Curator selection · Black Tea

Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g

★ 4.9 Curator’s rating from teas.co.uk 4 in stock £0.08 price per cup
Curator selectionBlack TeaThompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g, front of box, available at teas.co.uk
Price
£6.00
for 80 cups
that’s just£0.08Price per cup
Subscribe & Save 10%Save £0.60£5.40/order £6.00Delivered every 2, 4 or 6 weeks
Fastest wayInstant checkout

Skip the basket and go straight to secure checkout.

Buy now
  • Free UK delivery over £35
  • Delivery options shown at checkout
  • Current dispatch details shown at checkout
  • Subscriptions covered by our 3-click cancel promise
Earn +60 loyalty points on this orderSave them for treats, or convert them into something bigger.
Curator note · Thompson's
For people who think English Breakfast is too polite. Blended by the Thompson family near the Belfast docks since 1896, this is a heavyweight: Rift Valley Kenyan and Assam chosen to release flavour fast and hard, brewing a liquor so deep it looks almost like coffee. Malt, briskness and body all max out, and it cuts straight through a generous splash of milk where softer blends would surrender. Not a subtle or a sipping tea, this is a proper get-out-of-bed cup, and the one to buy if your usual brew has stopped registering.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk

Thompson's Irish Breakfast is the family flagship of the Belfast tea-blender Thompson's, a robust Assam-led black tea blend designed for the famously hard water of the north of Ireland and the famously strong cup that goes with it, picked into the Teas.co.uk curator selection as the proper alternative to the standard English Breakfast tier.

The blend is led by malty Assam with supporting African leaf, designed to brew dark and strong in hard water without thinning, and built specifically to stand up to a generous splash of milk the way Northern Irish drinkers take their tea. The 80-bag catering size is the household-volume pack, cheaper per cup than the smaller 40-bag box and the way Thompson's is bought once it becomes the daily kitchen tea.

Packaging: Follow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.

An eighty-bag Thompson's family pack at an accessible price, established 1896 and a Belfast institution that has held its position as the daily kitchen tea across Northern Ireland for more than a century, the cheapest per cup option for anyone running through this brand.

Curator notes: the tasting profile reflects our own editorial review against the current pack format and the brand spec sheet, cross-checked with brewing trials at the recommended steep time and water temperature. We run same-day UK dispatch on every order placed before 2pm Monday to Friday. Storage notes, freshness windows and brewing temperature ranges are also published in the detailed Q and A tab below.

Thompson’s Irish Breakfast exists as a functional upgrade for the tea drinker who finds English Breakfast too polite. This is a blend with serious horsepower. Rooted in a history that began near the Belfast docks in 1896 overlooking the construction of the Titanic this tea was bred for stamina.

The Thompson family selects leaves from the Rift Valley in Kenya and the finest gardens in Assam, specifically chosen for their ability to release flavour quickly and powerfully. It is the perfect choice for the individual who needs a kick start in 2026. Whether it is a dark winter morning or a mid afternoon slump, this Irish breakfast tea delivers a liquor so deep red it looks almost like coffee, possessing a malty bite that cuts through milk with ease.

The Taste Profile

  • Malty Punch: ●●●●● (5/5) Intense, savoury biscuit notes from the premium Assam.

  • Briskness: ●●●●● (5/5) A sharp, refreshing snap that wakes up the palate instantly.

  • Body: ●●●●●(5/5) Thick, textured liquor that coats the mouth for a satisfying

    How Does Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g Compare to:

    • Yorkshire Tea: Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g offers a more distinct flavour profile and competitive pricing versus the mass market alternative; the difference is most noticeable in the second half of the cup when Yorkshire Tea starts to thin out.
    • PG Tips: where PG Tips leans into a single dominant note, Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g delivers a more balanced and aromatic experience designed for daily drinking rather than as an occasional treat.
    • Twinings English Breakfast: both occupy a similar price band and shelf position, but Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g differentiates through its certified sourcing, ethical packaging and the Thompson's brand heritage outlined above.

    brew.

  • Sweetness: ●●●○○ (3/5) Underlying caramel notes derived from high grown Kenyan leaves.

Teas.co.uk Curator Rating: 4.9/5, Our expert verdict.

The Story Behind the Thompson's

Thompson's Family Teas is a Belfast based blender founded in 1896 by R.S. Thompson. The company has been blending tea for Northern Irish kitchens for five generations and is still family owned. Punjana, their flagship blend, remains the best selling tea in Northern Ireland.

Our Commitment To The Planet

Thompson's is committed to sustainable tea production, ensuring that every cup respects the environment and the heritage of global growers.

  • Packaging: Follow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.

  • Vacuum Freshness: Packed into foil pouches immediately after blending to lock in flavour and reduce food waste.

Ideal Brewing Conditions

To unlock the full potential of your Thompson's Irish Breakfast, specific thermal techniques are required to activate the dense Assam leaves.

The Barista Hot Serve

  • Measure: Place one tea bag in your favourite sturdy mug or pre warmed cup.

  • Water: Use water that has just boiled (100 degrees Celsius). Intense heat is essential for this robust blend.

  • Steep: Infuse for 3 to 5 minutes. 3 minutes is strong; 5 minutes is true builder strength.

  • Finish: This tea demands milk. Add a generous splash to turn the liquor a rich toffee colour.

The Irish Cold Brew

  • Concentrate: Place 3 tea bags in a 1 litre jug and fill with cold water.

  • Steep: Refrigerate for 12 hours for a slow, cold extraction.

  • Result: A surprisingly smooth, amber liquid that retains the maltiness without the tannic bite, perfect as an iced black tea base for 2026 summer drinks.

Brewing The Perfect Cup of Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g

  • Water temperature: 100°C, just boiled water is essential for full extraction of theaflavins and thearubigins.
  • Measure: One bag per 200ml of water for a standard cup; use 2 bags in 300ml if you want builder strength.
  • Steep: 3 to 5 minutes; longer for a stronger, milkier cup, shorter for a lighter pour.
  • Service: Add a splash of full fat milk and stir; sugar to taste. The tannins are balanced by the milk casein, which is why British tea is almost always drunk with milk.
  • Iced version: Brew 4 bags strong in 500ml, dissolve 4 tablespoons of caster sugar in the warm tea, cool, dilute with 500ml of cold water and the juice of 2 lemons.
  • Caffeine: contains caffeine; a product-specific milligram figure is not claimed.
  • Best with: a full English breakfast, toast and marmalade, fruit cake, scones with cream.

Safety And Purity

Nutrient Note: Contains the natural compounds (polyphenols, antioxidants or warming actives) characteristic of Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g, supporting general wellbeing as part of a balanced diet.

Ingredients and dietary suitability: Check the current UK pack before purchase; formulations and allergen advice can change.

Chemical Cleanliness: Sourced from gardens adhering to strict international agricultural standards.

Caffeine Note: Contains high caffeine. Not suitable for those with caffeine sensitivity. Limit intake to approximately 3 cups per day during pregnancy.

Digestive Note: The strong tannins may irritate sensitive stomachs if consumed without food.

Child Safety: Keep out of reach of children.

PreparationUse the pack guidance
TimeAdjust to taste
CaffeineCheck the pack
Format80 servings
Same brand

More from Thompson's

2 productsAll Thompson's →
Thompson'sThompson's Signature Blend, 80 Tea Bags 250g, front of packet, available at teas.co.ukThompson's Signature Blend, 80 Tea Bags 250g£6.00View productThompson'sThompson's Everyday Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g, front of packet, available at teas.co.ukThompson's Everyday Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g£6.00View product
Similar style

Other Black Tea worth comparing

4 productsAll Black Tea →
TwiningsTwinings Scotland's Ceylon Tea (International Blend), 20 Tea Bags 40g, front of box, available at teas.co.ukTwinings Scotland's Ceylon Tea (International Blend), 20 Tea Bags 40g£7.75View productTwiningsTwinings Orange and Cinnamon (International Blend), 25 Tea Bags 50gTwinings Orange and Cinnamon (International Blend), 25 Tea Bags 50g£7.00View productTwiningsTwinings Vanilla Flavoured Black Tea (International Blend), 20 Tea Bags 32gTwinings Vanilla Flavoured Black Tea (International Blend), 20 Tea Bags 32g£5.00View productRochambeauRochambeau Lemon Infused Black Tea, 25 Tea Bags 50g, Black Tea, Rochambeau Limited. Sold by Teas.co.uk.Rochambeau Lemon Infused Black Tea, 25 Tea Bags 50g£7.75View product
Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g, front of box, available at teas.co.ukThompson'sThompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g£6.000.08/cup