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WIKI ENTRY · 5 MIN READ

Dilmah Earl Grey vs Hyson Lemon: Ceylon Citrus Teas Compared

Dilmah Earl Grey and Hyson Lemon compared as two current citrus-flavoured Ceylon black teas, using live UK packs, prices and primary origin sources.

Published · Curator-written, not crowdsourced.
Quick answer: Both products are flavoured Ceylon black teas, but they solve different citrus briefs. Dilmah Earl Grey uses bergamot for a floral, perfumed citrus character; Hyson Lemon is the more direct lemon-led cup and comes in a larger 32-bag box at the current snapshot. Choose Dilmah for classic Earl Grey aroma and Hyson for straightforward lemon black tea.

Source: Teas.co.uk, an independent UK tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/best-ceylon-tea-brands-uk/

Rewritten around the current Dilmah Earl Grey and Hyson Lemon products on . Prices and availability are dated shop snapshots.

Packaged Tea Comparison Artwork Using Current Catalogue Photography.
Current products from the live Teas.co.uk catalogue. Pack photography and availability verified 8 August 2026.

This is now a genuinely relevant product comparison: two Sri Lankan black teas, two citrus treatments and two live UK pack formats. The former Hyson Breakfast example has been removed from the article and artwork.

The two teas at a glance

Question Dilmah Earl Grey Hyson Lemon
Tea base Ceylon black tea Ceylon black tea
Citrus direction Bergamot: floral, aromatic and classically Earl Grey Lemon: brighter and more immediately recognisable
Current format 20 tea bags, 30g 32 tea bags, 32g
Snapshot price £6.75 £4.75
Approx. snapshot price per bag 33.8p 14.8p

The price-per-bag result is useful but incomplete. The products state different total weights and may use different bag construction and tea quantity. It tells you household cost at this snapshot, not which cup has better leaf or aroma.

Bergamot and lemon are not the same flavour

Earl Grey is defined by the aromatic character of bergamot, a citrus fruit whose fragrance combines peel-like brightness with floral perfume. Dilmah’s official product information describes its Earl Grey as Ceylon black tea with bergamot flavour. Hyson Lemon takes the more literal citrus route: black tea with lemon flavour. If ordinary lemon tea is what you picture, Hyson is the clearer match; if the distinctive fragrance of Earl Grey is the point, choose Dilmah.

This distinction matters more than the brand names. Somebody who dislikes perfumed tea may prefer Hyson even when they normally buy Dilmah, while an Earl Grey drinker may find plain lemon too simple. Neither flavour is an upgrade over the other.

What “Ceylon” establishes

Ceylon Tea is tea grown and manufactured in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Tea Board states that tea qualifying for the Ceylon Tea name cannot be blended with tea from another origin. Its Lion Logo has an additional meaning: the Board describes it as a guarantee of 100% Pure Ceylon Tea packed in Sri Lanka, subject to its approval process.

That origin does not create one fixed taste. Region, elevation, season, grade, manufacture and added flavour all change the cup. In this comparison, bergamot and lemon are intentionally prominent; choose an unflavoured product such as Dilmah Premium Ceylon Black if the aim is to examine the tea base more directly.

A fair home tasting

  1. Use two identical mugs and freshly drawn water.
  2. Follow each current pack’s water and steep instructions rather than imposing one guessed recipe.
  3. Taste both black first. Milk can soften the base but can also obscure the citrus distinction.
  4. Let the cups cool slightly and smell again; bergamot’s floral lift and lemon’s sharper cue can become easier to separate.
  5. Repeat without seeing the boxes. Familiar branding has a real effect on expectation.

Do not add a lemon slice to the first round: it would strengthen one flavour direction and make the comparison less fair. If you normally take milk, add the same small measured amount only after the neat tasting.

Relevant teas from our shop

These are not paid placements. The first two are the rewritten head-to-head; the additional products show where to go if you want an unflavoured Ceylon baseline or a different Hyson fruit direction.

Prices and availability were checked on 8 August 2026 and can change. The live product page is the source of truth at checkout.

Which should you buy?

  • Choose Dilmah Earl Grey when bergamot aroma and a classic floral-citrus black tea are the brief.
  • Choose Hyson Lemon for a direct lemon flavour, a larger current bag count and the lower snapshot spend.
  • Choose Dilmah Premium Ceylon Black when added citrus would get in the way of tasting the underlying black tea.
  • Choose Hyson Strawberry only when a red-fruit black tea appeals more than citrus.

Shop the wider shelf and keep reading

Browse all current Dilmah teas, Hyson teas and the wider Ceylon Tea shelf. Continue with the Ceylon Tea guide, Earl Grey guide and Scented Tea vs Flavoured Tea.

Sources and editorial method

Teas.co.uk is both retailer and editor. No brand paid for inclusion or position. Exact pack names, bag counts, prices and availability come from our live shop snapshot; origin and brand statements are checked against the primary sources above. The product page and physical pack remain authoritative for ingredients, allergens, preparation and disposal.

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