Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea

Yes, Brodies has been blending tea in Scotland since 1867 — that's over 150 years of Scottish tea heritage. This particular blend is imported directly from Scotland and marketed as a Scottish Afternoon Tea. It's a great option if you want an authentic taste of what the Scots have been drinking for generations.

CTC stands for Cut, Tear, Curl — a processing method that produces small, uniform pellets rather than the large, intact leaves you see in traditional loose leaf tea. Brodies uses CTC processing, which means the tea looks like tiny granules. This is actually by design: CTC tea brews faster, extracts more flavor, and produces a bolder, more consistent cup — ideal for milk tea. The trade-off is that you lose some of the visual elegance and nuanced complexity of whole-leaf teas. About 12 reviewers mention being surprised by the granule appearance, but most agree the flavor delivers.

Standard tea ball infusers won't work well — the CTC granules are so fine they'll escape through the mesh. Your best options are: a teapot with a built-in fine-mesh strainer, a separate fine-mesh straining spoon when pouring, or disposable paper tea filters. Many reviewers actually recommend just brewing it free in a teapot since the granules sink to the bottom naturally, then pouring through a strainer into your cup.

For Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea specifically, use freshly boiled water at a full rolling boil and steep for 3-5 minutes. Because this is a CTC tea (small granules, not large leaves), the particles are very fine — so skip the standard tea ball infuser. Use a teapot and pour through a fine-mesh strainer, or use a paper filter. Many reviewers note the leaves actually sink naturally in a teapot, making straining easy. Add milk to taste — this tea was built for it.

Here's how to brew Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea: Start by boiling fresh water — don't reboil old kettle water. Warm your teapot with a splash of hot water, then discard it. Add about one teaspoon of tea per cup (you'll want a measuring scoop since the CTC granules are small and dense). Pour boiling water directly over the tea. Steep for 3-5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into your cup — standard tea balls won't work well because the granules are too fine. Add milk if you like. This tea is specifically praised for being smooth and not bitter, so it's very approachable.

Yes, it's actually a great entry point. The CTC processing makes it very forgiving — you'll get consistent results even if your water temperature or steep time isn't perfect. It works well as a straightforward breakfast tea without requiring any special technique. Just brew it in a teapot, add milk if you like, and enjoy. Reviewers also note that it's smooth and not bitter, which makes it approachable for people who are new to loose tea or worried about getting a harsh cup.

Brodies is technically loose leaf, but it's CTC-processed — meaning the leaves are cut, torn, and curled into tiny pellets rather than left as whole leaves. This changes how you brew it. Don't use a standard tea ball; the granules will escape through the holes. Instead, brew directly in a teapot (the leaves sink naturally to the bottom) and pour through a fine-mesh strainer, or use a paper tea filter. Use one teaspoon per cup, full boiling water, and steep 3-5 minutes for a strong, full-bodied cup.

This is where Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea really shines. Reviewers consistently praise how well it holds up to milk — the bold, full-bodied flavor doesn't get drowned out. Brew it strong: use a generous teaspoon per cup, full boiling water, and steep for a full 5 minutes. The CTC processing actually helps here because it extracts quickly and gives you that deep, rich color and flavor that cuts through milk beautifully. Add your milk after brewing — you'll get a smooth, satisfying cup with woody and slightly nutty notes.

Use about one teaspoon per cup, but you'll want to be more precise than with regular loose leaf because the CTC granules are dense and compact. A heaping teaspoon of these tiny pellets contains more tea by weight than the same scoop of traditional loose leaf. Reviewers recommend using a measuring scoop to get consistent results. If you like a stronger cup (especially for milk tea), go for a generous teaspoon and steep the full 5 minutes.

Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea works well for iced tea thanks to its bold flavor that doesn't wash out when diluted with ice. Brew it double-strength: use two teaspoons per cup with boiling water, steep for 5 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer and pour directly over a full glass of ice. The strong, smooth flavor profile — with its woody and nutty notes — holds up nicely when cold. Some reviewers mention it has a naturally sweet finish, which means you may not even need to add sugar.

With Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea, the easiest upgrade is adding milk — this blend was practically designed for it, with a bold, full-bodied flavor that pairs beautifully with milk or cream. The tea has natural woody, smokey, and nutty notes that come through nicely on their own, but a splash of milk rounds them out into something really comforting. You can also try adjusting your steep time — a longer steep brings out more depth. And because it has a naturally sweet finish, try it without sugar first. You might be pleasantly surprised.

With Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea, the most common mistake is using a standard tea ball infuser — the CTC granules are tiny and will escape right through the mesh. Use a fine-mesh strainer or brew directly in a teapot instead. Other common mistakes include using water that's not hot enough (you need a full boil for black tea), steeping too briefly (under 3 minutes won't extract the full flavor), and not measuring properly. The granule format means a heaping tablespoon may contain much more tea than you expect compared to traditional loose leaf.

Many reviewers do exactly this. The bold, strong flavor scratches a similar itch to coffee, and multiple customers specifically mention using it as their morning coffee alternative. It delivers a meaningful caffeine boost — reviewers compare the energy lift to coffee — but with a smoother, less jittery delivery thanks to L-theanine in the tea. The woody, slightly smokey notes also give it a depth that feels substantial enough to replace your morning coffee ritual.

Black tea is an excellent morning drink, and Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea is specifically recommended as a morning breakfast tea by reviewers. Multiple customers say it gives them a morning energy boost comparable to coffee, but with a smoother delivery. The bold, full-bodied flavor with woody and nutty notes makes it feel substantial enough to start your day with. Add milk for a classic British breakfast tea experience — this blend was designed to stand up to it.

Keep it in an airtight container away from light, heat, and strong odors. If you have the tin version, the inner lid does a great job preserving freshness. For the bag format, make sure you squeeze out excess air and seal it tightly after each use, or transfer it to an airtight canister. A few reviewers have mentioned staleness as an issue, which likely comes down to storage or age — so proper storage makes a real difference with this tea.

This particular listing is for a 200g resealable bag, not the decorative tin that Brodies is also known for. However, Brodies does sell some of their teas in beautiful, high-quality tins that reviewers love — they come with an airtight inner lid that preserves freshness well. If presentation matters to you (for gifting, for instance), look for the tin versions specifically.

The tea itself is well-loved and makes a thoughtful gift, especially for anyone with Scottish heritage or who appreciates a proper British-style brew. The brand's 1867 heritage adds a nice story. If you're gifting it, consider the tin version rather than the bag — reviewers specifically praise the decorative tin as beautiful and high-quality. The bag format is more practical for everyday use but less impressive as a gift.

Here are five benefits, with some backed specifically by Brodies reviewers: (1) Morning energy boost — reviewers say it's comparable to coffee but without the jitters. (2) A comforting, satisfying ritual — multiple reviewers describe brewing Brodies as genuinely comforting. (3) Antioxidant support from theaflavins and thearubigins. (4) Heart health — studies link regular black tea consumption to improved cardiovascular markers. (5) A naturally sweet finish — Brodies reviewers note it tastes slightly sweet without sugar, making it easier to cut down on added sweeteners.

Drinking black tea daily is generally considered safe and may offer health benefits — black tea contains antioxidants, can support heart health, and provides a gentler caffeine boost than coffee. Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea works well as a daily driver because it's smooth and not bitter, so it's easy to enjoy cup after cup. Several reviewers describe it as their go-to everyday tea and a comforting daily ritual. Just be mindful of your total caffeine intake if you're also drinking coffee.

No — coffee generally has more caffeine per cup than black tea. A typical cup of black tea like Brodies has around 40-70mg of caffeine, while coffee has 80-100mg or more. That said, multiple Brodies reviewers specifically mention it gives them a morning energy boost comparable to coffee, which suggests the caffeine level is meaningful even if it's technically lower. The difference is that tea delivers caffeine more gradually thanks to L-theanine, so you get alertness without the jitters.

Black tea can be comforting when you're under the weather. The warm liquid soothes your throat, the caffeine helps with fatigue, and the antioxidants support your immune system. Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea is specifically described as a comforting, satisfying brew, and its smooth, non-bitter profile makes it easy to drink when you're not feeling your best. The bold flavor also holds up well if you add honey and lemon.

There's no single answer — it depends on what you're looking for. For a bold, everyday milk tea, Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea is a serious contender. It's consistently praised for its strong, full-bodied flavor and smooth finish. If you prefer delicate, complex whole-leaf experiences, you might look at Darjeeling or Taiwanese black teas instead. Brodies occupies a specific niche: punchy, reliable, great with milk, and backed by over 150 years of Scottish blending expertise.

Absolutely. Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea is a bold, full-bodied black tea, and reviewers specifically call it out as a great morning energy boost — some say it's comparable to coffee for waking them up. Black tea typically has 40-70mg of caffeine per cup, which is enough to noticeably improve alertness. If you're using it as a coffee replacement (which several Brodies reviewers do), you'll want to brew it strong for maximum effect.

You don't actually boil the tea itself — you boil the water, then pour it over the tea and let it steep. For Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea, 3-5 minutes is the sweet spot. One of the nice things about this blend is that it's quite forgiving on brew time — you'll get consistent results even if you overshoot by a minute, though it does get stronger. Some reviewers even discovered the color intensifies dramatically if left overnight, though that's more of a fun fact than a recommendation.

Among common tea types, black tea is generally the highest in caffeine, and CTC-processed teas like Brodies tend to be on the higher end because the smaller particle size extracts more quickly. Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea is a bold black tea, so you're getting a solid caffeine hit — reviewers compare its morning kick to coffee. If maximum caffeine is your goal, steep it longer (5 minutes) and use a generous amount of tea.

A cup of black tea like Brodies Scottish Afternoon Tea typically has 40-70mg of caffeine, while a cup of coffee runs 80-100mg or more. So coffee wins on raw caffeine content, but Brodies drinkers often say it gives them a comparable morning boost. The key difference is how it hits you — tea releases caffeine more steadily, so you get sustained alertness rather than a spike and crash. Several reviewers specifically use this tea as their coffee replacement for exactly that reason.