Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make the perfect cuppa?

o Tea should be made with boiling water, and only once-boiled water with a low mineral content.
o Use one tea bag or rounded teaspoon of loose tea for each cup served.
o If using a teapot, warm the teapot before adding the tea.
o For Black tea, pour the water as soon as it’s boiled to deliver the best taste.
o For Green tea, allow the kettle to cool for up to two minutes to avoid a bitter taste.
o For tea bags, add the milk (semi skimmed is recommended) after the water to avoid hindering the infusion process.
o Leave the tea bag in for at least two minutes to let the flavour of the tea infuse.
o After removing the tea bag, leave the brew to cool for two minutes for a better quality taste.

How much caffeine is there in a normal cup of tea?

(Caffeine figures based on 190ml cup, although amounts can vary)
Tea : 30-50mg
Tetley decaffeinated tea : c.2.5mg
A cup of tea typically contains between 30 and 50mg of caffeine depending on what tea is in the blend, the origin of the tea and the drop weight of the tea bag (a bag with 3.125g of tea will have more caffeine than a bag with 2g). The caffeine released in the first minute is the highest and then gradually diminishes. Manual compression and agitation like squeezing and stirring accelerates brewing of the tea bag and therefore also the extraction of caffeine into the brew.

Does green tea contain less caffeine than black tea?

Green and black tea are both derived from the same plant (Camellia Sinensis) and their leaves contain similar amounts of caffeine. However, the caffeine content of a cup of either regular (black) or green tea again depends heavily on preparation method (brewing time, stirring), the amount of tea leaves used, the size of the leaves and variations in the plant itself.
A cup/mug of tea, whether green or black, will contain 30-50mg of caffeine depending on how much tea is in the tea bag and the length of the infusion time.

Where does your green tea come from?

Our green tea blend comes from China. We take extreme care that the tea tasters/buyers/blenders select only the very best teas for Tetley, with all the checks and tests required to ensure a great tasting drink that is good for you.

Can I add milk to my green tea?

We’d recommend that green tea is best enjoyed without milk – but it’s all down to personal taste.

How should tea be stored?

It should always be stored in a cool, dry place, away from strong odours and in a sealed container.

How many tea bags do you produce every week?

As at July 2015:
o 41,000 tonnes of tea per annum is used
o That’s equivalent to 780 tonnes of tea per week
o On average we produce approximately 262 million tea bags per week which works out to be about 52.4 million tea bags a day (calculated on 5 days)

Can you tell me about your association with the rainforest alliance

We are very aware of our responsibilities to the people who grow and pick our tea, and of our responsibility to help sustain the environment on tea estates. One of the ways in which we are fulfilling these responsibilities is through our collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance.
At the start of 2010, Tetley announced its commitment to purchase all of the tea for its branded tea bag and loose tea products from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. All Tetley branded black and green tea, including flavoured and decaffeinated varieties are 100% certified with Rainforest Alliance as of 2016.
You can find out more about the Rainforest Alliance and the work they do via their website www.rainforest-alliance.org

Do Tetley tea bags contain plastic?

Here at Tetley, sustainable sourcing is very important to us. We continually seek to work with our suppliers to improve and explore the most sustainable production processes and methods.

We’ve worked hard to ensure that our tea bags are 99% bio degradable. However, as a result of the manufacturing process, Tetley tea bags do contain a very small amount of plastic to ensure the bags remain closed for you to enjoy your cup of tea.

What is the best way to store tea?

Tea should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to retain the best flavor possible. It is not recommended that tea be kept in the refrigerator or in the freezer, as condensation may be created by taking the tea out of the cold unit and may affect the flavor of the blend. Once your tea has been opened, you may want to place it in a canister or airtight plastic storage bag.

Does Tetley do any testing on animals?

Tetley does not do any testing on animals.

Does Tetley Chai Latte contain caffeine?

A cup of Tetley Chai Latte has about the same level of caffeine as a regular cup of tea. This is because tea is an important part of our recipe.

Are Tetley Tea bags biodegradable?

Yes, our tea bags are biodegradable PLA non-woven mesh. Our tea bag material complies with compostability standards.
No BPAs are used in our tea bags and the teabag material is tested to ensure there is no transfer of chemicals into your tea.

How to brew Tetley green tea?

To create a better tasting cup of green tea, simply follow Tetley's 80:80 rule: - 80 degrees - steep your green tea bag or leaves in 80 degree water, not boiling. Two ways you can do this - either stop the kettle before it reaches boiling point, or simply let it come to a boil,, but then add a splash (maybe 1 tablespoon) of cold water to your teacup before adding the tea bag.
80 seconds - only steep your green tea bag for 80 seconds or less. You'll still enjoy all the benefits you expect from your green tea, but without the bitterness.

Do Tetley Cold Infusions contain any allergens?

No, they are gluten free & lactose free

Are Tetley Cold Infusions suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes

Are Tetley Cold Infusions safe for pregnant women to drink?

Please check with your health practitioner for advice.

Are Tetley Cold Infusions safe for diabetics to drink?

Please check with your health practitioner for advice.

Is all of the Tetley Cold Infusions packaging recyclable?

No, please see below for specifications and disposal instructions.
- Teabag: Not recyclable. Not home-compostable. We are moving to an industrially compostable bag in the next 12 months.
- Pouch: Recyclable at REDcycle or soft plastics disposal facilities.
- Rectangular Carton: Widely recycled.
- Multipack: Widely recycled board. PET envelopes are not recyclable.

What are the “other natural flavourings” in the ingredients list of some of the Tetley Cold Infusions?

Other natural flavouring components not from the named source - e.g. orange oil, lime extract, peppermint extract. They are added to support and round the taste of a natural flavouring from a specific source e.g. fruits.

Do Tetley Cold Infusions contain artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners?

No

Are Tetley Cold Infusions GMO free?

Yes

What is the caffeine content in Tetley Cold Infusions?

Tetley’s Cold Infusions are naturally caffeine free

Is there any added sugar in Tetley Cold Infusions?

No

Are Tetley Cold Infusions safe for children to drink?

Yes, providing the instructions of use are met. For questions related to any medical condition please consult a GP.

Can I drink Tetley Cold Infusions hot?

Although specifically created to be brewed cold, Tetley’s Cold Infusions can also be consumed as a hot beverage.

How do I brew Tetley Cold Infusions?

For On-The-Go usage, add one infuser into 500mL of cold water, shake and infuse for 10 minutes before leaving the infuser in and enjoying.

In a glass, add one infuser to 300mL of cold water, stir and infuse for 7 minutes, before leaving the infuser in and enjoying with or without ice.

In a jug, use one infuser per person and one for the jug, stir to infuse for at least 10 minutes, before serving over ice and adding fresh herbs and fruit to taste. Instructions are included on the packaging of Tetley Cold Infusions.

How long can I leave the brewed Infusions?

Once prepared consume within 8 hours. Our infusions are prepared with water, just like bottled or tap water, if kept at room temperature microbes may begin to grow in it the longer it has been opened. So we recommend that you use within 8 hours when on-the-go. If you are preparing at home, you can keep for 24-48 hours if you keep it refrigerated.

Why can’t I just brew normal fruit and herbals cold?

To be brewed cold and consumed safely, ingredients in Cold Brew formulations have undergone a specific heat treatment process. This allowed to prevent potential food safety risks associated with the products. Other formulations and products on the market will have specific instructions of use which must be followed.

Where does the tea we drink come from?

Most of us know that tea comes from China, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and India but less well known are countries like Kenya, Malawi, Argentina, Indonesia and Turkey. The tea we drink in the UK comes mainly from Kenya, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and China.

How much caffeine is ok to take in per day and how many cuppas is that?

Tea contains only small amounts of caffeine and you'd need to consume over 6 cups a day to reach a 'moderate' caffeine intake.

Is your tea Fairtrade?

We are members of the Ethical Tea Partnership which works to monitor the conditions of tea production around the world to ensure that they comply with relevant employment laws and union agreements in their country

Tea is all the same isn't it?

Tea comes from one plant, camellia sinensis, but is grown in many different countries, at different altitudes, in different soil types and different weather conditions. These natural factors will all affect the taste of the tea, so we select and blend them together to get the best attributes of each of the gardens that we buy from, to deliver the right blend for our tea drinkers.

Do you buy tea from just one producer?

One producer would not be able to provide us with enough tea every day to keep Tetley tea drinkers supplied with their favourite brew. We choose to blend many different producers' teas together, from many different countries, so that we provide a consistent Tetley taste, bringing out the best characteristics of all the different teas that we buy.

Are herbal teas from the same plant?

No, herbal teas, such as camomile or peppermint do not contain any camellia sinensis (the tea plant), so they should really be called infusions.

What is the difference between green tea and black tea? Are they from different plants?

Green tea and black tea both come from the same plant - camellia sinensis. After tea is plucked the leaf is left to whither in order to become soft and malleable prior to cutting. The cutting process releases enzymes and exposes the tea to oxidation. With black tea, this oxidation is allowed to continue until the leaf is brown before it is 'fired' in an oven to stop the fermentation process. Green tea will have little or none of this fermentation which is why it remains green.