PG Tips Pyramid bags

This page is for the caffeinated version. See also The Tasty Decaf.

25
Percentile
24 ratings
Picture of PG Tips Pyramid bags
Brand:PG Tips
Style:Black Tea
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Region:Blend
Loose/teabag:Teabag
Product page:PG Tips Pyramid bags - Buy on Amazon*

This tea's info last updated: Nov. 18, 2022

Commercial Description

The eighth wonder of the world! Pyramid bags give the tea leaves room to breathe so you can get even more out of the great PG tips flavour.

* Amazon links are sponsored and help support RateTea financially.

Ratings & Reviews

Page 1 2 3 of 3 pages with 24 reviews

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Reviewer pic55 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 2/5
(170 reviews) on

PG Tips is a blend of CTC teas. Most American grocery store teas are "orthodox" teas, however. That's worth knowing for a few reasons.

First, while orthodox production results in leaf pieces of various sizes (dust, fannings, broken leaf, whole leaf), the CTC machines produce small, uniform pellets. One thing that means is that with orthodox tea, teabags often have a different grade of tea than loose tea. Compare, for example, the tea in a Twinings teabag with a tin of the same variety of loose tea. CTC tea, on the other hand, has no such distinction. The tea in PG Tips pyramid bags is the same as is in PG Tips loose tea; tear open a pyramid bag and you'll find pellets that are identical to loose PG Tips.

Second, CTC teas in general brew much stronger than loose orthodox tea. If you normally like the robust maltiness, astringency and bitterness of a CTC tea and are starting to try loose orthodox teas, you might find them weak. If that's the case, try brewing your orthodox tea longer. What people used to drinking loose tea might think of as overbrewed, might actually be the exact flavor that you're looking for. Additionally, there are many quality, loose CTC teas available, so you may want to look for those specifically.

Another thing Americans may not realize is that PG Tips pyramid bags contain more tea (almost 3g) than most American teabags (usually 2g). If you find the tea too strong, try brewing in an oversized mug.

Now, back to the PG Tips specifically in my cup. The dry leaves are very aromatic and malty smelling. Adding water intensifies the same aroma, which I describe as a sour maltiness and is characteristic of Assam tea.

The flavor of the tea at the start is equally malty, astringent and bitter. While the bitterness slightly edges out the other flavors, there's still a pretty nice balance. If you don't like bitter tea, though, PG Tips probably isn't for you.

One thing about this style of tea is that the robust flavor is pronounced even while the tea is hot. I find that many teas need to cool a bit before the more subtle flavors become apparent. On the other hand, PG Tips has few subtle flavors and as it cools, astringency and bitterness slowly overpower the maltiness. Once it's lukewarm, I find that the flavor has shifted from a lovely balance to one that overemphasizes bitterness. I like bitter tea, so I enjoy PG Tips to the end of the cup, but I could easily see this tea quickly becoming undrinkable for someone with a lower bitterness tolerance.

In the US, PG Tips is expensive enough that it competes with much better teas. Even if you specifically like CTC teas, you can find higher quality online or in Indian grocery stores at better prices.
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Reviewer pic77 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
(5 reviews) on

A trip to London introduced me to this brand. I must say I enjoy the black tea it offers. I prefer with milk and sugar. Very affordable to the average tea drinker.
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Reviewer pic53 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
(7 reviews) on

PG Tips is a reasonable British black tea blend. It is one of my "old standbys, " and I particularly like that PG Tips prides itself on ethics.
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Reviewer pic93 Aroma: 10/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
(1 reviews) on

It's my staple "tea diet" in the UK and the "office brew" as well so you could say I almost exist on this. Makes a lovely cuppa, a dash of milk and a spoon of sugar - perfect. Just right after a long drive into the office.
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Reviewer pic60 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 5/5
(6 reviews) on

PG Tips is really meant to be drunk British style, with an ample dose of milk and some sugar. And if you just walked in from a long walk in a cold December rain, that helps. If you want to drink black tea straight, I would not recommend this tea. But if you want a tea that is strong enough to stand up to a milk and sugar, this is a good one.
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Reviewer pic93 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
(1 reviews) on

This is my definition of tea. It is smooth, not bitter and has a wonderful aroma. When you see pictures of people having tea in England, it's this kind of tea.
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Reviewer pic70 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
(19 reviews) on

Even though I am not from the UK, I drink my tea as a lot do there-cream and sugar. Since drinking this tea 5 years ago or so, it has won my heart. It is my stable go to basic black tea bag tea. When I want a no frills blend, this is it. It is very comforting to me and I reach for it when I am being nostalgic. Yes, I do agree it does steep fast and can be bitter BUT, it is never too bad that cream and sugar do not save it. I am not a purest of black tea (thus yet), but I think even if I was, my love of cream and sugar will always draw me home to this because I think that is how this was meant to be drunk:)
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Reviewer pic20 Aroma: 1/10 Flavor: 1/5 Value: 3/5
(4 reviews) on

This tea is the worst I have ever had in my life. I think dirty dish water would taste better than this.
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Reviewer pic63 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
(14 reviews) on

Good old PG Tips, an oldie but a goodie. There's nothing flowery and wishy-washy about this "builders brew". This is everything you would expect from a stereotypical British cuppa. Very quick brewing, good malty aroma and a pleasant flavour. Best brewed in a mug and enjoyed with the biscuit tin beside you.
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Reviewer pic100 Aroma: 10/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
(1 reviews) on

PG tips is the best ever for straight Black Tea drinkers (no sugar no cream). Great for ice tea because it's strong and three bags make a good quart for sweet or unsweet ready for ice. I drink it hot and all the way till it cools, drives my English relatives bommy. Love the stuff!
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Page 1 2 3 of 3 pages with 24 reviews

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