Cherry Bakewell Tea: Yorkshire Tea's Dessert Brew, Teas.co.uk

Yorkshire Cherry Bakewell Tea, in summary: Yorkshire Tea's Cherry Bakewell: a black tea base with cherry, almond and vanilla. Ridiculed, bought anyway, and genuinely good if you like marzipan.

Last reviewed by the teas.co.uk team in May 2026.

Cherry Bakewell Tea is one of those Yorkshire Tea limited edition flavoured experiments that gets ridiculed online and bought in surprisingly high volumes anyway. A black tea base with cherry, almond, and vanilla flavouring, designed to taste like the famous Bakewell tart pastry. The verdict: not for purists, genuinely enjoyable as an afternoon dessert tea, divisive among traditional Yorkshire drinkers.

What it actually is

Cherry Bakewell Tea is part of Yorkshire Tea's "Biscuit Brew" / dessert tea range. The bag contains:

Standard Yorkshire CTC black tea base (Assam led)
Cherry flavouring (the "fruit" component of a Bakewell tart)
Almond flavouring (the marzipan layer)
Vanilla notes (the icing)

The brew is dark amber with a faintly sweet, almond cherry aroma. Taken with milk and sugar, it's reminiscent of a sweet pastry kitchen. Black, it's brighter and more cherry forward.

What it tastes like

The flavour is unmistakably Bakewell, almond is the dominant note, with cherry as a secondary fruit leaning sweetness. The black tea base provides body and balance so the cup doesn't taste like flavoured water. Critics call it "cloying" or "artificial". Fans call it "comforting" and "exactly what it says on the tin".

The almond flavouring is benzaldehyde based (the same compound responsible for marzipan and amaretto). If you don't like marzipan, you won't like this tea. If you do, the cup is genuinely satisfying as an afternoon treat.

How to brew it

Standard Yorkshire Tea brewing:

1 bag per 200ml mug
Freshly boiled water
Steep 3-4 minutes
Add milk to taste; sugar is unnecessary (the flavouring is sweet on its own)

Don't over brew, the longer the steep, the more concentrated the flavouring becomes, and that side of the cup tips into "perfume" territory faster than plain black tea would.

Who it's for

People who already enjoy flavoured teas (Twinings Apple & Cinnamon, Pukka Vanilla Chai). This sits naturally on the dessert tea shelf.
Yorkshire Tea drinkers wanting an occasional change of pace. The base is familiar; the flavouring is the novelty.
People who like marzipan and almond flavours. If you're a Bakewell tart on Sunday person, this tea will make sense.
Afternoon tea hosts. A novelty tea for guests who want something different from Earl Grey.

Who it's not for

Tea purists. If unflavoured loose leaf is your standard, this will feel artificial and overdone.
People who don't like marzipan. Benzaldehyde is the dominant note. Polarising compound.
Caffeine sensitive evening drinkers. 40-50mg caffeine per cup. Not an evening tea.
Health tea drinkers. The flavourings are added; the cup isn't naturally Bakewell.

Yorkshire Tea's wider novelty range

Cherry Bakewell sits in a wider range of dessert themed teas:

Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew. Designed to taste like a tea biscuit. Less sweet than Cherry Bakewell. The flagship of the range.
Yorkshire Tea Toast & Jam. Stranger novelty, replicates jammy toast in a cup. Less successful.
Yorkshire Gold. Premium standard Yorkshire blend (not a novelty). The opposite end of the range.

The novelty range is divisive. Yorkshire Tea releases them in limited runs that sell through fast, there's a market for them despite the eye rolling on tea forums. Browse Yorkshire Tea here.

Caffeine

40-50mg per 200ml cup, in line with standard Yorkshire Tea Original. Black tea base means full caffeine load.

Alternatives if you like the idea

Twinings Cherry & Cinnamon. Cherry forward without the almond. A different angle.
Pukka Vanilla Chai. Vanilla and warming spices instead of marzipan.
Whittard Marzipan Tea. Almond forward dessert tea, premium tier.
Adagio Bakewell Tart blend. Specialty US import option, comparable concept, often loose leaf.
Make your own. Add a drop of almond extract to a standard cup of black tea + a teaspoon of cherry jam stirred in. Surprisingly close.

Buying Cherry Bakewell Tea

Yorkshire Tea releases Cherry Bakewell as a limited or seasonal product. Availability varies. Major UK supermarkets stock it when in season; specialty tea retailers carry it year round when supply allows. Box of 40 bags typically £3-4.

Storage

Standard tea bag storage. Airtight, cool, dark. Flavoured teas lose aromatic intensity faster than unflavoured, finish within 6 months for best flavour.

FAQ

Does Cherry Bakewell Tea actually taste like Bakewell tart? Yes, almond, cherry, vanilla flavours all present. The black tea base provides body. The match is reasonably accurate.

Is it any good? Honest verdict: enjoyable as a novelty afternoon tea if you like marzipan. Not a daily drinker tea.

Caffeine in Cherry Bakewell Tea? 40-50mg per cup. Standard black tea level.

Can I drink it black? Yes, brighter, more cherry forward. Most drinkers prefer it with milk for the dessert tea profile.

Where to buy Cherry Bakewell Tea UK? Yorkshire Tea sells it directly when in stock; major supermarkets stock it seasonally; tea specialists carry it as available.

Curator's note: it's not the tea I'd serve to a discerning visitor, but I've drunk plenty of cups of it on a wet Saturday afternoon with a slice of actual Bakewell tart. Sometimes a tea isn't trying to be high art, it's trying to be biscuit flavoured, and that's fine. Lee, Teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.

Cherry Bakewell Tea: the verdict

Aspect	Cherry Bakewell Tea
Base	standard Yorkshire CTC black (Assam led)
Flavour	almond (marzipan) dominant, cherry secondary, vanilla as the icing note
Caffeine	40 to 50mg per cup, a full black tea load, not an evening tea
For	flavoured tea and marzipan likers, Yorkshire drinkers wanting a change, afternoon hosts
Not for	purists, anyone who dislikes marzipan, health tea drinkers

Judged as what it is, a competently made, marzipan led dessert tea on a solid Yorkshire black base, it delivers for marzipan likers and never will for purists, and neither verdict is wrong. Brew it short with milk, keep it fresh, and treat it as the novelty treat it openly is. Buy it via the Yorkshire Tea range, compare flavoured options in the flavoured tea guide, or browse the full tea shop.