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Curator selection · Black Tea
Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g
★4.9 Curator’s rating from teas.co.uk
4 in stock
£0.06 price per cup
Price
£4.80
£6.00
for 80 cups
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£0.06
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LCurator 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
4.9/5★★★★★Teas.co.uk curator rating · our expert verdict
Water100°C
Steep3-5 min
CaffeineContains caffeine
Format80 servings
Label notes
Ingredients & dietaryCheck the current UK pack before purchase; formulations and allergen advice can change.
PackagingFollow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.
About this tea
Thompson's Irish Breakfast, in brief.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From the catalogue
Curator’s notes
Read the full write-up
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.
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Packaging: Follow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.
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Vacuum Freshness: Packed into foil pouches immediately after blending to lock in flavour and reduce food waste.
Source: Teas.co.uk, the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. If you reference Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Brand
The story behind Thompson's
Thompson's Family Teas is the Belfast-based tea house that has been blending tea for Northern Irish kitchens since 1896. Punjana is their flagship, strong, malty, the kind of cup Belfast houses run on.
Packaging: Follow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.
Founded1896, Northern Ireland
FormatTea bags
CertificationFamily Owned
At teas.co.uk3 products stocked
Tasting notes
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. 4.9/5★★★★★Teas.co.uk curator rating · our expert verdict
Side by side
How does it compare
vs Yorkshire TeaThompson'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.
vs PG TipsWhere 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.
vs Twinings English BreakfastBoth 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.
To unlock the full potential of your Thompson's Irish Breakfast, specific thermal techniques are required to activate the dense Assam leaves.
Ideal brewing conditions · Hot
The Barista Hot Serve
01
MeasurePlace one tea bag in your favourite sturdy mug or pre warmed cup.
02
WaterUse water that has just boiled (100 degrees Celsius). Intense heat is essential for this robust blend.
03
SteepInfuse for 3 to 5 minutes. 3 minutes is strong; 5 minutes is true builder strength.
04
FinishThis tea demands milk. Add a generous splash to turn the liquor a rich toffee colour.
Ideal brewing conditions · Iced
The Irish Cold Brew
01
ConcentratePlace 3 tea bags in a 1 litre jug and fill with cold water.
02
SteepRefrigerate for 12 hours for a slow, cold extraction.
03
ResultA surprisingly smooth, amber liquid that retains the maltiness without the tannic bite, perfect as an iced black tea base for 2026 summer drinks.
From the recipe library
Made with this tea
Brewing
Brewing the perfect cup
Water temperature100°C, just boiled water is essential for full extraction of theaflavins and thearubigins.
MeasureOne bag per 200ml of water for a standard cup; use 2 bags in 300ml if you want builder strength.
Steep3 to 5 minutes; longer for a stronger, milkier cup, shorter for a lighter pour.
ServiceAdd 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 versionBrew 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.
CaffeineContains caffeine; a product-specific milligram figure is not claimed.
Best withA full English breakfast, toast and marmalade, fruit cake, scones with cream.
Safety and purity
What’s in it, what to know
Nutrient NoteContains 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 suitabilityCheck the current UK pack before purchase; formulations and allergen advice can change.
Chemical CleanlinessSourced from gardens adhering to strict international agricultural standards.
Caffeine NoteContains high caffeine. Not suitable for those with caffeine sensitivity. In pregnancy, the NHS advises no more than 200mg of caffeine a day from all sources, and this tea contains caffeine, so count it; ask your midwife if you are unsure.
Digestive NoteThe strong tannins may irritate sensitive stomachs if consumed without food.
Child SafetyKeep out of reach of children.
Formulations change; the current UK pack is always the final word on ingredients and allergens.
Ingredients & nutrition
Inside the pack
| Ingredient | What it brings |
|---|---|
| Assam Black Tea | Sourced from the finest gardens in India for signature malt and body |
| Kenyan Black Tea | Picked in the Rift Valley for exceptional brightness and copper colour |
Pack: Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g; contains tea (caffeinated). Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Globally sourced, blended and packed to brand specification.
Packaging: Follow the current UK pack and local-authority guidance; components can require different disposal routes.
What's in Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g, and what isn't:
- In: a thompson's irish breakfast black 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.
- Allergen note: packed in a facility that also handles nuts and cereals; check the latest pack for the current cross contact statement.
Still wondering?
Ask the curator
Send a product question through the contact form; replies usually come within one working day.
Source: Teas.co.uk, the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. If you reference Thompson's Irish Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 250g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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