Old Durham Breakfast Black Loose Leaf Tea – 4 oz Tin

A beautiful way to start the morning. Rich, smooth, a hint of malt and apricot. I like it plain but should hold its own with any add ins you like. Serve it to your guests or treat yourself in the afternoon with a bit of cake and a pot of this divine breakfast tea.

The aroma is exactly what you want in a black breakfast tea. The nose is amber and lightly malted and feels cozy. The taste is not quite as bold as advertised and I found it pleasantly light. Unaltered it has an earthy almost cocoa and whole grain taste and feel. Light, not rich, and a nutty finish. After adding a tiny bit of honey and a splash of cream I taste subtle sweeter notes of powdered sugar, fig, dates, and plum. Would pair well with a cheese danish or multigrain toast for breakfast. I’d caution against leaving this to steep longer than the recommended 3 minutes as this could become overly dry quickly. 2nd steep is just delicious on its second steep! I only added a bit of honey this go around, no cream. The fig and plum are still present with the sweetness coming from the honey alone is enough. There are more soft floral notes and an almond or cashew-butter like finish that is complimented by the honey perfectly. Delicious! I used an additional half scoop on the next brew and was pleased with the result! I again omitted the cream and kept to just honey with a heavy helping of tea leaves and it was perfect for my palate!

The tea glows like rich copper in the morning light. A warm wave of toasted malt and dried fruit rose from my cup. The first sip was smooth and light with a deeply malty finish. It is not bitter nor astringent. I added a splash of unsweetened almond milk to my last cup which rounded out the full-bodied flavors.

I love this tea! It has a very clean flavor! I didn’t find it particularly malty, but just a really nice black tea. The smell was really pure to me, I tried it plain and with the sugar I use and it was lovely. For me it wasn’t especially complex with lots going on, but just a nice black tea!! Definitely one I’d drink daily!!

I brewed this for 3 minutes, per the package and was first struck by the rich bourbon color. The scent is a traditional English Breakfast tea scent, but a bit richer. The taste was just the right strength, warm and rich, like I was in a library of an old mansion in the fall. No bitterness like some English Breakfast teas. The packaging says it has a malty character with a bright, fruity finish. I felt the malty flavor was very subtle, but did taste a hint of fruit (plum or black currant almost, but just a hint). I thought it also had a hint of smoked or aged wood (which I love), but that could be my imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this tea. If you like a good (actually great) breakfast tea, you will love Old Durham Breakfast. You can taste the quality. (Oh, and the second steep, in a smaller pot, was just as good!)

Old Durham Breakfast Tea brews to a lovely amber color. For my first tasting, I used 2 tsp of tea in 12 ounces of water, as recommended and steeped for approximately 4 minutes (I forgot to time it precisely!). The aroma of this tea was exactly what you would expect of an English breakfast tea - rich, warm and inviting.

The first cup was smooth, with a slight malty note and a refreshing aftertaste. My only surprise was that it wasn't quite as strong as I expected from a breakfast tea.
For my second steeping, I adjusted the ratio to 1½ teaspoons of tea per 6 ounces of water. What a difference! I brewed for three minutes per directions. I tend to prefer a stronger cup, and this preparation was much more to my liking. It made a richer, fuller-bodied tea. The malt flavor was excellent and it was not overpowering or bitter and astringent - it kept the refreshing flavor.

Pairing suggestion: I drank this tea alone, wanting to savor the taste, but I think it would be lovely alongside a cheese Danish, buttery croissant, a mild cheese, or another sweet breakfast pastry.

Final thoughts: Old Durham Breakfast Tea is a pleasant everyday breakfast tea. I enjoyed it much more with the stronger tea-to-water ratio, which brought out the fuller flavor I was looking for. I did also try it cold (not by choice - it went cold while I was teaching!) and it was still excellent - in fact, I might drink this iced over hot.

Disclosure: I received this tea from Apothecary & Leaf in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to try my first sample of Apothecary & Leaf tea!
This is Old Durham Breakfast tea. As a morning coffee drinker I appreciate how full-bodied this tea is and is absolutely delicious with a touch of cream and sweetener. It paired well with a small square of pumpkin cake (yes, I had cake for breakfast 😋) so I think it would go well with lots of different baked goods as well as a traditional breakfast.
I’m looking forward to trying more Apothecary and Leaf teas!

Old Durham Breakfast is a beautiful expression of everything I appreciate in a traditional English breakfast tea, offering generous malty richness, remarkable smoothness, and a lovely complexity that makes each cup particularly memorable.

The dark, twisted leaves produce an inviting infusion with an earthy aroma softened by delicate floral notes. From the first sip, a wonderfully rich maltiness establishes the tea’s full-bodied character, delivering the satisfying depth and warmth one expects from a classic breakfast blend. Yet despite its robust nature, the infusion remains exceptionally smooth, with a velvety texture and none of the harsh astringency that can sometimes accompany stronger black teas.

As the flavors develop, a subtle fruitiness emerges, bringing a gentle brightness that beautifully complements the malty foundation. The finish is warm, balanced, and pleasantly lingering, with just enough natural sweetness to make this tea equally enjoyable without milk or sugar.

What particularly impresses me about Old Durham Breakfast is its ability to capture the comforting familiarity of a traditional English breakfast tea while offering a degree of refinement that sets it apart. It has the strength and substance to satisfy those who appreciate a hearty morning brew, yet its delicate nuances reward those who enjoy exploring the natural complexity of fine black teas.

A wonderfully satisfying and beautifully balanced tea that I would happily welcome to my morning table again and again. Old Durham Breakfast is a lovely reminder that a truly exceptional breakfast tea needs no embellishment to leave a lasting impression.

On my first morning home from a long arduous trip, all I wanted was a solid cup of tea. I reached for Old Durham Breakfast, and discovered bliss in a cup. Because I don't want my 1st cup of tea to knock me off the chair, I stepped this for a minute less than the suggested three minutes. The resulting brew was exactly what I craved: a rich, warm, malty character, without a hint of bitterness to spoil the moment. What sold me entirely on this tea is how smooth it is. Somehow, this tea manages to be both bold and soothing simultaneously; both calming and invigorating. Old Durham Breakfast allows me to welcome my morning with grace. It is incredibly satisfying, and I highly recommend it.

I like my tea strong, so I brewed this one for 4 minutes at 212°F. The aroma is warm and inviting, with the familiar, comforting scent you expect from a traditional breakfast tea.

The flavor is nicely balanced, with a good, solid black tea character and a medium malty taste. It has a satisfying depth without being overly bold or heavy. There's a pleasant richness to it that makes for a very enjoyable cup. This is a good, solid breakfast tea that would be right at home as part of a morning routine.

I tried my first cup with a little raw sugar, and my second with organic whole milk and raw sugar. Both ways were thoroughly enjoyable! This is definitely a tea I would reach for again and something I would happily drink.

A little update from Apothecary and Leaf: They will be moving their online business to a new base. November 11th will be the last day to place orders before the move. They plan to reopen during the first part of the New Year. Order this tea now!

☕ Old Durham Breakfast is a lovely, full-bodied black tea with a smooth, malty character and a bright, fruity finish. I tried it on its own first, and while I enjoyed the original flavor, I decided to add a little honey for some extra sweetness. It rounded everything out beautifully without overpowering the tea. A comforting, satisfying cup that's perfect for starting the day!
I did brew it for 2 minutes instead cause when I did the full 3 last time I didn't enjoy how strong it was. Obviously delicious though 🫣.
Rating: 9/10 ❤️

Old Durham Breakfast Black Tea by Apothecary and Leaf

Despite being an Earl Grey devotee I was looking forward to trying Old Durham Breakfast Black Tea from Apothecary & Leaf because there are times when a good unadulterated black tea is preferred. I find a sweetened cup of it, with a splash of milk, bracing on cold damp days or satisfying unsweetened with certain foods. For my tasting experience I used an electric tea kettle and a tea infuser with plenty of room for the leaves to expand. I did exactly as the package instructed and brewed 1 teaspoon of tea at 212 degrees for 3 minutes. Once steeped, I poured off the tea into my tasting cup and assessed its aroma, liquor, and leaves. I prefer to taste teas when they're anywhere from 40-45 degrees Celsius.

Tasting Notes:
This classic black tea may originate from India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya but the aroma, both brewed and dry, was heady and comforting, rousing childhood memories of being in the orchard surrounded by stone fruit trees and my siblings as we picked the ripe fruit from its branches. The sticky residue on our fingertips smelled of sweet earth which this tea reminded of fondly. The liquor was an earthy reddish brown that had been kissed by the sun; clear and glistening with little to no leaf residue. A very pleasing sign that attests to the quality of tea. In appearance and taste this is a medium to full-bodied tea with a robust mouthful that delivers a smooth and multi-layered taste; the most prevalent being the well-balanced maltiness with little to no bitterness, followed by subtle notes of honey, and a stone fruit finish that lingers pleasantly on the palate.

Recommendation:
Old Durham Breakfast Black Tea is the little black dress you need in your tea cupboard. It's both delicious and satisfying, unsweetened or sweetened with or without milk. Not only would I recommend it but, I would advise you to keep it stocked. Otherwise, the minute you run out you are sure to miss it.

Disclaimer:
I received a sample of this tea in exchange for my honest and independent review.

Very bold brisk breakfast tea. I was gifted a sample and ordered some. I love it