Consumer website Which? asked 79 tea lovers to blind taste and rate 12 everyday teas from supermarkets including AsdaSainsbury's and Tesco and compare them with big brands PG Tips, Tetley, Twinings and Yorkshire Tea.
A study has found that Asda has beaten the major brands in a taste test to find the best cup of tea in Britain. Asda Everyday tea bags came top with 72 per cent of 79 “experienced and dedicated” tea drinkers – and it's half the price per cup of the big-name options.
Asda Everyday tea bags cost £1.20 for 80 bags. In the study, 68 per cent of tea drinkers said the colour was perfect and 49 per cent found the taste 'just right'.
Which? explained: “Asda is our top choice if you're looking for a satisfying drink on a budget. Our tasters gave it high marks for flavour and appearance, and more than two thirds thought the colour was just right.”
“They also liked the 'taste' of the tea and its slightly bitter aftertaste, and most thought the taste was accurate.”
PG Tips Original, £3 for 80 teabags, came second with a score of 71 per cent. Some 60 per cent said the colour was “exactly what a cuppa should look like” and were satisfied with the strength of the bitterness.
Tetley Original, £2.50 for 80 bags, also scored 71 per cent, with tasters saying the tea had a “pleasant flavour” and an enticing aroma, while 54 per cent agreed it had a strong taste. However, 27 per cent said it was too bitter for their taste.
Natalie Hitchins, Which?'s head of home and services, commented on the results: “A cup of tea is a daily necessity for millions of people and many of us will be passionate about defending our favourite brand.
“Our results show that bigger, more expensive brands are not necessarily better tasting, with a supermarket own label costing less than 2p a cup outperforming rivals costing four times as much.
“The results show that brands and supermarkets know that poor quality coffee will not go unnoticed by discerning tea drinkers, but Which? has proven that you don't need to spend a lot of money to have a good drink.”