Teabags

[APT]

WTF has happened with teabags?

Over the years I, like I guess many others, have changed brands, as they got weaker and weaker. For a few years now I have been on Yorkshire tea, as it tasted like tea. Lately it just doesn't cut the mustard. The tea is so weak, sometimes I want two teabags in one cup.

A friend said they had found the same with Tetley, but I found Tetley too weak years ago.

Also, the big box used to hold 240 and it's only 210 now, very deceptive. In some 'bargain' shops I have seen the big box with even less in, 180 possibly, so it's not really a bargain.

I looked at the price per 100g today, the big box (210) is 84p for 100g. Twinings Strong, box of 80 the biggest in store, are £1.92 for 100g. They make a decent cup of tea, but over double the price.

I need my cup of tea tasting like tea. Has anybody found anything which does?

Definitely a First World problem.

Ringtons Gold is delightful. Got some in a birthday hamper.

Anybody else having tea issues?

I’m a coffee drinker but grew up with PG Tips. DD’s partner used that and says it’s strong.

You are right about the shrinkage though, it’s bloody annoying.

No. I buy Yorkshire and haven't noticed a change in strength.

I thought so, too, but I lost a tiny bit of my sense of smell/taste after covid so I am never sure what is due to that.

Loose tea is stronger and better quality, in general. Morrison's loose Assam is good and strong.

Yes we've got two giant bags of Typhoo that I bought on offer. Last time I got this offer, one teabag did two cups in the pot. This time, two teabags does two watery cups of tea! I thought I'd lost the knack for making tea, glad it's not just me. But WTF, tea bags?! The Tesco Red Label I had three months ago was strong enough to stand a spoon in it.

Yorkshire Gold can vary for box to box...my current box is nice and strong but last week, even two bags didn't cut it!
I suppose tea leaves themselves can vary, but there should be some sort of quality check.

Does anyone from the early 80s remember Brooke Bond tea?

I was going to link the Morrison's Assam but now it has a couple of bad reviews so maybe it's gone downhill, too? A different loose tea will definitely be a better bet than bags, anyway.

In general all food products are being reduced in quality or amount.

M&S Extra strong is what I use, or Yorkshire Gold. I defo feel like tea is getting less strong. We have standard catering Tetley at work and I have to bring my own teabags because the Tetley tastes so weak.

Yes! I have had to stop ordering tea when in a cafe because invariably you get one tea bag in a pot and it’s weak as maids water.

i have started keeping tea bags in my purse and just asking for hot water, but it doesn’t really brew properly.

I use loose tea at home, which is better but not so practical.

Sainsbury's Red Label is quite good and Clipper is strong. Also biodegradable bags in the Clipper

Big fan of Twinings Strong English Breakfast or Clipper Everyday tea

We only buy Barry's now, even though I can't find it in the shops where we live. I get a subscription delivered a few times a year.

Many years ago I got so fed up with terrible tea I bought a bunch of recommended brands to compare. Sorry to say almost of them were rubbish. We used Twinings Strong for a while.

M&S gold is the best..

@PrincessAnne5Eva ...I used to like Typhoo teabags, so when I saw some large 'catering size' boxes of them at a knock down price in my local discount store I bought a couple, they tasted weak and nasty too, I was telling a guy I worked with who told me that a lot of these companies use poorer quality tea in their catering sized packs, I'm not sure if this is true but it certainly fits in with the comments here.

"Welsh brew" tea (Paned) I bought a box on my last holiday there. Proper strong black tea.

Clipper organic everyday is good if you like strong tea

I’ve noticed the same! Teabags feel weaker and boxes keep shrinking. Lately, I’ve switched to loose leaf Assam—it’s stronger, richer, and way more satisfying than most bagged teas now. moto x3m

I have Clipper Classic Everyday teabags, which - touch wood - seem to be ok. I gave up sugar/sweeteners in tea about 18 months ago, which took a bit of getting used to. But the tea still tastes good 👍

Honestly, I'd assume that something was blunting your sense of taste. I haven't noticed a difference in tea strength.

Tea Pigs are great, but they're very expensive.

I use Sainsbury's Red Label. I used to use Tesco RL and that went very pale-tasting. Sister recommended Sainsbury's and that's OK.

Welsh Brew is still as good as it's always been. I can just about tolerate Glengettie as a substitute, but Welsh Brew is by far the best.

Welsh Brew/Paned Gymreig is the only one I'll drink now, if I need bags for convenience, the quality is consistent and they are actually only just down the road from me. Otherwise I use loose leaf where I can control the strength.