English Breakfast tea is a blend, which means a mixture of different types of tea. In this case, it's a combination of black tea from various origins: Assam tea, Ceylon tea, and Kenyan tea.
This blend results in a strong, full-bodied, robust, and consistent tea. In addition to its bold taste, it's particularly recommended for breakfast due to its stimulating properties.
Origin
Despite being a relatively modern creation, there are various accounts of its origin. We know that it dates back to the second half of the 19th century.
One belief is that English Breakfast tea was created by an English merchant based in New York, who brought a replica of the tea everyone was consuming in England to the United States.
Another theory suggests that English Breakfast tea originated in Scotland, where it was known as "Breakfast tea." It is believed to have become popular in England thanks to Queen Victoria.
The consumption of tea has spread rapidly, becoming a hallmark of British culture, as is the case with English Breakfast tea.
Properties
This tea has many properties:
- Moderate to high caffeine content
- Teaflavins and tearubigins that contribute to the astringency in taste and provide antioxidant, anticancer, antiseptic, and cardioprotective properties.
- Contains minerals like fluoride, calcium, iron, and manganese
- Provides vitamins B2, C, and E.
Benefits
- It is stimulating, ideal for starting the day with energy. The body absorbs it more slowly than other stimulant beverages, avoiding a feeling of nervousness.
- Helps maintain concentration during study periods.
- May prevent certain types of heart diseases and cardiovascular conditions, as well as reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- May prevent and slow the growth of some types of cancer cells.
- Contributes to maintaining bone strength and preventing diseases that cause bone mass loss.
- Helps prevent kidney stones.
As we have seen, this tea has numerous benefits. However, children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or individuals sensitive to caffeine should avoid or reduce their daily consumption. In these cases, it is advisable to consult a doctor for guidance.
How to Enjoy It
English Breakfast tea is traditionally consumed as an infusion. However, the powdered format is ideal for absorbing all the nutrients and avoiding the consumption of microplastics (found in some tea bags). It can be taken with just water or mixed with milk (both cow's milk and plant-based milk).
A perfect option for black tea would be English Breakfast powder by Matcha & CO. In order to obtain all its properties and nutrients, tea leaves are ground into a fine powder perfect for dissolving in water, milk, or plant-based beverages.
In addition to its intense flavor, full-bodied nature, and suitability as a stimulating drink, it has a high concentration of antioxidants, promotes the production of red blood cells, and aids in digestion improvement.