Can a 2p tea bag really make the perfect cuppa? We taste test English Breakfast, Earl Grey and herbal beverages from different supermarkets

By SARAH RAINEY, SENIOR FEATURE WRITER

Updated:

Whether you take yours strong, milky, black or sweet, it's hard to beat a good cuppa. But which tea bags will give you the perfect brew?

It seems the big brands that used to be our go-tos are on the way out, as sales figures suggest cash-strapped consumers are swapping stalwarts such as PG Tips and Yorkshire Tea for supermarket brands.

But low cost doesn't necessarily mean low quality. Asda's Everyday teabags topped taste tests by consumer group Which? this month, with testers saying they gave a 'perfect colour' and tasted 'just right', as well as being the cheapest at just 1.5p per bag.

So which other own brands deliver on flavour? We put supermarket teas to the test.

Whether you take yours strong, milky, black or sweet, it's hard to beat a good cuppa. But which tea bags will give you the perfect brew?

Whether you take yours strong, milky, black or sweet, it's hard to beat a good cuppa. But which tea bags will give you the perfect brew?

ENGLISH BREAKFAST

Sainsbury's Taste The ­Difference English Breakfast Fine Tea

COST: £2.20 for 80 (2.8p per bag).

TASTE TEST: These Fairtrade bags contain Assam and blends from Kenya and Malawi, and are described as 'strong and invigorating'. There's a balance of bitterness and sweetness, and my cuppa brews to the perfect shade of malty brown in two minutes.

DRINK IT IF . . . You like your tea strong and earthy. 5/5

Tesco Finest English ­Breakfast Tea Bags

COST: £2.75 for 100 (2.8p per bag).

TASTE TEST: Combining rich Indian Assam and 'lively' ­Kenyan tea, these are said to be robust and classic, using only top-quality tea leaves. Sadly, the flavour seems to have been lost on the way to Britain: they're mild, subtle and lack the maltiness you'd expect.

DRINK IT IF . . . You like your tea weak and milky. 1/5

Asda's Everyday Tea Bags

Asda's Everyday Tea Bags

Asda's Everyday Tea Bags

COST: £1.20 for 80 (1.5p per bag).

TASTE TEST: There are no frills to these bags, which come in a plain red and white box. They're said to be 'mellow and refreshing, with bagfuls of ­flavour', and I agree – intense and well-rounded, with a good punch of earthiness. You can pop the biodegradable bags in your food waste bin, too.

DRINK IT IF . . . You like a strong, old-fashioned cuppa like your granny used to make. 5/5

Co-op Irresistible English Breakfast Tea

COST: £1.75 for 50 (3.5p per bag).

TASTE TEST: Co-op claims its own-brand teas are meticulously selected by its Master Blender, who tastes more than 400 cups a day to ensure quality. This one is ­certainly up to scratch: it's made with leaves from Malawi, India and Kenya, and is full-bodied without being intense.

DRINK IT IF . . . You want an energising morning cuppa that's not too strong. A good all-rounder. 4/5

EARL GREY

M&S Earl Grey Tea Bags

M&S Earl Grey Tea Bags

M&S Earl Grey Tea Bags

COST: £3.30 for 100 (3.3p per bag).

TASTE TEST: The zesty smell of bergamot hits you the minute you open the foil bag and dominates the tea entirely: it tastes like a concoction of flowers, herbs and lemons. Milk just doesn't work in it. Price-wise it's comparable to Twinings.

DRINK IT IF . . . You prefer a heavily ­perfumed Earl Grey. 2/5

Aldi Specially Selected Earl Grey Tea

COST: £1.15 for 50 (2.3p per bag).

TASTE TEST: Made from a blend of black teas with lemon and bergamot flavouring, this is a delicious balance of floral, tart and zingy. It comes in biodegradable bags and is pretty good value, too. My only complaint is the brew time: it needs a good five minutes for full flavour.

DRINK IT IF . . . You like a flowery Earl Grey that works with milk. 3/5

Waitrose Earl Grey Tea Bags

It seems the big brands that used to be our go-tos are on the way out (stock image)

It seems the big brands that used to be our go-tos are on the way out (stock image)

COST: £3 for 100 (3p per bag).

TASTE TEST: Smooth and refreshing, this is made from Chinese black tea with natural bergamot flavouring. It's ­subtle and delicious. Definitely designed to be drunk from a cup and saucer with lemon, not milk.

DRINK IT IF . . . You want a sophisticated flavour that's more ­citrussy than floral. 5/5

HERBAL

Sainsbury's Peppermint ­Infusion Tea Bags

COST: £2.90 for 80 (3.6p per bag).

Morrisons Pure Camomile Tea Bags

Morrisons Pure Camomile Tea Bags

TASTE TEST: Made from peppermint leaf, this is said to be cooling and soothing before bed – and is known to aid digestion. However, there's minty . . . then there's so minty. It's like swilling toothpaste.

DRINK IT IF . . . You've just eaten a curry. Too minty for me. 1/5

Morrisons Pure Camomile Tea Bags

COST: £1.75 for 40 (4.4p per bag).

TASTE TEST: Called Camomile Dream, this tea promises a 'gentle golden infusion'. It's a little too gentle for me – the apple-like flavour of camomile is hard to detect and I get a faint after-taste of honey.

DRINK IT IF . . . You want a slightly sweet tea before bed. 3/5

Lidl Knightsbridge Green Tea

COST: 59p for 40 (1.5p per bag).

TASTE TEST: Lidl's own-brand take on green tea is bitter and hard to stomach: it's like drinking burnt water. The bags are, however, biodegradable.

DRINK IT IF . . . Cost, not taste, is top of your priority list. 0/5

Femail