Okay, so today I wanted to try something a bit different and see what the real deal is with English breakfast tea versus just regular black tea. I mean, I’ve always just grabbed whatever black tea was on the shelf, but is there really a difference? Time to find out!

Getting Started

First things first, I got my hands on some proper English breakfast tea and a box of my usual black tea. I made sure I had two identical mugs, my trusty kettle, and some milk and sugar – because that’s how I roll with my tea.

Brewing Time

I boiled the water and poured it over one tea bag of each kind in their separate mugs. I let them both steep for the same amount of time, around 4 minutes, just to keep things fair. While they were steeping, I took a good look at the tea bags themselves. Nothing too different there, just your standard tea bags.

The Taste Test

After the steeping, I took out the tea bags and gave each mug a good sniff. Honestly, they smelled pretty similar, that classic black tea aroma. Now for the actual tasting. I added a splash of milk and a little sugar to both. I took a sip of the English breakfast tea first. It was strong, definitely robust, and had that kind of bold flavor that wakes you right up.

Next up, my regular black tea. It was, well, familiar. Still strong, but maybe a bit milder than the English breakfast. It felt a little smoother, maybe less intense. I kept going back and forth between the two, trying to pinpoint the differences.

My Thoughts

• English breakfast tea: It’s like the bolder, more intense cousin. It’s got that extra kick that would be perfect for a really sluggish morning.
• Regular black tea: More of an all-rounder. Still strong enough to get you going, but a bit more laid back.

I guess it really comes down to personal preference. If you like your tea to really slap you awake, English breakfast might be your jam. If you prefer something a bit smoother, maybe stick with your usual black tea. I think I’ll probably keep both around, depending on my mood. This was a fun little experiment, and now I feel like a bit of a tea expert! Maybe I’ll try comparing green teas next. This tea journey has only just begun, I have decided!