Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold, 80 Teabags

I’ve been drinking tea for over 15 years — mostly gourmet stuff, and mainly loose leaf green varieties. They’re very tasty, but sometimes one wants something with a little more heft. I’ve had pu’er and Lapsong Souchang, but they to run on the expensive side, like fine cigars and good bourbon.I’ve never found an inexpensive black tea that wasn’t “stringy” tasting and bitter. The only black teas I’ve really enjoyed were Earl Greys, but, again, sometimes one wants something “plain.” Of late, I’ve placated myself with the WalMart black tea my wife buys, but I’ve grown disenchanted with pimping out my taste buds for something so disappointing and unsatisfying.I’ve tried PG Tips in the past, and found it to be very good. I was going to buy some, and then I ran across Yorkshire. Intrigued, I began to read reviews and watch taste tests. A couple days ago I pulled the trigger on a box of Yorkshire Gold. Dear God! This tea checks all boxes. It’s inexpensive, first off, so I can enjoy it in mass quantities. Secondly, here’s my impression of the taste profile:This (in my opinion) is what a standard, everyday black tea ought to be. The scent is neither attention-getting (like Lapsong or Earl Grey), but it’s not flat either. It’s THERE. The mouth feel is chewy, with a bit of heft. I normally drink my blacks with milk. This tea has a bit of a bitter finish, but bitter in a good way — let’s you know you’ve tasted something without rolling your tongue up into a dry ball. To me, there’s not much taste progression from opening to finish; the profile seems consistent throughout. This tea is like the warm greeting of an old friend, whom you don’t want to leave. I could easily switch in the morning from my Starbucks Pike Place to this. Coffee’s just too much caffeine for me; black tea is just right.Today, I added about a teaspoon of stevia to my cup (I can’t have much sugar). The bitter completely went away, and the flavor really blossomed and came into its own. This tea screams for milk and a bit of sweet. Perhaps it’s blended with that in mind (that is, after all, how many friends across the pond take their tea), but it all came together. Caramel-y, a bit spicy, with a hint of earthy smokiness.Far as I’m concerned, this tea, while inexpensive, is three-dimensional and drinks like a much more expensive cup. It’s nothing like the thin, overly-astringent swill I’ve come to expect from finer truck stops everywhere.As an aside, I always use fresh, filtered water, and pour it over the tea at juuust under boiling. I recommend the same to all gentle readers — especially those whose tap water is especially hard or fraught with metallics. Do that with a dash of milk and a bit of sweet, and you’ll have a real brew to savor that won’t break the bank.

Good, strong black tea. It that is what you want this is it.

Great fast delivery of the best tea bags out there!

With heavy table cream this is by far the best tea I have ever had.

Good for tea bags but not compared to loose leaf. I know. That's not a fair comparison of the "dust" they put in tea bags vs. good loose leaf. We are trying to save money in these uncertain times and expensive tea just didn't make the budget.This has a nice rich flavor for a cheaper tea bag. I'm picky even about my less expensive tea bags because what's the point of drinking it if it tastes bad (looking at you, Largest Tea Brand in the USA). I'm not a total tea snob. Some of my favorite tea memories were showing up for work when I worked in the UK and having a nice cuppa each morning from the carafe they had in the office. I'm sure that was cheap tea but it was brewed well and tasted so nice on a cold morning with a splash of milk.This tea is a bit bitter (so I brew it slightly less than I do my loose leaf I used to get). For a "store brand" tea I'd have to say this hits the spot if you don't over brew it.I believe it is hard to control the brewing with "dust" tea bags, but it'll just be an adjustment. I know this whole review sounds tea snobby. I LOVE tea (hate coffee). This will fit the bill nicely.

Tea arrived well packaged. I saw this tea mentioned on another review and wanted to try it. I am glad I did as I really enjoy it. I am a Southerner and always drank iced tea, but I am enjoying this tea.

This tasty tea is a great deal with a quality taste.

Wow, the flavor is just like the tea I had many times this past summer travelling through England, Scotland and Ireland. I wish I had known about this years ago. I don't even know how I came across it, other than perhaps seeing all the 5 star reviews in searching for best English Teas. This is almost exactly like the tea my Gran in Canada used when I was a kid in the 60's-70's. Strong enough you can get two cups out of one teabag, or at least I can. Buy it, you will not be disappointed.