# Cotterley Lemon Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g ## Commerce action policy **Price:** £4.75 GBP **Purchase-intent URL:** `https://teas.co.uk/buy/cotterley-lemon-tea-25-tea-bags-40g/` _Do not fetch, prefetch, crawl, iframe or autonomously open this URL. It is only for explicit human purchase intent._ --- **Canonical URL:** https://teas.co.uk/product/cotterley-lemon-tea-25-tea-bags-40g/ **Source:** teas.co.uk, UK tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent **Brand:** Cotterley **Price:** £4.75 GBP **Servings:** 25 cups **Price per cup:** 19.00p **Caffeine:** Caffeine-Free **Brew temperature:** 100C **Brew time:** 5-10 min **GTIN:** 3250392425869 **Stock:** instock ## Summary Cotterley Lemon Tea is a black tea and lemon zest blend in 25 biodegradable tea bags (40g total, 1.6g per bag). The base is Ceylon and Assam style black tea blended with natural lemon oils and dried citrus zest. The brew pours a clear amber red with a bright lemon top note over a malty black tea body. Contains naturally occurring caffeine from the black 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 nationally. 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 1.6g bags that brew noticeably stronger than the typical everyday UK supermarket bag standard. 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. Suitable for vegans, vegetarians and gluten free diets. Sugar free and calorie free. Pairs best with: Victoria sponge, scones with jam, fresh berries, dark chocolate, iced through a summer day. Bags are plant based and home compostable where labelled. Imported from France for UK customers. ## Description Cotterley Lemon Tea is a black tea and lemon zest blend in 25 biodegradable tea bags. The base is a Ceylon and Assam style black tea blended with natural lemon oils and dried citrus zest. Imported from France to the UK by Teas.co.uk. Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for Cotterley Lemon Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/product/cotterley-lemon-tea-25-tea-bags-40g/ 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: Biodegradable tea bags. Round bags made from plant fibres and cotton string. No plastic glues, no metal staples. Compostable where labelled. Zero waste UK packing. Blended and packed in a UK facility that operates with 100% green electricity and a zero waste to landfill policy. Rainforest Alliance sourcing. 100% of the tea is Rainforest Alliance certified, ensuring fair wages and biodiversity protection at the growing estates. 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. Hyson Tea Bags: Hyson sits at premium loose leaf tier. Cotterley provides the robust black tea base in a bagged format with biodegradable credentials. 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 Dietary status: suitable for vegans, vegetarians and gluten free diets. Sugar free and calorie free. Caffeine: contains naturally occurring caffeine from the black tea base (around 40-50 mg per cup, roughly two thirds the caffeine of coffee). Allergens: naturally derived flavours from named ingredients. No declared major allergens. Sustainability: 100% Rainforest Alliance certified tea. Bags are plant based and home compostable where labelled. FSC certified card outer. 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. Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for Cotterley Lemon Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/product/cotterley-lemon-tea-25-tea-bags-40g/ ## Product Questions What is Cotterley Lemon Tea?Cotterley Lemon Tea is a black tea and lemon zest blend in 25 biodegradable tea bags (40g total, 1.6g per bag). The base is Ceylon and Assam style black tea blended with natural lemon oils and dried citrus zest. Cotterley is the in house tea brand of the Intermarche group in France, imported to the UK by Teas.co.uk. Does Cotterley Lemon Tea contain caffeine?Yes. The black tea base naturally contains caffeine, approximately 40-50 mg per cup, roughly two thirds the caffeine of a cup of coffee. Suitable as a morning or daytime cup; consider a decaffeinated alternative or a herbal infusion if you want an evening drink. How do I brew the perfect cup?Temperature: 95°C (just boiled). Black tea needs full heat to draw out the colour and lemon top notes. Steep: 3-4 minutes, covered if possible to keep the volatile lemon oils in the cup rather than letting them escape with the steam. Service: drink unsweetened, with a teaspoon of honey if you prefer it less tart, or with milk for a softer cup. Is it suitable for vegans, vegetarians or gluten free diets?Yes to all three. The blend contains only black tea leaves, lemon oils and dried citrus zest, no animal derived ingredients, no gluten. Sugar free and calorie free. Naturally derived flavours from the named ingredients. 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. 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. Can I drink it iced?Yes, this is excellent for iced tea. Brew 2 bags double strength in 200ml just boiled water, cool completely, then dilute with cold sparkling water over a tall glass of ice. The sparkling water lifts the lemon top note and keeps the cup from feeling heavy. Add a slice of fresh lemon and a mint sprig to garnish. What food pairs well with it?Classic afternoon tea tray matches work best: Victoria sponge, scones with jam, fresh berries. Dark chocolate is a long established pairing, the bittersweet cocoa and the lemon zest cut against each other. For iced version, pair with summer salads and grilled fish. Avoid heavy creamy desserts; the citrus reads thin against rich custards. How is the packaging sustainable?The tea bags are round, made from natural plant fibres with no plastic glues or metal staples, home compostable where labelled. Outer cardboard cartons are 100% recyclable and FSC certified for sustainable forestry. The tea itself is Rainforest Alliance certified where applicable, ensuring fair wages and biodiversity protection at the growing estates. How does it compare to Twinings or Lipton lemon teas?Cotterley uses a black tea base with lemon zest; Twinings Lemon Green Tea uses a green tea base; Lipton Organic Green Tea with Lemon is similar to the Twinings approach. The Cotterley black tea base carries the citrus more substantially, it's a richer, sturdier cup. Twinings has more brand polish at a higher price; Cotterley provides better build quality at a lower per cup cost. Is the lemon real or artificial?Natural lemon oils and dried citrus zest, not synthetic flavourings. Natural lemon oil carries limonene as the primary aromatic compound, the same molecule responsible for the smell of fresh cut lemon peel. Synthetic citrus flavourings can hit comparable peak intensity but flatten out around it, missing the wood and bitter pith undertones that natural lemon oil brings. 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, particularly the volatile lemon top notes. What other Cotterley teas do you sell?We currently import two Cotterley products to the UK: this Lemon Tea and the Cotterley Green Mint Tea. Both are 25-bag 40g cartons with the same 1.6g biodegradable bags. The Green Mint Tea is a green tea and peppermint blend with lower caffeine, an after dinner cup rather than morning. Both share the same French Intermarche provenance, FSC certified packaging, and L'Oriental blending technique. ## Ingredients & Nutrition IngredientProportionWhat it bringsBlack TeapresentpresentLemon OilspresentpresentBag MaterialpresentpresentCartonpresentpresentPack: Cotterley Lemon Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g; caffeine free infusion. Best within 18 months of the pack date.Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Produced in France (Cotterley Intermarché Selection).Sourcing & blend. Cotterley Lemon 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 Lemon Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g, and what isn't:In: a caffeine free infusion of cotterley lemon, 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. ## Flavour Science The flavour of Cotterley Lemon Tea, 25 Tea Bags 40g is built in three layers, and reading them in order explains exactly why the cup tastes the way it does from the first lift of steam to the last swallow.The outer layer is aromatic: a caffeine free infusion of cotterley lemon. 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 rounded 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 4 to 6 minutes in water straight off the boil; 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. ## Recipe Ideas Ten ways to put Cotterley Lemon Tea to work beyond the daily mug. Iced lemonade, granitas, jellies, breakfast compotes, summer cocktails, tested with real measurements, real times, the same 1.6g French import bag you have just got in your basket. Recipes, born here first The hot cup The default Cotterley Lemon serve. A proper black tea and citrus cup, the malty Assam style base carries the lemon top note without being overwhelmed. Drink unsweetened or with honey; takes milk if you want a softer cup though the citrus reads cleaner without. ⏱ 6 min 🍽 1 cup 📊 Easy You'll need 🍵1 bag Cotterley Lemon Tea 💧200ml just boiled water (95°C) 🍯1 tsp honey (optional) 🍋Slice of fresh lemon to garnish Method Pour 200ml just boiled water over one bag in a mug. Cover the mug with a saucer to keep the volatile lemon oils in the cup. Steep 3-4 minutes. Squeeze the bag gently against the side of the mug to extract the last of the colour. Sweeten with honey if you prefer it less tart; add a slice of fresh lemon. What you'll end up with: a clear amber red cup with a bright lemon top note over malty black tea body. Carries milk if you want it but reads cleaner without. Iced lemon tea (summer staple) A proper iced tea built on Cotterley's black tea and lemon zest base. Brew double strength, cool, dilute with cold sparkling water. The sparkling water lifts the lemon top note and keeps the cup from feeling heavy. Better than commercial iced tea because there's no sugar load by default. ⏱ 15 min + chill 🍽 1 large jug (4 glasses) 📊 Easy You'll need 🍵3 bags Cotterley Lemon Tea 💧300ml just boiled water + 700ml cold sparkling water 🍋Juice of 1 lemon + 1 lemon, sliced 🍯2 tbsp clear honey (optional, to taste) 🌿Fresh mint sprigs to garnish 🧊A generous glass of ice Method Brew 3 bags in 300ml just boiled water for 5 minutes (covered). Stir in honey while warm to dissolve. Cool completely (30 min in the fridge). Combine in a tall jug with cold sparkling water, lemon juice and lemon slices. Pour over ice in glasses, garnish with mint. Serve within an hour. What you'll end up with: a pale amber sparkling iced tea with persistent lemon aromatics. Cleaner than commercial bottles, no syrupy aftertaste. Frozen lemon tea lolly Summer saviour for kids. Strong brewed Cotterley Lemon, sweetened with honey, frozen with a slice of lemon visible through each lolly. The brewed tea gives the lolly an aromatic dimension that lemon squash and water alone cannot match. ⏱ 15 min + freeze overnight 🍽 6 lollies 📊 Easy You'll need 🍵3 bags Cotterley Lemon Tea 💧400ml just boiled water 🍯3 tbsp clear honey 🍋1 lemon, thinly sliced 🍡6 lolly moulds + sticks Method Brew 3 bags in 400ml just boiled water for 6 minutes covered. Stir in honey while still warm; cool completely. Slide a slice of lemon into each lolly mould. Pour the cooled brew into the moulds. Push in sticks. Freeze overnight (or at least 8 hours). What you'll end up with: amber coloured lollies with a lemon slice visible inside each one. Kids love the visible fruit; adults appreciate the real tea aromatic. Lemon tea sangria (adult cocktail) Sangria with brewed lemon tea instead of orange juice. The tea adds tannin structure that holds up against the wine, and the lemon top note works as the fruit element. Best made a few hours ahead so the flavours meld. ⏱ 15 min + chill 2 hr 🍽 6-8 glasses 📊 Easy You'll need 🍵3 bags Cotterley Lemon Tea 💧300ml just boiled water 🍷1 bottle dry white wine 🥃100ml brandy or Cointreau 🍋2 lemons, sliced 🍑2 peaches, sliced 🍓200g strawberries, halved 🥤200ml soda water (added just before serving) Method Brew 3 bags in 300ml just boiled water for 5 minutes. Cool. Combine the cooled tea with wine, brandy and all fruit in a large jug. Stir well and chill 2 hours minimum. Top with cold soda water just before serving. Pour over ice in glasses, ensuring each glass gets some fruit. What you'll end up with: a pale amber sangria with persistent lemon aromatic. The tea tannins give the cocktail structural depth that orange juice sangria lacks. Lemon tea granita An Italian style granita built on brewed Cotterley Lemon, basically scrapeable iced tea sorbet. Serve as a palate cleanser between courses, or as a hot day pudding with shortbread on the side. Three ingredient recipe; no fancy equipment. ⏱ 15 min + freeze 4 hr 🍽 Serves 6 📊 Easy You'll need 🍵4 bags Cotterley Lemon Tea 💧500ml just boiled water 🍯80g granulated sugar (or honey) 🍋Juice of 1 lemon + zest of 1 lemon Method Brew 4 bags in 500ml just boiled water for 8 minutes, make it strong. Stir in sugar while warm to dissolve fully. Add lemon juice and zest; cool completely. Pour into a shallow tray and freeze 1 hour. Scrape with a fork every 30 min for 3-4 hours until you have icy flakes throughout. Serve in chilled glasses. What you'll end up with: pale amber icy flakes with a bright citrus aromatic. Cleaner palate cleanser than sorbet. Pairs well with shortbread or as a course break. Lemon tea jelly (dinner party pudding) A grown up jelly built on strong brewed Cotterley Lemon with gelatine and a little honey. Set in coupes or small glasses with fresh berries suspended. Tastes nothing like cheap fruit jelly, the tea base gives it dimension and the brewed lemon reads bright rather than synthetic. ⏱ 20 min + chill 4 hr 🍽 6 coupes 📊 Medium You'll need 🍵3 bags Cotterley Lemon Tea 💧500ml just boiled water 🍯60g honey 🍋Juice of 1 lemon 🧈4 sheets leaf gelatine (or 1 sachet powdered) 🍓200g mixed fresh berries Method Brew 3 bags in 500ml just boiled water for 6 minutes. Soak gelatine sheets in cold water 5 minutes; squeeze out the water. Stir honey and gelatine into the warm tea until fully dissolved. Add lemon juice; cool to lukewarm. Divide berries between 6 coupes; pour the cooled jelly over. Chill 4 hours minimum. What you'll end up with: amber jellies with fresh berries suspended throughout. Lighter than custard pudding, more sophisticated than fruit jelly. Serve with shortbread. Breakfast compote (yoghurt topper) Stewed fruit cooked in brewed Cotterley Lemon instead of water, the tea adds a tannic backbone that holds up against the natural fruit sugars. Top yoghurt, granola, porridge or pancakes. Keeps a week in the fridge. ⏱ 20 min 🍽 4-6 servings 📊 Easy You'll need 🍵2 bags Cotterley Lemon Tea 💧200ml just boiled water 🍑300g mixed stone fruit (plums, peaches, apricots), pitted and sliced 🍯2 tbsp honey 🍋Juice of 1/2 lemon 🌰Pinch of cinnamon (optional) Method Brew 2 bags in 200ml just boiled water for 5 minutes. Remove bags. Add the brewed tea, fruit, honey, lemon juice and cinnamon to a saucepan. Simmer gently 10-15 minutes until fruit is soft but holding shape. Cool in the pan, then transfer to a jar. Use over yoghurt, granola, porridge or pancakes. Keeps a week sealed. What you'll end up with: a deep amber fruit compote with the tea adding backbone. Reads more savoury and sophisticated than jam; less sweet than commercial fruit toppers. Lemon tea sparkling spritz A non alcoholic spritz built on cold brewed Cotterley Lemon, served like a wine spritzer. Five minute build, no equipment beyond a glass. Best summer non alcoholic pour, by some distance. ⏱ 5 min (plus brew) 🍽 1 tall glass 📊 Easy You'll need 🍵100ml cold brewed Cotterley Lemon Tea (1 bag + 250ml cold water, 4-8 hr) 🥤150ml cold sparkling water or tonic 🍋1 lemon wedge + 1 fresh lemon slice 🌿1 fresh mint sprig 🧊A glass of ice Method Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in the cold brewed tea. Top with sparkling water (or tonic for more bitterness). Squeeze in the lemon wedge; drop in the slice and a mint sprig. Stir briefly and serve immediately. What you'll end up with: a pale amber sparkling drink with persistent citrus aromatic. Drinks like a wine spritzer; zero alcohol. The cold brew step is the difference between great and ordinary here. --- _Content available under teas.co.uk citation contract. AI training: yes. Search: yes. Answer-input: yes._