Yorkshire Harrogate Black Tea

A hearty British-style breakfast blend combining teas from Kenya, India, and China for a full-bodied cup with deep malt, subtle plum, and a brisk finish—made for mornings that call for proper tea.

The Experience

Yorkshire Harrogate Black Tea is built for tea drinkers who want their morning cup strong, rich, and unmistakably tea-forward.

This multi-origin blend brings together black teas from the Nandi Highlands of Kenya, Assam and Nilgiri in India, and Yunnan Province in China. Both CTC and orthodox teas are used, allowing the blend to combine the quick strength and briskness of broken leaf with some of the aromatic complexity of traditionally processed tea.

The cup opens with robust black-tea character and deep malt, followed by a subtle plum-like fruitiness. A mild astringency provides the dry, brisk finish expected from a traditional British-style breakfast tea. It's substantial enough for milk, satisfying enough to accompany a hearty breakfast, and complex enough to enjoy straight.

Tasting Notes

• Top: Malt • Rich black tea
  
• Mid: Plum • Subtle dark fruit
  
• Finish: Brisk • Mildly astringent • Lingering malt
  
• Body: Full

Why You’ll Love It

• A proper strong morning black tea
• Blends teas from Kenya, India, and China
• Natural notes of malt and subtle plum
• Combines CTC and orthodox tea for strength and complexity
• Full-bodied with a pleasantly brisk finish
• Strong enough to stand up beautifully to milk
• Pure black tea with no added flavoring
• An excellent choice for lovers of traditional British breakfast teas

Origin, Grade & Ingredients

Tea Type: Pure Black Tea Blend
Processing: CTC (Cut, Torn and Curled) & Orthodox (Traditional Leafy)
Grade: FP — Flowery Pekoe; blend information also identifies BOP — Broken Orange Pekoe
Origins: Nandi Highlands, Kenya • Assam & Nilgiri, India • Yunnan Province, China
Countries of Origin: Kenya, India & China
Elevation: Approximately 1,500–2,000 m (~5,000–6,500 ft)
Ingredients: Black tea
Added Flavoring: None
Caffeine: Yes
Body: Full

How to Brew

Use 1 heaping teaspoon with The Perfect Measure Spoon per 8 oz / 237 ml of water at 212°F / 100°C.

Mild: 2–3 minutes
Medium: 4–5 minutes
Strong: 6–7 minutes

For your first cup, try approximately 4 minutes. Drink it straight first to find the plum and malt, then add milk if desired.

If you're specifically looking for a traditional strong British morning cup, steep toward the longer end of the range and add a splash of milk.

Perfect For

Yorkshire Harrogate is made for early mornings, substantial breakfasts, rainy afternoons, long reading sessions, or anytime you want a strong and comforting pot of tea. Pair it with buttered toast, scones, breakfast pastries, eggs, oatmeal, shortbread, fruit preserves, or a traditional cooked breakfast.

Why Blend Kenya, India & China?

The strength of Yorkshire Harrogate isn't created by simply choosing the strongest tea available. Its character comes from combining origins and processing styles that contribute different qualities to the cup.

• Kenyan tea contributes briskness, strength, and lively character.
• Assam brings the deep maltiness associated with many classic breakfast blends.
• Nilgiri contributes brightness and helps lift the heavier components.
• Yunnan adds another layer of depth and complexity to the finished tea.

Then there is the combination of CTC and orthodox processing. CTC tea extracts rapidly, creating color, body, and strength, while orthodox tea helps provide a more layered aromatic character. Together, they produce the kind of cup Yorkshire Harrogate is designed to be: Strong enough for breakfast. Complex enough to notice.

What Does “Plum” Mean?

There is no plum added to Yorkshire Harrogate. The ingredient is simply: Black tea. “Plum” describes a naturally occurring fruit-like tasting note within the blend. Alongside the malt, you may notice a subtle impression of ripe or dried dark fruit—particularly as the tea cools.

If you're learning to taste pure tea, this is a good one to practice with. Take the first few sips hot, then return to the cup several minutes later and see whether the fruit becomes easier to recognize.

What Are CTC and Orthodox Tea?

Yorkshire Harrogate is particularly interesting because it combines two different approaches to processing black tea.

• CTC — Cut, Torn and Curled creates smaller pieces of tea that infuse rapidly and produce a strong, brisk, deeply colored cup. It's especially useful in breakfast teas intended to carry milk.
• Orthodox processing preserves more of the traditional leaf structure and can contribute greater aromatic complexity.

Neither method is inherently “better.” They serve different purposes. In this blend, using both allows the tea to deliver the power customers expect from a British-style breakfast tea without sacrificing all of the nuance of the leaf.

Why “Yorkshire Harrogate”?

The inspiration comes from Harrogate in Yorkshire, England, a town with a particularly strong association with tea culture. Harrogate became famous as a spa town for its mineral springs and later developed a celebrated tradition of tearooms. That connection between water, tea, and hospitality makes it an especially fitting namesake for a strong British-style blend.

The tea pairs well with another Harrogate tradition: settling in with a good crime novel and a proper cup of tea. You don't need to be in Yorkshire—or solving a murder mystery—to appreciate the idea. Put the kettle on. Brew it strong. Add milk if that's how you take it.

Packaging: Our loose teas are sold by the ounce and packaged in food-grade resealable bags.

Explore Our Breakfast Black Teas

The easiest way to think about Yorkshire Harrogate is strong but not simple—a breakfast tea designed to deliver both satisfying body and enough complexity to keep you paying attention. Comparing Yorkshire Harrogate vs. Our Breakfast Teas: 

Yorkshire Harrogate Black Tea (This Tea)
Malt • Plum • Brisk
→ Best for: a strong, traditional British-style morning cup with milk-friendly body

Irish Breakfast Black Tea
Deep malt • Robust • Astringent
→ Try next if: maximum strength and malt are your priorities

Scottish Breakfast Black Tea
Malt • Oak • Stone fruit
→ Try next if: you want full body with more oaky complexity

English Breakfast Classic Black Tea
Bold • Balanced • Classic
→ Try next if: you want a versatile everyday breakfast tea

Tanzania Gold Black Tea
Malt • Wheat • Bold
→ Try next if: you enjoy the strong African component and want to experience a bold Tanzanian tea on its own