Waitrose Kenya Teabags Review | A Refreshing Black Tea

Waitrose Kenya Tea Review Summary

Waitrose Kenya Teabags Detailed Tea Review

Overview

The box describes Waitrose Kenya Tea as a “blend of bright golden Kenyan teas with a brisk, refreshing flavour.” And honestly, that’s pretty spot-on. The moment I opened the box, I was greeted with a bold, fresh waft of black tea.

If you’re into teas that wake up your senses but don’t punch you in the face with bitterness, this one’s worth a sip.

Brewing Conditions

The box says to brew for 3–5 minutes, and you can have it with milk if you like. I went for 3 minutes in 200ml of boiling water (100°C) without milk, because I like meeting a tea “as it is” the first time.

The result was a nice strong brew without going overboard. If you want to add milk, I’d say push it to the full 5 minutes to get that richer body.

Aroma (3.5/5)

Right out of the box, the smell was wonderful. It was fresh, and it gave me Darjeeling vibes. But after brewing, the aroma softened a lot. Still pleasant, but not quite as punchy as that first sniff.

Taste (3.5/5)

Brewed, it turns a lovely reddish-brown. Flavour-wise, it’s like that dependable black tea you can sip without needing milk. It’s lighter than typical black teas, so you can drink it plain without feeling like you’re chewing on tannins.

I wouldn’t call it life-changing, but I really enjoyed its smoothness and gentle kick of caffeine. For me, it’s a great “first tea of the day” option, enough to wake you up, but not so intense that it’s overwhelming.

If you prefer a really strong black tea first thing in the morning, this might feel a little tame.

Packaging (3/5)

The Waitrose Kenya tea comes in a paperboard box with 50 teabags sealed in an aluminium foil bag, which is great for keeping things fresh. Even though I opened mine a while after getting the box, the tea still tasted fresh, which is always a good sign.

That said, once you open the foil, you’ll need to move the teabags into an airtight container. Also, the teabags come attached in pairs, so you have to pull them apart each time, which is… mildly annoying.

On the plus side, the bags are made from 100% plant-based material and the box is recyclable. The design is simple, clean, and very Waitrose, nothing flashy.

However, there is no specific mention of where the tea is sourced from, neither on the box, nor on their website.

Value for Money (4/5)

£2 for 50 teabags, I would say is a solid deal, especially for a tea that tastes this fresh.

Caffeine Level

It’s definitely on the higher side but not a jitter-inducing kind of high: just enough to perk you up.

Food Pairings

The Waitrose Kenya tea shines alongside zesty citrus fruits like oranges, or you can go full indulgence mode with a chocolate cookie. The light notes make it versatile for sweet or tangy pairings.

About the Brand: Waitrose

Waitrose is a UK grocery store chain that’s been around since the early 1900s.

They’re big on sustainability. They have introduced compostable-at-home coffee pods, plant-based teabags, and recyclable packaging.

Waitrose is also Fair Trade certified.

Where to Buy Waitrose Kenya Teabags

At the time of writing, I couldn’t find these teabags on the Waitrose website, but their Kenyan loose-leaf tea is available there. Sometimes you can grab the teabags on Amazon, but they’re out of stock right now. I’ll update when they’re back.

Final thoughts on Waitrose Kenya Teabags

So there you have it. My review of the Waitrose Kenya Teabags. It’s not my favorite black tea ever and I probably wouldn’t buy it too often.

But it’s good for when you want something comforting and not too fancy, for everyday drinking. Because if you’re like me you have a ‘regular’ tea for drinking everyday and you hoard the really good stuff for occassional drinking.

Have you tried this tea? Let me know what you think in the comments!