English Breakfast

89
Percentile
5 ratings
Picture of English Breakfast
Brand:Harney and Sons
Style:English Breakfast
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Region:China
Loose/teabag:Loose
Product page:English Breakfast

This tea's info last updated: Apr. 16, 2018

Commercial Description

Our English Breakfast has an ancient pedigree. Researchers have traced its heritage back to the black tea the English drank regularly in the 1800's. It is, simply, China Black - 100% Keemun.

Ratings & Reviews

Page 1 of 1 page with 5 reviews

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Reviewer pic90 Aroma: 10/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
(9 reviews) on

This is an excellent breakfast tea. I find a bit of sugar and milk really brings out the mellowness.
1 Comment


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Reviewer pic80 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
(6 reviews) on

Like the tin says, it's definitely entirely comprised of nothing but Keemun, with the vegetal, almost barnyard-esque notes of the tea shining through. Probably why it's normally mixed in a typical English Breakfast. It does, however, smell delicious - like any good black tea, it's got that heady aroma of caffeine yet to come.

Of course, it could all be taken in a relatively negative light, if not for the wonderful pricing. $13 for 8oz of reasonably good tea? Sign me up.
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Reviewer pic85 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
(170 reviews) on

I saw some Harney & Sons teas in a health food store and remembered that they got high reviews here, so I decided to try some. I got a tin of loose leaf English Breakfast and a box of tea bags. The box of teabags says that the blend is 100% Keemun, but the tin just says "blended black tea". I wasn't sure that they were meant to be the same blend until I checked the H&S website.

I was disappointed that the tea wasn't sealed in an airtight way (either a mylar pouch or, like Twinings, a foil seal under the lid). The tea seemed fresh, though, and has a slightly smoky aroma with notes of dried cherries.

While brewing, the aroma is less pronounced than I've noticed with other Keemuns, but it's still pleasant. It smells of earthy leaves and dried fruit, particularly prunes, cherries and dates. I was surprised by the bitterness in the first taste. The bitterness isn't overpowering or unpleasant, but the tea is noticeably more bitter than other Keemuns. A light astringency, smokiness and fruity sweetness round out a nice balance. Anyone that finds other Chinese teas too mellow should give this one a try. On the other hand, this tea is far less bitter and astringent than Assam-based Breakfast blends, but no less flavorful. I really like this tea.

The tea cost me $5.89 for a four ounce tin. Even the regular $7.00 price at the H&S website is quite reasonable for tea of this quality.
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Reviewer pic86 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
(1448 reviews) on

Harney says this blend is 100% Keemun and it shows...tastes just like Keemun, which I like, but definitely more like the more modern English Breakfast style than a Keemun picked at random. Fuller-bodied and richer than most English Breakfast, but softer and less crisp.

Dry leaf has an aroma that is gentle and pleasant, a little bready and slightly fruity, gentler than what I expect from this style of tea.

The flavor is richer than the dry leaf suggests, very full-bodied and dark. Quite astringent to the point of having a rather dry mouthfeel, but not very bitter. Very warming but with a few cooling notes. Not the most aromatic tea, the aroma is similar to a Keemun, a sort of rich earthy aroma with suggestions of dried fruit, bread, baked goods, and a few toasty and smoky notes.

I really liked drinking this one when hot. It's still good when it cools but the sensations on the palate were most satisfying when hot.

Resteeps well, better than is typical for English Breakfast blends. Excellent price too.
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Reviewer pic90 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
(12 reviews) on

Confusingly, the Harney & Sons website says this stuff is 100% Keemun, while the canister implies it's a blend of Keemun and other unnamed black teas. It tastes like Keemun, though, a little smoky, with that vaguely graphite-y aroma. It's pretty smooth, easy to drink without any accoutrements, and has a good, strong, bracing flavor. $12 seems like a lot to shell out, but it's an 8 oz. tin - I've brewed several (20 oz.) pots of this and the tin still looks full.
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Page 1 of 1 page with 5 reviews

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