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In a hard water area the simplest fix is a tea blended for it, and Yorkshire Tea Hard Water is the one we stock. Whether you need it depends on where you live, so the table below sets out what each water company says about its own region.
What hard water does to a cup of tea
Hardness is dissolved calcium and magnesium, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate says the level depends on local geology. Yorkshire Tea's buyers say hard water makes tea taste darker and thicker, while soft water brings out lightness and briskness.
Then there is the film. Anglian Water explains that limescale reacts with the natural tannins in tea to make an oily brown scum on the surface. We look at it more closely in what is the scum on my tea and in hard water against soft water.
The Inspectorate gives these bands, measured in milligrams per litre as calcium carbonate: soft up to 100, slightly hard 100 to 150, moderately hard 150 to 200, hard 200 to 300, and very hard above 300.
Hard and soft water by UK region
| Region | What the water company says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| London and the Thames Valley | All the water in the region is hard | Thames Water |
| East of England | The water in the region is classed as hard to very hard | Anglian Water |
| Yorkshire | Hard water mainly in the east, softer water in the west | Yorkshire Water |
| North West England | Most raw water comes from upland reservoirs and is soft or very soft. Harder borehole water in the south of the region is usually blended with softer sources | United Utilities |
| Scotland | Most raw water comes from lochs, rivers and burns and tends to be soft to slightly hard | Scottish Water |
| Wales | Supplies range from upland reservoirs to boreholes, so hardness varies by area | Welsh Water |
| Northern Ireland | Hardness is published by postcode | NI Water |
These are summaries of whole regions, and your street can differ. The Inspectorate's advice is to ask your own water company for an accurate figure, and most companies have a postcode checker on their website.
The teas to buy for hard water
Yorkshire Tea Hard Water is the direct answer. Taylors of Harrogate describes it as a special blend of Yorkshire Tea, with a few tweaks to the recipe, made for tap water with a high mineral content. It is black tea from Africa and India, in a box of 80 bags. Our page on why the blend exists and who it is for has the detail.
If you would sooner stay with a standard blend, choose a fuller one. Yorkshire Tea Gold, which the maker calls its finest blend, and Tetley Extra Strong both give you more tea to work with.
If your usual tea tastes different after a house move, check the water before you blame the blend. We cover that worry in has Yorkshire Tea changed its recipe.
Teas for hard water
The blend made for hard water, plus two fuller blends.
Yorkshire Tea Hard Water, 80 Tea Bags 250g
Yorkshire Tea Gold Blend, 80 Tea Bags 250g
Tetley Extra Strong Breakfast Tea, 75 Tea Bags 237g
Autumn Sale prices shown. The sale ends on 24 December.
These are products sold by teas.co.uk. Every order includes a free tea sample, and UK delivery is free over £35. Check each product page for the latest price, availability and pack information.
Soft water: the opposite case
Soft water has blends of its own. The maker of PG Tips Scottish Blend says it is blended to complement soft Scottish water, and the Glengettie brand has described its Welsh blend as designed for the soft water of its region. Our Scottish Blend page has more, and both teas are in the block below.
Blends for soft water
PG Tips Scottish Blend and Glengettie, both described as made for soft water.
PG Tips Scottish Blend Breakfast Tea, 80 Tea Bags 232g
Glengettie Welsh Breakfast Tea, 80 Tea Bags 250g
Autumn Sale prices shown. The sale ends on 24 December.
These are products sold by teas.co.uk. Every order includes a free tea sample, and UK delivery is free over £35. Check each product page for the latest price, availability and pack information.
Kettle and brewing fixes
You can also change the method. Anglian Water's own tips for a better looking cup in hard water are:
- put a wire scale collector in the kettle
- make tea in a pot instead of a mug
- use tea leaves instead of tea bags
- do not let the tea stew
- use a tea strainer
Thames Water adds one more: empty the kettle when it is not in use. If you want to change the water itself, read filtered water for tea and is bottled water better for tea. For the pot and leaf route, the loose leaf shelf is the place to start.
Hard water tea at a glance
| Your water | Tea to try first | Also |
|---|---|---|
| Hard or very hard | Yorkshire Tea Hard Water | Yorkshire Tea Gold, Tetley Extra Strong |
| Soft | PG Tips Scottish Blend | Glengettie Welsh Breakfast Tea |
| Not sure | Check your postcode with your water company | Standard Yorkshire Tea in the meantime |
Common questions
How do I find out if my water is hard?
Use the postcode checker on your water company's website, or ring them. Limescale in the kettle is the everyday sign.
Can I use Yorkshire Tea Hard Water in a soft water area?
You can, but it is blended for mineral rich water. In soft water the standard Yorkshire Tea is the one to buy.
Is the film on top the fault of the tea?
No. Anglian Water puts it down to limescale reacting with the tannins in tea, so it follows the water, not the brand. A pot and a strainer keep most of it out of the cup.
Loose leaf and a strainer
For the pot, leaf and strainer method that Anglian Water suggests in hard water areas.
Yorkshire Tea Original Loose Leaf Tea, 250g
Yorkshire Tea Gold Blend Loose Leaf Tea, 250g
PG Tips Original Loose Leaf Tea, 250g
Tunta Bamboo Tea Strainer, Handmade in Thailand
Autumn Sale prices shown. The sale ends on 24 December.
These are products sold by teas.co.uk. Every order includes a free tea sample, and UK delivery is free over £35. Check each product page for the latest price, availability and pack information.
Reference noted
Regional statements were opened on 13 November 2026 at the Drinking Water Inspectorate, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities, Scottish Water, Welsh Water and NI Water. Blend statements come from Yorkshire Tea: Hard Water, Yorkshire Tea: black tea range, the maker's product text for Scottish Blend at Morrisons and Wikipedia: Glengettie.
More from the tea wiki
- Regional Teas of Britain and Ireland: A Buying Guide
- Why Does My Tea Have a Film on Top
- PG Tips Scottish Blend
- What Is the Scum on My Tea? Hard Water, Harmless Chemistry
- Hard Water vs Soft Water Tea
- Is Bottled Water Better for Tea?
- Tea in Hard Water
- Yorkshire Tea for Hard Water
- Yorkshire Tea Hard Water: Why It Exists and Who It Is For
- The whole Tea Wiki, A to Z
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