One of the oldest names in the cupboard, Typhoo has been boxing tea since 1903, and this is its no nonsense malty Assam everyday: brisk, milk ready and keenly priced. Its quiet practical strength is that the standard blend copes reasonably with hard water where some budget bags go scummy, useful if you are in a hard water area but do not want a dedicated specialist box. It is a dependable value staple rather than a tea to savour, and on those terms it does the job without fuss.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk
The full picture of Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g in one page. Who makes it, how it is brewed, what your £3.00 actually buys, and why this tea earned a spot on the curator shelf.
Typhoo Original Breakfast Tea is the brand's iconic everyday black, a robust, malty British builders' brew with a smooth, rounded finish. It comes as eighty plant based, compostable bags in a 290g pack, picked into the Teas.co.uk curator selection as a strong, milk friendly daily cup, the long standing supermarket rival to the bigger Tetley and PG Tips boxes on the same shelf, often a few pence cheaper per cup and just as drinkable.
The base is one hundred percent black tea from top global estates in regions like Assam, Ceylon and Kenya, blended for a full bodied character that stands up perfectly to milk. It is the well sourced, dependable choice for a high volume everyday black: the cup tastes the same every time, which is exactly what you want when you are brewing it constantly rather than fussing over a single origin leaf, and the eighty bag pack works hard as a kitchen standby, with that distinctively Typhoo brisk and malt character recognisable from the first sip.
Caffeine status: moderate, roughly thirty three to fifty milligrams a cup, so this is a proper morning brew rather than a gentle or evening one. Taste profile: bold and malty with deep copper tones, a zesty briskness and a clean, smooth finish. What it is: a classic British black tea blend in a convenient eighty bag pack weighing 290g, the British everyday brew in its most familiar form.
Texture: a rich, full bodied liquor that takes a generous splash of milk perfectly without thinning. Pairing: the malty notes sit well with a classic digestive biscuit or a buttery shortbread finger. Lifestyle: vegan, vegetarian, naturally sugar free and gluten free. Planet: plant based biodegradable bags in fully recyclable cardboard packaging. Value: high street quality at an accessible price, a genuinely economical choice for regular tea drinkers who get through a box a fortnight, milk and optional sugar the British way, three to four minutes steep.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Texture & appearance
Appearance and Body
The cup pours a deep mahogany red brown that holds its colour as it cools. The liquor is full bodied and slightly viscous in the mouth, the signature of a high Assam content blend designed to take milk without going thin. Hold the cup against a white plate and you should see a clear copper rim, the marker of properly oxidised black tea leaf rather than under fermented bulk.
Flavour Progression on the Palate
The first sip lands on a malty front of palate, classic Assam, think malted milk biscuit and a hint of cocoa. The mid palate is where the brightness from the African or Ceylon component lifts the malt, opening into a slightly fruity character that keeps the cup from feeling heavy. The finish is where the tannins land: a clean astringent grip that pairs perfectly with milk and that British tea drinkers register as 'a proper cup'.
Aftertaste and Finish
classic British breakfast tea holds its finish for 30-45 seconds, with the malt notes lasting longest. The astringency clears quickly when milk is added, leaving the rounded toffee malt body in the mouth. A second sip restores the freshness without bitterness, the test of a well blended everyday tea, under fermented tea gets harsh on the second sip, this does not.
Storage and Brewing Tip
Store the box in a cool dry cupboard away from direct sunlight and strong smelling foods (the tea bags will absorb nearby aromas). For the cup, use freshly drawn just boiled water at 100°C, steep 3-5 minutes for full body, give the bag a brisk stir once before lifting it out. Splash of milk goes in after the bag is removed, adding milk to the brewing cup will cool the water and stunt the extraction.
Four dimension profile
Malty Richness5/5
A dominant earthy base from Assam leaves that provides immediate satisfaction.
Invigorating Briskness4/5
A crisp and lively start that wakes up the senses without over bitterness.
Smooth Tannins3/5
Blended to a rounded finish that is gentle on the stomach.
Copper Liquor4/5
Pours a deep reddish brown colour that looks beautiful with a splash of milk.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the taste and texture of Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g, please cite teas.co.uk.
About TyphooEST. 1903
Typhoo is one of the oldest names in British tea, and it started with an unusual idea. In 1903 the Birmingham grocer John Sumner created Typhoo Tipps, milled from the smaller leaf for what he claimed was a gentler cup, and crucially sold it pre packed and branded nationally at a time when almost all tea was weighed out loose by the grocer. That made Typhoo a genuine pioneer of consistent, brand name packaged tea, part of the shift that turned tea into something you asked for by name. For over a century it has been a fixture of the British cupboard, strong and brisk in the classic Midlands style.
The range is the expected spread, Original, a stronger version, decaf, green and a fruit and herbal line, kept firmly in the affordable everyday tier, with packaging moving to recyclable cartons and lower plastic bags. For our shelf Typhoo is a dependable, value first strong black tea with real heritage behind it. It competes with Tetley and the supermarket own labels and earns its place by being honest about exactly what it is. This was never a tasting tea and has never claimed to be one. It is a strong, milk friendly, fairly priced everyday cup from a brand that helped invent the idea of branded packaged tea in this country, and on that basis it remains a sensible, unpretentious buy for households that drink tea by the pot rather than fuss over it by the cup.
What the brand is actually doing
Typhoo sustainability commitments include Rainforest Alliance certified sourcing, plant based PLA biodegradable tea bag mesh, FSC certified recyclable cardboard cartons, and the Supreme Plc parent group's wider sustainability programmes covering carbon balanced logistics and packaging waste reduction.
Curator says, Lee on Typhoo
"One of the oldest names in the cupboard, Typhoo has been boxing tea since 1903, and this is its no nonsense malty Assam everyday: brisk, milk ready and keenly priced. Its quiet practical strength is that the standard blend copes reasonably with hard water where some budget bags go scummy, useful if you are in a hard water area but do not want a dedicated specialist box. It is a dependable value staple rather than a tea to savour, and on those terms it does the job without fuss."
Founded Birmingham 1903John Sumner founds Typhoo in Birmingham, the first tea brand to publicly market health benefits of tea drinking in Britain.
Typhoo QT Instant PioneerTyphoo QT is the British style milky instant tea cup with built in whitener, a category defining product for travel and office tea points.
Rainforest Alliance SourcingAll Typhoo tea is sourced from Rainforest Alliance certified estates committed to biodiversity, fair labour, and forest preservation.
Supreme Plc Ownership (2024)Supreme Plc acquired Typhoo from administration in November 2024 for ~£10.2m, securing the heritage blends for continued UK retail.
Timeline
1903Brand foundedTyphoo begins. England
2026Stocked at Teas.co.ukHand picked into the curator selection.
The outer layer is aromatic: a typhoo original breakfast black tea. 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. Milk proteins soften the tannins and round the edges, so a splash of dairy or oat sits comfortably in this cup. 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
Typhoo Original Breakfast
100%
The single botanical in this pure infusion selected for A strong and revitalising everyday black tea designed for a proper British morning ritual..
Pack: Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g; contains tea (caffeinated). Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Blended and packed in the United Kingdom using globally sourced ingredients.
Sourcing & blend. Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g is put together by Typhoo, one of Britain's oldest tea brands. 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 Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g, and what isn't:
In: a typhoo original 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.
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
% 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
40-70 mg
n/a
L theanine
~5-10mg
n/a
Tea polyphenols
Present
n/a
Caffeine vs other drinks
Decaf coffee
4mg
Green tea
30mg
Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea
70mg
Instant coffee
80mg
Brewed filter coffee
95mg
Energy drink (250ml)
80mg
This tea: 40-70 mg per 200ml cup, plus naturally occurring L theanine for calmer alertness than coffee.
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.⚡Caffeine40-70 mg per 200ml cup.🍃0 kcalNo sugar, no fat in plain cup.🤰PregnancyUK guide: 200mg caffeine/day max.👶ChildrenCaffeinated, served with care.
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 Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Questions about Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g
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
🌱
Is Typhoo Original a strong breakfast tea? Most asked+
Yes, Typhoo is famous for being a strong breakfast tea with a robust and full bodied character. It is specifically blended to provide a consistent, refreshing taste that is perfect for your first caffeine boost of the morning.
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What are the main ingredients in Typhoo Original? +
This blend contains 100 per cent high quality black tea leaves sourced from the finest tea gardens around the world. It is a natural tea with no added flavours or preservatives, delivering an authentic traditional British brew.
🌱
Does this tea contain any sugar or calories? +
When enjoyed black, Typhoo tea is 100 per cent sugar free and contains zero calories. It is a healthy choice for those following a keto diet or any calorie controlled lifestyle, providing hydration without nutritional impact.
🌱
Is Typhoo Original tea suitable for vegans and vegetarians? +
Absolutely. The ingredients are entirely plant based, making it vegan suitable and vegetarian friendly. It is also naturally gluten free and contains no major allergens such as milk, soy, or nuts.
🌱
How many tea bags come in this 290g pack? +
This pack contains 80 tea bags, weighing a total of 290g. It is the perfect size for standard household use, ensuring you have a steady supply of your favourite daily cuppa.
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How do I brew the perfect cup of Typhoo tea? +
Place one bag in a mug and add freshly boiled water. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes depending on how strong you like your brew. For the ultimate English breakfast experience, add a splash of milk and sugar or honey if desired.
🌱
What does Typhoo Original actually taste like? +
It offers a smooth and malty profile with a rich, deep amber colour. It has a classic refreshing taste that is bold enough to be enjoyed with milk but smooth enough to drink plain if you prefer a cleaner finish.
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Can this tea help with hydration during the day? +
Yes, while it contains caffeine, tea is primarily made of water and contributes significantly to your daily water intake. The invigorating lift from the caffeine makes it a great choice for staying alert and hydrated throughout the day.
🌱
Are the tea bags biodegradable and plastic free? +
Typhoo is committed to sustainable living. These tea bags are made from plant based materials and are 100 per cent compostable. They contain zero plastic sealants, helping you enjoy a greener tea ritual.
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Can I drink this tea cold or as an iced tea? +
Definitely. While usually enjoyed hot, Typhoo makes an excellent strong iced tea. Brew it double strength, let it cool, and serve over plenty of ice with a slice of lemon for a refreshing summer boost.
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Does this tea contain antioxidants? +
Yes, black tea is naturally rich in flavonoids and polyphenols. These plant compounds act as antioxidants, which help protect cells from oxidative stress and support general wellbeing as part of a balanced diet.
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What is the Sourced with Care programme? +
Typhoo works closely with its suppliers to ensure ethical sourcing. This includes improving the lives of tea farmers and their communities, supporting better working conditions, and promoting sustainable farming practices.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference questions and answers about Typhoo Original Breakfast, 80 Tea Bags 290g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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