The cost of living crisis is affecting us as consumers, leaving us with no choice but to look for ways to reduce our food shopping bills.
Supermarkets offer cheaper alternatives to staple items such as baked beans, fairy liquid, coffee and teabags, but it’s very easy to get drawn to the ‘finest’ ranges. This begs the question, are the more affordable ‘value’ items just as good in terms of quality?
As part of our supermarket reviews series and after reviewing coffee last week, we’re moving onto another household favourite this week - tea bags. Many of us can’t start the day without a cuppa, but does it really matter if we choose a fancy brand of teabags, or is tea just tea?
READ MORE: We tried supermarket 'value' coffee from Aldi, Co-op, ASDA and Iceland and one impressed us
This week we’re testing out value tea bags from supermarkets to see if they’re worth swapping to from big brand names like Yorkshire Tea and PG tips. With plenty of basic items out there on offer, we wanted to see which one came out on top. We put four to the test, here’s our verdict.
Sainsbury's Hubbard's Foodstore Tea Bags
I love a cup of tea but I'm very fussy about how I drink it, so rarely let anyone make me a brew. If it's too milky I just don't like it, so would rather make it myself to get it just right.
I've been loyal to Yorkshire Tea for many years as it offers just the right strength I like and you can usually get a massive box in Home Bargains for about £4. For this test, I picked up a box of Sainsbury's own brand tea bags, from the supermarket's value range 'Hubbard's Foodstore'.
The packaging was pretty no frills, but you got a generous helping of 160 tea bags for £1.09. In comparison, a box of the supermarket's slightly fancier Red Label tea costs £2 for a box of the same size, while a 160 bag box of my beloved Yorkshire tea bags would set me back £4.50 in Sainsbury's. Ouch.
Onto the taste test then. I made a cuppa the same way I always do, letting the round bag brew in hot water for around 3-4 minutes before adding the tiniest splash of milk. It was warm and soothing in the way a cup of tea always is if you're into it. But it had nowhere near the flavour of Yorkshire Tea. I really couldn't taste the tea very much at all if I'm honest.
If you're not as much of a fuss pot as me about strong tea, then Sainsbury's value tea bags will certainly save you money on your weekly shop and you can't knock that. But flavour-wise, it was a miss for me.
Price: £1.09 for 160 tea bags
Where to buy: Sainsbury's in store or online
Rating: 1/5
Aldi's Red Label Rich & Rounded Tea Bags
Tea bags are a staple in our household, but admittedly we usually go for a slightly more expensive option to ensure we get a cuppa that’s full of flavour. The cheapest option I could find in Aldi was Red Label Rich & Rounded Tea Bags, costing £1.09 for 160 bags.
At such a bargain price, I was doubtful the tea would pack as much of a punch as our usual brand, but I’m happy to report I was pleasantly surprised. After adding the hot water to the tea bag and a splash of milk, I waited a few minutes to give the cuppa a chance to gain full flavour.
Despite the cheap price tag, Red Label’s tea bags certainly don’t lack flavour. The comforting smell of tea filled the kitchen within minutes, and with the first sip I could taste the familiar strong tea flavour I’m used to with other brands. There was no bitterness at all like I thought there might be, so I would definitely buy Aldi’s Red Label Rich & Rounded Tea Bags again.
Price: £1.09 for 160 tea bags
Where to buy: Aldi
Rating: 5/5
Sainsbury's Fairly Traded Red Label Tea Bags
I must confess, I hate tea. I've always hated tea and, originally coming from Yorkshire, I've certainly received a lot of flak for it. I wasn't looking forward to this product test but ventured to Sainsbury's and picked up a box of its Fairly Traded Red Label Tea Bags.
I only drink oat milk (yes, I know, I'm fussy) so tried this tea black and, though I'm assured by my colleagues that tea tastes better with milk, I won't be touching it ever again. Without descending into the string of expletives I'd really love to use to describe this heinous beverage, I'll just say I don't understand how or why we ever became a nation of tea drinkers.
Seriously, what on earth is the flavour of tea? It tastes like something that shouldn't ever be drunk, let alone something many people inexplicably, yet proudly, declare as their all time favourite.
For me, Sainsbury's Fairly Traded Red Label Tea Bags manages to be both bitter and plain, achieving confusing heights of disgust that has most definitely put me off ever trying tea again for life. My mum, who's so obsessed with tea it may as well be hooked up to her via an IV, had rather smugly suggested this test would finally convert me to being an avid tea drinker. Alas, she was wrong.
At 31, I remain a staunch hater of tea so I'm not sure how reliable my review of Sainsbury's Fairly Traded Red Label Tea Bags is. After all, you wouldn't ask a vegetarian for a steak recommendation, would you?
If you like tea, this reasonably priced option may good enough for you. If you're on the fence about tea or not a fan, I'd avoid it all costs. I will definitely not be repurchasing.
Price: £1.10 for a 250g box of 80 tea bags
Where to buy: In store at Sainsbury's or online
Rating: 0/5
Tesco’s Stockwell & Co tea bags
I am a big fan of a cuppa, I won’t lie. There’s never a time of day I won’t have one, morning, noon or night, it’s pretty much my go-to drink.
However, I’ve long been loyal to Yorkshire Tea, so opting for Tesco’s Stockwell & Co tea bags had me worried. I didn’t need to be.
I’m a lover of a strong - but sweet - cup of tea, so I left my Stockwell tea bag to brew for a good few minutes before adding any milk or sugar. The result was a pretty perfect cuppa, I have to say.
While undoubtedly different in flavour to my usual Yorkshire Tea, Stockwell’s proved flavourful, smooth and lacked any bitterness I’d been worried about. It gave a nice aroma too, which I think is a huge part of drinking tea. Pair Stockwell’s with some biscuits and I doubt you’d be too bothered about loyalty to a more expensive brand.
Tesco’s Stockwell & Co tea comes in a box of 80 for 55p, which is certainly a difference to the price I typically pay. The royal blue box provided a look of luxury too, so you’d never know how cheap they were.
Price: 55p for 80 tea bags
Where: Your local Tesco store or online
Rating: 4/5
Lidl's Knightsbridge Gold Blend tea bags
As an avid tea drinker, I’ve always been very snobbish with my choice of teabags. For me, it’s Yorkshire Tea or nothing. I can’t go a day without having a cup, and if I haven’t had one, it almost feels like there’s something missing in my day.
A box of 80 Yorkshire Tea tea bags is usually at least £3 from a supermarket, which means it isn’t exactly cheap for a cuppa. I tried the Knightsbridge Gold Blend Tea from Lidl, and a box of 80 cost me just 95p.
The ‘gold’ teabags are described as ‘rich and full flavoured’ on the box, and I’d definitely agree with the description. Upon first sip, I noticed the taste was strong as described, even with a good amount of milk in it.
First impressions? It wasn’t quite as good as Yorkshire Tea, but it was definitely close. It had a satisfying first sip that all cuppas have and plenty of flavour too. Some teabags can often taste watered down, but this 95p box definitely surprised me.
As a self-confessed tea snob, I can honestly say this box from Lidl pleasantly surprised me, I’d go as far to say it’s definitely better than PG Tips (in my opinion!) For those looking for an affordable box of tea that isn’t going to cost £3 or more, Lidl is a strong contender.
Price: 95p for 80 tea bags
Where: Your local Lidl store
Rating: 4/5
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