Cotterley Lemon Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g
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The black-tea entry in the Cotterley range, and the strongest of them. This is a proper Ceylon and Assam style base with real malty depth, not the thin black tea that usually hides under lemon flavouring, lifted by sharp natural lemon oils and dried zest. The result is a citrus tea with backbone: bright and refreshing on top, sturdy and earthy underneath, finishing exceptionally clean with none of the chemical lemon-drop tail cheaper versions leave. Where the Cotterley Green Mint is a light afternoon refresher, this one drinks like a breakfast tea with a twist, robust enough to take milk if you wanted, though it is best black with a touch of honey. The same value logic applies across the range: French supermarket build quality at UK own-brand prices. If you like a hearty black tea but want it brighter than a plain English Breakfast, this is a genuinely good everyday pick.
Packaging: Follow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.
The lemon hit is sharp and clean rather than the sweet sherbet impression you get from synthetic citrus flavourings. The black tea base is sturdy enough to carry the citrus without being overwhelmed, with a malty Assam style depth underneath. Cotterley uses its in house L'Oriental blending technique here, designed for consistent flavour across every harvest.
Brew at 95°C for 3-4 minutes, covered if possible to keep the volatile lemon oils in the cup. Drink unsweetened or with a teaspoon of honey if you prefer it less tart. A slice of fresh lemon makes a good garnish. Excellent iced, brew double strength in 200ml, cool, dilute with cold sparkling water over ice. Takes milk if you want a smoother cup though the citrus reads cleaner without.
Packaging: Follow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.
Cotterley is the in house tea brand of the Intermarche group in France, the country's third largest supermarket chain. The Cotterley range is widely sold across French supermarket shelves, competing with Carrefour and Casino on the everyday tea tier. We import it to the UK for British customers who want better build quality than supermarket own brand at a similar price point.
The taste profile
Four sensory dimensions, scored against the flavoured black tea category:
- Lemon zing, 5/5. Bright and sharp citrus top notes that immediately refresh the palate.
- Malty depth, 4/5. Strong black tea base provides earthy rich character and a sturdy foundation underneath the citrus.
- Body, 4/5. Smooth and substantial mouthfeel that carries the fruit oils effectively.
- Finish, 5/5. Exceptionally clean aftertaste with no lingering bitterness or chemical notes.
Teas.co.uk Curator Rating: 4.8/5, our expert verdict from the curators at Teas.co.uk.
The story behind Cotterley
Cotterley is Intermarche's tea label, the third largest supermarket group in France launched the brand as their answer to Carrefour's and Casino's in house tea ranges. The name was chosen to evoke a traditional English cottage feel while the product is blended and packed to French retail standards. The format is L'Oriental blending: a specific in house technique for consistent flavour across harvests, with 1.6g bags that brew stronger than most UK supermarket standards.
Why we import it
The build quality at this price point is unusual on a British shelf:
- French value positioning. Cotterley's mission is high quality at family prices, not premium tier mark up.
The perfect serve
- Temperature. 95°C (just boiled water). The black tea base needs full heat to draw out the colour and lemon top notes.
- Steep. 3 to 4 minutes, covered if possible to keep the volatile lemon oils in the cup rather than escaping with the steam.
- Service. Drink unsweetened, or with a teaspoon of honey if you prefer it less tart. A slice of fresh lemon makes a good garnish.
- Milk. Optional. Black tea base takes milk if you want a smoother cup, though the lemon character reads more cleanly without.
- Iced version. Brew 2 bags double strength in 200ml, cool completely, dilute with cold sparkling water over a tall glass of ice.
Best paired with
- Victoria sponge, the lemon cuts through the cream and jam.
- Scones with jam, classic afternoon tea tray match.
- Fresh berries, citrus brightens the natural fruit sugars.
- Dark chocolate, bittersweet cocoa and lemon zest is a long established pairing.
- Storage: keep in the airtight inner packaging once opened. Store away from strongly flavoured foods.
How Does Cotterley Lemon Compare to
- Twinings Lemon: Both offer bright citrus notes. Cotterley provides a smoother, more consistent finish at a noticeably lower price point. Twinings has more brand polish; Cotterley has more bag weight value.
- PG Tips Lemon: Cotterley delivers a less bitter palate experience using natural flavouring compared to standard PG variants. The 1.6g bag also brews a more substantial cup.
How Does Cotterley Lemon Compare to
- Twinings Lemon Green Tea: Twinings uses a green tea base; Cotterley uses a black tea base which carries the citrus more substantially. Twinings has more brand polish at a higher per cup price; Cotterley offers better build quality at a lower cost.
- Lipton Organic Green Tea with Lemon: Lipton is green tea based and organic; Cotterley is black tea based with the L'Oriental blending discipline. Choose Lipton for a lighter cup with organic credentials; Cotterley for the malty Assam style base that holds up to milk if you prefer.
- Yorkshire Tea Lemon flavoured: Yorkshire variants tend to use stronger artificial lemon flavouring profiles; Cotterley uses natural lemon oils and dried zest for a cleaner citrus character without the chemical aftertaste of mass market lemon teas.
Safety and dietary information
Ingredients and dietary suitability: Check the current UK pack before purchase; formulations and allergen advice can change.
Caffeine: contains caffeine; a product-specific milligram figure is not claimed.
Shelf life: see best before date on the pack. Product remains safe past that date but loses aromatic strength. Store somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight.
About Cotterley
Cotterley is the in-house tea label of Intermarche, France's third-largest supermarket group. The Cotterley range, green mint, lemon, fruit and breakfast blends, is widely sold across French stores as affordable everyday tea. We import the range to the UK because the build quality at this price point is unusual on a British shelf: biodegradable bags, FSC cartons, L'Oriental blending discipline.
Product information
Ingredients, allergens, preparation and packaging can change. Check the product pack when it arrives for the latest manufacturer information.
Explore CotterleyProduct character
The black-tea entry in the Cotterley range, and the strongest of them. This is a proper Ceylon and Assam style base with real malty depth, not the thin black tea that usually hides under lemon flavouring, lifted by sharp natural lemon oils and dried zest. The result is a citrus tea with backbone: bright and refreshing on top, sturdy and earthy underneath, finishing exceptionally clean with none of the chemical lemon-drop tail cheaper versions leave. Where the Cotterley Green Mint is a light afternoon refresher, this one drinks like a breakfast tea with a twist, robust enough to take milk if you wanted, though it is best black with a touch of honey. The same value logic applies across the range: French supermarket build quality at UK own-brand prices. If you like a hearty black tea but want it brighter than a plain English Breakfast, this is a genuinely good everyday pick.
Make it your way
Use the manufacturer guidance as a starting point, then adjust strength and serving style to your taste.
Preparation guide
Use the pack guidance · Adjust to taste.
Ideas from the TEAS kitchen
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| Product type | French Tea |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cotterley |
| Caffeine | Check the pack |
| Pack yield | 25 servings |
| Allergens | Check the product pack before use; ingredients and manufacturing information can change. |
The current price and availability come from the live shop record. Manufacturer information on the delivered pack remains definitive.
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