Stash English Breakfast Loose Leaf Black Tea

Unlike many bag teas that contain dust or powder, this Stash English Breakfast uses actual whole tea leaves. Several reviewers specifically called out seeing large, intact leaves rather than tea dust. The trade-off? It takes a bit longer to steep properly, but you get a cleaner, smoother flavor without the bitterness that often comes from broken-up leaves.

This is genuinely a bold, strong breakfast tea. Multiple reviewers mention you don't need much to get a hearty brew—a little goes a long way, which actually makes the 16-ounce bag last longer than you'd expect. The flavor profile leans malty and nutty with surprising hints of banana, and it's strong enough to hold up well if you add milk or sugar.

Yes, this is actually a great starter tea. Several reviewers specifically mentioned it's 'forgiving'—meaning it doesn't turn bitter easily even if you accidentally over-steep it. It works hot or iced, plain or doctored with milk and spices, and consistently delivers good results without requiring perfect technique.

Absolutely. Multiple reviewers use it for iced tea and love the results. One note: a couple people mentioned it can become slightly cloudy when iced, but that doesn't affect the taste. The bold flavor holds up really well when chilled, so you're not drinking watery tea.

Honestly, there have been isolated reports of quality issues—a couple reviewers found debris or mentioned inconsistency between package sizes. These seem to be rare exceptions rather than the norm, as the vast majority of reviews praise the freshness and quality. That said, it's worth inspecting your tea when it arrives, and Stash is generally good about addressing quality concerns if they occur.

The dominant notes are malty and nutty, with this interesting subtle hint of banana that several reviewers picked up on. It's smooth and rich without being harsh, and has that classic 'hearty breakfast tea' character—bold enough to wake you up, but refined enough that it doesn't taste like you're drinking tannins. The freshness really comes through, which isn't always the case with loose leaf teas at this price point.