Dilmah

B167 for 25 bags (50g)
Dilmah is not an easy cup of tea. The first sip is bitter, and there’s a smell not unlike yeast. But while the strong flavor was not to everyone’s taste, it had a full, lasting quality despite its lighter, copper color.
Verdict: Full of personality and part of the proceeds go to Dilmah’s conservation and charity activities. 

Heladiv

B98 for 25 bags (50g)
Heladiv has a captivating, fresh aroma and a balanced flavor. Just the opposite of Dilmah, its color is dark while the flavor is light. We’d recommend having it neat, as it might be a bit too wimpy for those who like to add milk.
Verdict: Light, fresh and aromatic.   

Tea Trends

B44.75 for 25 bags (37g)
Ugh. Tea Trends tastes just as weird as it sounds. More than half of our panel declared it had the aroma and taste of seaweed.
Verdict: Avoid.  

Twinings

B150 for 25 bags (50g) 
This is not a single origin tea, but just a good ol’ British-style blend. Even in the blind test, Twinings seems to be a kind of standard. “Yep, that’s a cup of tea,” was a common remark. A bit bitter and dark, Twinings just seems to beg for a pairing, either a cloud of milk or even a scone with clotted cream.
Verdict: Your classic English cup of tea.

Whittard

B475 for 50 bags (125g)
Another British blend, Whittard isn’t quite as aromatic as Twinings. But if you want some more oomph and a slightly lemony flavor, it’s worth a try. It’s has the prettiest color of the roundup but it is also the most expensive.
Verdict: Strong but a bit dull.

TEA 101: Ceylon Black Tea

Ceylon is simply the old colonial name for Sri Lanka, which produces green, white (a very expensive, high-end variety) and black teas. Black tea keeps the best, thanks to the oxidization process that sets it apart from green, white and oolong (Chinese) varieties, and it is what you get in most tea bags. Usually, it’s also the one with the strongest flavor.