Irish breakfast tea is a popular blend of black teas, most often mixing Assam and Ceylon varieties. Well-known Irish brands like Barry's and Bewley's use a lot of strong Assam tea in their blends. When tea first came to Ireland many years ago, it was expensive and only for the wealthy. However, it later became affordable for everyone to enjoy.
Because it's a strong tea, it's usually served with milk, which is very common in Ireland. You can also add sugar or honey, or drink it black. This tea has a bold flavor, a rich red color, and more caffeine than green or white teas. Despite its name, Irish breakfast tea is enjoyed throughout the entire day, not just at breakfast.
There's no single recipe for Irish breakfast tea, but most blends use a strong black Assam tea from India as their base, giving it a dark color and a malty taste. It's often blended with other teas, like Kenyan Broken Pekoe, to create its unique flavor. The tea leaves are usually broken before packaging, which helps them steep faster and release more flavor when you brew your cup. While mostly sold in tea bags, loose leaf options are also available.
