Like pretty much single other person in the UK, I have been drinking a good cup of tea for the vast majority of my life.
Sitting in the office? Cup of tea. Reading a book? Cup of tea? Studying? Cup of tea... you must get the point. Nothing beats it.
So, you can imagine my total disappointment to find out that some tea brands are beginning to increase their prices due the rising cost of living.
We recently reported that a few top brew brands - such as Tetley, Twinings and Pukka - had increased their prices at the Big Four supermarkets due to global supply and demand changes.
And one brand that I do happen to love - the good 'ol classic Tetley - is said to have risen by at least 10p to 20p, due to "rising costs across the board, from raw materials to shipping and packing".
Despite that not being the most significant price rise, it is understandable why some households, myself included, might want to consider a cheaper alternative to keep down our shopping costs.
Which is exactly why this tea lover decided to go on a mission to see if there was a more affordable box of tea that would offer the same full bodied flavour that I get with a cup of Tetley.
Since supermarket's own-branded items have been all the rage this year, so I tried to see if any would be worth my money, instead of making the switch to another major brand.
So, visiting Lidl, Morrisons and Asda, this is how each supermarket cup of tea fared against the mighty Tetley...
The process
Everyone drinks tea a little differently. Some of us like no milk, others like a dash of milk, while other's love a cup of milk with a bit of tea. We are all different.
So, to keep things fair, I only made half cups, purely because I did not want to be drinking four large cups of tea in one go, and I tried both with and without milk. That way I could get a good taste of the flavour before and after milk.
Here is my assessment of each cup of tea...
Tetley
Price: £1.40 for 40 tea bags
Rating: 4/5
I decided to start this off with the standard that the rest would have to live up to, so it was a cup of Tetley to begin with. Admittedly, I do have a soft spot for the brand since I used to drink it all the time during my university days.
First things first, I tried this without a splash of milk first, and I must admit that I hadn't actually realised just how earthy and slightly bitter the taste of Tetley's was. I do tend to go for a dash of milk with my tea, which must soften the richness.
That being said, as soon as the milk was in, the flavour became what I know and love. It was strong, rich and smooth, but without the bitterness.
Definitely much better on the second gulp, but it was interesting without the milk.
Morrisons Everyday tea
Price: 55p for 40
Rating: 2/5
Next up on the list, and the first supermarket to be tried out, was Morrisons own-branded Everyday Tea bags. Coming in at 55p for the same amount of tea bags, it was definitely a more affordable option.
But was it better? Honestly, no.
The tea was definitely a bit darker after steeping for the same amount of time as Tetley's, but I did find that the flavour was not nearly as rich or full bodied. With a splash of milk, it was definitely a little bit more refreshing, but there was still not a lot of flavour.
Asda
Price: 28p for 40
Rating: 1/5
The new brew on my list was Asda's own brand tea bags which were coming in at just 28p for a packet of 40. Considering that is less than a penny a bag, that's fairly decent.
Unfortunately, this was definitely a case of 'you get what you pay for', as I genuinely felt as though this cup of tea had zero flavour, or any resemblance to a relaxing cup of tea.
After one sip without milk the tea was really light and didn't even have any of the rich aromas that comes with a good brew. Then with the milk, well, let's just say it was like drinking hot water.
Lidl
Price: 99p for 160
Rating: 5/5
Last, but certainly not least, was a cup of tea made from Lidl's One Cup Red Label Tea Bags. Now, first things first, my local Lidl didn't have any smaller bags that would match the rest, so I had to settle for the larger 160. That being said, at just 99p, it was already it was already over three times the size of Tetley, which cost 40p more!
I will admit, after my last cup of tea - if it could be called that - I was worried that this would be a repeat of only getting what I paid for.
And, boy was I wrong. Lidl's tea certainly lived up to the brand's reputation of 'Lidl on price, big on flavour', as it was strong, rich and smooth both with and without any milk.
There was definitely full round-bodied flavour that I think the previous two supermarket brands were lacking and, if I am comparing it to Tetley's, it is arguably quite a bit better.
Unlike the bigger name brand, I found that Lidl's didn't have that bitter aftertaste that came with my first cup of tea. Instead, it was a pleasantly refreshing cuppa that offered me more for my money.
Overall thoughts
It has to be said that Lidl's One Cup Red Label tea bags absolutely stole the show for me and were arguably better than Tetley's earthy offering.
Not only does the supermarket offer a refreshing full bodied cup of tea, but it will also only set you back 99p for a large family box of 160 tea bags. Considering Tetley was the pricier £1.40 for just 40, you're making a decent saving there that will last longer.
Tetley is still a decent cup of tea, but I had just never noticed the bitterness until I had to really focus on the flavour.
However, if you're looking for a budget-friendly box of tea, Morrisons and Asda just miss the mark. Unless you prefer a weaker tea, no judging here at all.
If there is one thing I am taking away from this test, it is that I should save myself the money by grabbing a box of Lidl's One Cup Red Label Tea that will offer me more flavour for less pennies.
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