The deepest and darkest of the Hyson fruit blacks: rich, tart blackcurrant over a strong Ceylon base, essentially a grown up Ribena with proper tea backbone instead of sugar. Unlike the summery strawberry and peach, this one is at its best hot in cold weather, where the dark berry and the malt make a genuinely warming, full flavoured cup; it still chills well too. Of the five it is the most robust and the one that comes closest to standing in for a regular strong brew. A reliable, satisfying everyday flavoured black.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk
The full picture of Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g in one page. Who makes it, how it is brewed, what your £14.80 actually buys, and why this tea earned a spot on the curator shelf.
Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea is a single origin Ceylon black tea with a deep blackcurrant note, picked into the Teas.co.uk curator selection alongside the rest of the Hyson Ceylon range as an honest dark berry black.
The blend is pure Ceylon black tea with natural blackcurrant flavour, single estate Sri Lankan with the Lion Logo certification on every box. Brew with just off boil water, three to four minutes, black for the fruit tea cup.
The 32-bag carton makes 32 cups, roughly six pence each. Outer carton kerbside recyclable, bags plant based PLA mesh since 2022, inner foil pouch recyclable through supermarket soft plastic collection points.
Texture is a brisk Ceylon cup with a dark berry lift from the blackcurrant, the real tea backbone keeping it from tasting like flavoured water. Drinks well black for the fruit cup, or with a splash of milk for a richer afternoon brew. Standard Ceylon caffeine.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Texture & appearance
The Hyson Blackcurrant cup pours a deep red brown colour, slightly darker than plain Ceylon black tea due to the blackcurrant pigments. The colour develops across the 3-4 minute brew window.
Mouthfeel is brisk and clean with the Ceylon body providing structural mid palate body and the blackcurrant essence layering the dark fruit lift on top. With milk the cup reads as a rich fruity afternoon cup; black it reads as a bright dark berry Ceylon.
Flavour progression moves from a brisk Ceylon opening, through a dark berry mid palate, to a clean Ceylon finish. The 3-4 minute brew at 95-100C is optimal; under brewed the fruit dominates without the Ceylon body, over brewed the Ceylon tannins start to mask the fruit.
Aftertaste is clean and lingering with the blackcurrant notes persisting for 30-45 seconds. Suitable for morning, afternoon and after dinner drinking. Plays well with afternoon cakes and biscuits.
Storage: keep outer carton in cool dry cupboard. Best within 4 months of opening for peak fruit character.
Four dimension profile
Berry Depth4/5
Natural blackcurrant essence drives the dark fruit character.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the taste and texture of Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
About HysonEST. 1985
Hyson is direct from Sri Lanka Ceylon tea at a price that makes other brands' Ceylon look like a label tax. Established in 1985, it built its UK following on pure Ceylon black tea sourced straight from Sri Lankan estates, trading on a simple advantage: sitting close to the gardens rather than buying blended bulk through a long broker chain lets it offer genuine single origin Ceylon character without the markup. Alongside the pure black it became unusually strong in fruit flavoured Ceylon, built on the same single origin base.
The range runs from Premium Breakfast and Pure Ceylon Black through an extensive fruit flavoured line, peach, pineapple, strawberry, blackcurrant, kept gentle and natural. Because the supply chain is short and estate direct, the freshness is genuinely noticeable and the pricing reflects cutting out layers rather than quality. For our shelf Hyson is one of the best value propositions in the catalogue. The Pure Ceylon Black is the reference for what a Ceylon cup should be, brisk and golden with no off notes. The fruit flavoured Ceylon line is the real surprise: because the base is genuine single origin rather than a generic flavoured platform, the peach and pineapple taste like flavoured Ceylon rather than flavoured anything, and they beat the supermarket equivalents at the same money. It is a single origin specialist priced like a commodity, which is an unusual and very useful thing to be.
What the brand is actually doing
Hyson sits within the Sri Lankan tea sustainability framework, with all leaf sourced from Ceylon Tea Board certified estates. The tea bags transitioned to plant based PLA biodegradable mesh in 2022, removing the polypropylene sealants used in traditional tea bags. The outer cardboard carton is fully kerbside recyclable across the UK and the inner foil pouch is recyclable through supermarket soft plastic collection points. Single origin sourcing also means a shorter supply chain than blended British brand teas.
Curator says, Lee on Hyson
"The deepest and darkest of the Hyson fruit blacks: rich, tart blackcurrant over a strong Ceylon base, essentially a grown up Ribena with proper tea backbone instead of sugar. Unlike the summery strawberry and peach, this one is at its best hot in cold weather, where the dark berry and the malt make a genuinely warming, full flavoured cup; it still chills well too. Of the five it is the most robust and the one that comes closest to standing in for a regular strong brew. A reliable, satisfying everyday flavoured black."
HEmpire Teas Sri LankaFounder, Hyson brand · 1985“We founded Hyson because British tea drinkers were drinking Ceylon tea without knowing it was Ceylon. The big British brands blend Ceylon with Assam and Kenyan teas and put their own name on the carton, so the actual growers in Sri Lanka are invisible to the cup drinker in Manchester or Cardiff. Hyson is direct from estate single origin Ceylon. The Lion Logo on every box certifies it is grown and packed in Sri Lanka to the world class Ceylon Tea Board standard. We never expanded the recipe outside Sri Lanka, because that would dilute what makes Hyson distinctive. Forty years on the brand still grows from a single country, with the same Sri Lankan blending team and the same direct from estate model.”
EHyson Estate Tea TastersCurrent blending team, Sri Lanka · Today“The Hyson blending discipline is conservative. We add natural fruit essences to the Ceylon base, never synthetic flavour drops, never artificial sweetness. The Peach and Pineapple blends are gentle on purpose, the Ceylon body is the cup and the fruit is the lift. Customers in the UK come back to Hyson because the fruit blends actually taste like fruit and tea, not like the chemical fruit teas at supermarket price points. Every batch is tasted in Sri Lanka before shipment.”
Timeline
1985Hyson founded in Sri LankaThe Hyson brand is established in Sri Lanka under Empire Teas Ltd, building a direct from estate Ceylon tea business focused on single origin Ceylon black tea and natural fruit infused Ceylon blends. The Lion Logo certification on every box guarantees the tea is grown and packed in Sri Lanka to the world class Ceylon Tea Board standard.
1990sUK retail expansionHyson expands into UK retail through specialist tea shops and the South Asian grocery network, building a loyal following on the strength of authentic Ceylon body and a fair per cup price compared to British branded Ceylon teas. The fruit infused range (Peach, Pineapple, Strawberry) launches around this period.
2000sFruit infused Ceylon rangeThe Hyson fruit infused Ceylon range becomes the signature, gentle natural fruit essences on the brisk Ceylon black tea base. The Blackcurrant, Lemon, Peach, Pineapple and Strawberry blends differentiate Hyson from competitors who lean on cheaper synthetic fruit flavourings.
2015Premium Breakfast Tea launchesPremium Breakfast Tea launches as the flagship 100-bag everyday breakfast cup, positioning Hyson as a credible British breakfast alternative to Tetley and PG Tips at a similar price point but with the body of a proper Ceylon base.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Hyson brand information, please cite teas.co.uk.
Recipes built around this tea
Five curator tested ways to use Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g. Tap any card to open the full recipe with timings, measures and method.
The outer layer is aromatic: a caffeine free infusion of hyson blackcurrant infused. 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.
Ingredients & pack
Ingredient
Proportion
What it brings
Black Tea
present
Smooth, robust black tea base grown on the sun kissed alpine plantations of Sri Lanka.
Blackcurrant Flavouring
present
Natural style infusions that provide a vibrant, tangy sweetness without being overpowering.
Pack: Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g; caffeine free infusion. Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Produced and packed in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) by a certified tea master.
Sourcing & blend. Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g is put together by Hyson, the Ceylon tea house. 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 Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g, and what isn't:
In: a caffeine free infusion of hyson blackcurrant infused, 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
Caffeine free
n/a
Per 200ml cup, no milk, no sugar.
Caffeine vs other drinks
Decaf coffee
4mg
Green tea
30mg
Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea,
0mg
Instant coffee
80mg
Brewed filter coffee
95mg
Energy drink (250ml)
80mg
This tea: Caffeine free per 200ml cup.
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.😴Caffeine freeSafe at any hour.🍃0 kcalNo sugar, no fat in plain cup.🤰PregnancyUK guide: 200mg caffeine/day max.👶ChildrenServe cooled; caregiver judgement applies.
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 Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Questions about Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g
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
🌱
How do I brew the perfect cup of Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea? Most asked+
Drop one bag into a 250ml mug, top with just off boil water (95-100°C), steep three to four minutes for full Ceylon body and Blackcurrant infusion. Drink black to appreciate the natural Blackcurrant character, or with a splash of milk for a richer cup.
🌱
What's actually in the bag? +
Pure Ceylonblack tea leaf from Sri Lankan estates, with natural Blackcurrant flavour. The Lion Logo on the box certifies the tea is grown and packed in Sri Lanka to the Ceylon Tea Board world class standard.
🌱
Is it caffeinated? +
Yes, approximately 40-50mg per cup, in line with standard Ceylonblack tea. Suitable for morning and afternoon drinking; caffeine sensitive drinkers should avoid late evening.
🌱
What does the Blackcurrant add to the cup? +
The natural Blackcurrant essence layers on top of the Ceylonblack tea base, producing a layered fruit and tea cup rather than a flat black tea cup. The Hyson approach uses natural essences rather than synthetic flavour drops which is why the cup tastes like real Blackcurrant not chemical fruit.
🌱
Is it Lion Logo certified? +
Yes, every Hyson box carries the Sri Lankan Lion Logo, a quality mark guaranteeing the tea was grown and packed in Sri Lanka to the Ceylon Tea Board world class standard.
🌱
Are the tea bags plastic free? +
Yes, since 2022 all Hyson tea bags are plant based PLA mesh, home compostable, with zero polypropylene synthetic plastic sealants.
🌱
Is it vegan? +
Yes, fully vegan. The blend contains only Ceylonblack tea leaf and natural Blackcurrant flavour.
🌱
How does it compare to British brand fruit teas? +
British brand fruit teas (Twinings, Tetley) typically blend Assam heavy tea with synthetic flavour drops. Hyson uses single origin Ceylon with natural fruit essence. The cup is fresher and more authentic fruit, less chemical sweet.
🌱
Can I drink it iced? +
Yes, particularly good in summer. Brew two bags in 200ml hot water for 4 minutes, cool, top with 200ml cold water and ice. Optional fresh Blackcurrant slice for garnish.
🌱
Is the packaging recyclable? +
Outer cardboard carton is FSC certified and fully kerbside recyclable. Inner foil pouch is recyclable through supermarket soft plastic collection. Tea bags are plant based PLA and home compostable.
🌱
How long does the carton stay fresh? +
Approximately 24 months from manufacture. Once opened, re seal the foil pouch tightly. Best within 4 months of opening for peak flavour, particularly the volatile fruit essences.
🌱
How does it compare to plain Pure Ceylon? +
Plain Ceylon is brisk and bright but one note. The fruit infused version layers Blackcurrant on top, producing a more layered everyday cup that pairs particularly well with afternoon biscuits or cakes.
🌱
How is the brand owned? +
Hyson is an independent Sri Lankan tea brand established in 1985 under Empire Teas Ltd. Direct from estate single origin Ceylon tea, with the Lion Logo certification on every box.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference questions and answers about Hyson Blackcurrant Infused Black Tea, 32 Tea Bags 32g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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