English breakfast tea

plural English breakfast teas · alternative English Breakfast tea · alternative English-breakfast tea

1. uncountableusuallyA traditional type of black tea originating in India and Kenya.

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   The concern’s specialty is a “taste test” assortment of sixteen varieties of tea attractively packaged in small gold-lacquered cans. This gift provides the recipients with a wonderful opportunity to discover their favorite blends among such famous teas as oolong, jasmine, darjeeling and English breakfast teas.

   1959 November 26, Nan Ickeringill, “Food: Mail-Order Gifts; Delicacies Available in Several States For Christmas or All Through the Year”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2025

   Breakfast tea was first marketed by Scottish tea master Mr. [Robert] Drysdale, but the English quickly seized the idea, and English breakfast teas were born. They originally were designed to accompany the hearty breakfasts of late-1800s England, but it is said that Queen Anne wanted something a bit lighter to accommodate her classic breakfast.

   2023, Lisa McDonald, Jill Rheinheimer, “Classic blends”, in Tea For Dummies, Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, part 2 (Talking about Different Types of Tea), chapter 4 (Black Tea), page 49

   Synonyms: breakfast tea, English breakfast

2. countableA serving of English breakfast tea.

   All in all, in the two hours I was there, I had a lemon and ginger tea, two English breakfast teas and a couple of slices of toast for £3.60 (although I made a £5 donation).

   2014 January 16, Scott Campbell, “Ziferblat, London's pay-as-you-go cafe”, in The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 04 Mar 2016

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   Swirling, tilting and staring into teacups, [Servet] Hasan, 47, a transplant from Pakistan who said that tea-leaf reading was a 500-year tradition in her family, discovered strange omens in the Darjeeling and English breakfast teas that were served.

   2005 August 3, Roy Rivenburg, “Laguna Beach Party Guests Take a Spot of the Supernatural With Their Tea”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2021

   Since this is my dream Sunday, that’s where we’d go because it’s near Proof Bakery. Casey loves their coffee, and Nico loves their croissants. I’ll get an English breakfast tea with a splash of milk.

   2023 September 15, Adam Tschorn, quoting Ellen Bennett, “How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Ellen Bennett”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Sep 2023

   I’m picturing David Gandy, arguably the world’s first and only male supermodel, with plaits and bows in his hair. Sitting across from him as he casually sips an English breakfast tea, I thought I’d be picturing him in his famous tiny white trunks – the ones he wore in the Dolce and Gabbana campaign that turned him from a model into a household name back in 2006.

   2023 December 7, Helen Coffey, “David Gandy on modelling, influencers and obesity in the UK: ‘I wasn’t born with this body’”, in The Independent, London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Dec 2023

plural English Breakfast teas

1. countableuncountableAlternative letter-case form of English breakfast tea.

   Judges blind taste test English Breakfast teas this week on Tried and Tasted

   2017 July 25, Imogen Blake, “Sometimes you DO get what you pay for! Expert foodies liken PG Tips and Yorkshire Tea to 'DISHWATER' (and say a £6 brew is the best buy)”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 Dec 2017

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   I once stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Pasadena while making a movie, and fondly remember sipping English Breakfast tea by their pool in the morning.

   2007 November 1, Mark Sachs, quoting Malcolm McDowell, “Malcolm McDowell”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2025

   Growing up, I would go to Boston and have high tea with my great-aunts. For me, it’s a scone with clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches, petit fours, English Breakfast tea with a little milk and a sugar cube dropped in with real silver tongs.

   2021 August 10, Alexis Soloski, quoting Elizabeth Banks, “Elizabeth Banks Swears By Rob Reiner and Finger Sandwiches”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Aug 2021