Review: Jacksons of Piccadilly English Breakfast

Mar 12

Review: Jacksons of Piccadilly English Breakfast

Black Tea, English Breakfast Tea, Jacksons of Piccadilly Add comments

James’s Teaview Snapshot

"A good, standard English Breakfast tea... one of the better bagged teas I've tried."

James’s Teaview:	7/10
Other Teaviews:	Cindy gave it 6/10, Rebekah gave it 4/10, David gave it 7/10
Your Reviews:	Add your review »

Jacksons of Piccadilly has been selling teas since the 1800s. Although I have only tried a couple of their teas, I have found them to be a reliable brand, although not stellar. Apparently, Jacksons made an outstanding Earl Gray that can not longer be found. (See Stephen’s review for more information).

At first look, the tea and teabag looks basically the same as any other. However, on closer inspection the finely-ground tea does have better quality look to it. It is not something I can really describe, just that something about it gives the impression of higher quality. Of course, this can be misleading. I have had some good teas which did not look much different from Lipton’s in the bag, and beautiful loose-leaf teas which did not deliver on taste. But this teabag and tea gave a genuine British character; reliable and understated.

Although Jacksons of Piccadilly has one of the most beautiful websites I’ve seen, it is also one of the least informative. I could not find the English Breakfast tea even listed. From the packaging, the tea contains ‘a blend of Indian and Ceylon teas’; not too uncommon for a breakfast tea. The tea brews into a nice, dark brown, like a breakfast tea should. It has a traditional aroma that suggests it will be a good tea, but not a great one. On this occasion, the taste delivers on the promise. The first taste is that of a traditional breakfast tea, but more consistency; almost like an Earl Gray or Darjeeling. It seems to have a very slight ‘malty’ taste like a Darjeeling or oily texture like an Earl Gray, but really not quite either one. It finishes without that mystery taste, leaving a slightly bitter taste in the mouth, familiar to English Breakfast Tea drinkers.

This is a good, standard English Breakfast tea. A good benchmark by which to measure others. I could happily recommend this tea, along with several others, to anyone interested in breakfast teas. It is one of the better bagged breakfast teas that I have tried.