intermarché selections).
Sourcing & blend. Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g is put together by Cotterley, held to a fixed quality and purity specification. Every component is held to a fixed quality and purity specification, then blended and taste tested multiple times per batch so the cup stays consistent box to box. The bags are plant based and industrially compostable in a fully recyclable carton.
What's in Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g, and what isn't:
In: a cotterley mint green tea, with nothing in the bag but the listed components and any infusion base.
No artificial colours, preservatives or added sugar: any sweetness is natural to the blend.
Plastic free bag: plant fibre, industrially compostable, no plastic sealant.
Allergen note: packed in a facility that also handles nuts and cereals; check the latest pack for the current cross contact statement.
Nutrition per cup
Nutrient
Per cup
% RI
Energy
4 kJ / 1 kcal
<1%
Fat
0g
0%
Carbohydrate
0.2g
<1%
of which sugars
0g
0%
Protein
0.2g
<1%
Salt
0g
0%
Caffeine
20-35 mg
n/a
L theanine
~5-10mg
n/a
Tea polyphenols
Present
n/a
Per 200ml cup, no milk, no sugar.
Caffeine vs other drinks
Decaf coffee
4mg
Green tea
30mg
Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25
35mg
Instant coffee
80mg
Brewed filter coffee
95mg
Energy drink (250ml)
80mg
This tea: 20-35 mg per 200ml cup, plus naturally occurring L theanine for calmer alertness than coffee.
Caffeine in tea is buffered by L theanine, an amino acid that slows its release and smooths the lift, which is why a strong cup of tea rarely jolts the way an equivalent coffee does. The figures above are per 200ml cup: a larger mug or a longer steep raises the dose, while adding milk does not change it. Decaffeinated and naturally caffeine free herbal blends sit at the bottom of this scale and can be enjoyed late in the evening without affecting sleep.
Allergens, dietary & safety
🌱VeganNo animal derived ingredients.🌾Gluten freeNaturally gluten free.⚡Caffeine20-35 mg per 200ml cup.🍃0 kcalNo sugar, no fat in plain cup.🤰PregnancyUK guide: 200mg caffeine/day max.👶ChildrenCaffeinated, served with care.
Manufactured in a facility that handles multiple tea types. Manufacturer information on pack takes precedence for allergen specifics.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the ingredients, nutrition and science of Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Questions about Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g
The questions buyers ask most. If yours isn't here, ask us directly. We reply within 4 hours, Monday to Friday.
Curated from real customer messages
🌱
What is Cotterley Green Mint Tea? Most asked+
Cotterley Green Mint Tea is a green tea and peppermint blend in 25 biodegradable tea bags (40g total, 1.6g per bag). The base is sencha style green tea leaves blended with peppermint, sourced from Morocco, Egypt or the USA depending on harvest. Cotterley is the in house tea brand of the Intermarche group in France, imported to the UK by Teas.co.uk.
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Does Cotterley Green Mint Tea contain caffeine? +
Yes. The green tea base naturally contains caffeine, approximately 25-30 mg per cup, roughly half the caffeine of a cup of coffee. Not suitable as an exclusively decaffeinated alternative; if you want caffeine free mint, choose a pure peppermint infusion instead.
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How do I brew the perfect cup? +
Temperature: 80°C (boil the kettle and let it rest 90 seconds). Boiling water destroys the delicate amino acids that give green tea its smooth character. Steep: 2-3 minutes, no longer or the cup turns bitter. Remove the bag promptly; do not squeeze. Service: no milk, no sugar, the natural sweet grassy notes need nothing else.
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Is it suitable for vegans, vegetarians or gluten free diets? +
Yes to all three. The blend contains only green tea leaves and peppermint, no animal derived ingredients, no gluten. Sugar free and calorie free. No declared major allergens. Mint is generally well tolerated, though anyone with a hiatal hernia should note that peppermint can occasionally aggravate reflux.
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Why is Cotterley imported from France? +
Cotterley is the in house tea brand of Intermarche, France's third largest supermarket cooperative. We import the range to the UK because the build quality at this price point is unusual on a British shelf: biodegradable bags with no plastic glues or staples, FSC certified cardboard cartons, and 1.6g bags that brew noticeably stronger than the 1.2-1.4g UK supermarket standard.
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What is L'Oriental blending? +
L'Oriental is Cotterley's in house blending technique, designed to deliver consistent flavour across every harvest regardless of where the leaves are sourced. The brand's mission is affordable luxury, high quality tea at family prices rather than premium tier mark up. The 1.6g bag size is calibrated for a single 200ml cup at the recommended brew.
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Can I cold brew this tea? +
Yes, cold brewing is excellent for green mint tea. Drop one bag into 250ml of cold water in a glass jug and refrigerate for 4-8 hours. The cold method extracts the sweeter compounds preferentially and is the smoothest way to drink green tea on a hot day. Best results overnight. Drink within 24 hours.
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What food pairs well with it? +
Sushi, sashimi and steamed rice dishes are the natural pairing, the cooling mint cuts the umami and resets the palate between bites. Dark chocolate and almond cake also work well because the menthol clears the cocoa and nut oils. Post dinner cup is the classic Western pairing; peppermint is traditionally associated with digestive comfort.
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How is the packaging sustainable? +
The tea bags use biodegradable paper and cotton string, no metal staples, no plastic glues. The outer cardboard carton is 100% recyclable and FSC certified for sustainable forestry. Plant based bags are home compostable where labelled. Standard French supermarket sustainability compliance, ahead of much of the UK supermarket own brand tea range.
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How does it compare to Twinings or Lipton mint teas? +
Cotterley sits between mass market (Lipton) and premium (Twinings) on positioning. The 1.6g bag is larger than both, giving a stronger brew per bag. The L'Oriental blending technique provides smoother extraction than Lipton's standard supermarket tier. Twinings has more brand polish but charges more per cup. Cotterley is the value conscious choice with better sustainability credentials.
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Is the mint real or synthetic? +
Real peppermint leaves blended into the green tea base, sourced from Morocco, Egypt or the USA depending on harvest. Real peppermint carries 30-50% menthol in its essential oil, plus wood and earth undertones that synthetic mint flavourings flatten out. The cooling effect is the same physiologically; the aromatic complexity is meaningfully better.
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How should I store it? +
Store somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight, in the original carton or an airtight tin once opened. Tea absorbs strong aromas from the cupboard easily, keep away from coffee, garlic and spices. See the best before date on the pack; the tea remains safe past that date but loses aromatic strength over time.
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What other Cotterley teas do you sell? +
We currently import two Cotterley products to the UK: this Green Mint Tea and the Cotterley Lemon Tea. Both are 25-bag 40g cartons with the same 1.6g biodegradable bags. The Lemon Tea is a black tea and lemon zest blend with caffeine from the black tea base, a daytime cup rather than after dinner. Both share the same French Intermarche provenance, FSC certified packaging, and L'Oriental blending technique.
🌱
When's the best time of day to drink it? +
Anytime from morning to early evening. At 25-30 mg caffeine per cup, this sits between caffeine free herbal infusions and a strong black tea, so it will not disrupt sleep if drunk before 4pm. The traditional Moroccan ritual is after dinner because peppermint is associated with digestive comfort, but at this caffeine level you may want to limit it to a single cup if you turn in early. Best as a mid afternoon cup or an end of meal digestif.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference questions and answers about Cotterley Green Mint Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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