Who is this for?

Car boot sale tea-service organisers

If you are planning a simple black-tea service, the bag count, brewing time and other supplies all affect how many drinks you can serve.

Occasional sellers checking event rules

If you intend to sell prepared tea from a temporary stall, check the requirements for your activity and location before committing to stock.

What should you check before buying?

Start with the number of one-bag drinks you expect, then work through preparation, storage and disposal at the stall.

Priority What to check Your needs
Serving count Allow one bag per drink for up to 240 one-bag cups. Account separately for stronger drinks, staff cups and spillage. I want enough bags for the expected queue, with a margin for drinks that use more than one.
Brewing time Check the current pack instructions and whether you can brew in batches. Waitrose states 1–2 minutes for PG Tips Original 240s; Tesco gives 2–3 minutes for Tetley 240; Bettys advises 4–5 minutes for Yorkshire Tea 240. If several customers arrive together, I need a preparation routine that does not leave each cup waiting for a separate brew.
Storage and labels Keep the supply cool and dry, following the pack’s directions. Read the current ingredient and allergen information before serving, particularly when offering milk or other additions. Tea may be stored before the event, and I need the information from the packs and ingredients I actually serve.
Waste handling Check each component separately. Morrisons describes Yorkshire Tea bags as plant-based compostable; confirm that the relevant local collection accepts them before using that waste stream. I want a disposal plan for used bags, packaging and cups that matches the facilities available at the stall.

What could complicate service?

  • Counting every tea bag as a drink to sell

    A 240-bag box allows for up to 240 one-bag drinks, but extra-strong cups, staff drinks and spills use some of that supply.

    Estimate cups separately from bags, and include the supplies needed to make and serve each drink.

    Cups, milk, sugar, hot-water equipment and waste handling also need planning.

  • Choosing by brand without checking brew instructions

    Stated preparation times differ: Waitrose gives PG Tips Original 240s a 1–2 minute steep, while Bettys advises 4–5 minutes for Yorkshire Tea 240. That difference matters when customers arrive together.

    Follow the current pack instructions and decide whether drinks will be brewed individually or in batches.

  • Assuming a compostable bag can go in any waste bin

    Packaging and used tea bags can require different disposal routes. A compostable description alone does not establish what a council or venue will collect.

    Check the collection available at the event before putting used tea bags into food or garden waste.

  • Assuming a temporary stall needs no food-service checks

    The Food Standards Agency’s food-business guidance includes drink sold from temporary premises such as stalls. The London Borough of Bromley also notes that car boot sale conditions can depend on whether a seller is a trader.

    Tell the organiser and relevant local authority what you intend to sell and how you will prepare it. Where food-business registration is required in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, Food Standards Agency guidance says to register at least 28 days before trading.

Which brands offer relevant packs?

Tetley

Tesco lists Tetley 240 Tea Bags as a 750g black-tea pack.

  • Its stated brewing guidance is 2–3 minutes before adding milk.
  • Allow that brewing time when planning individual cups or batches.

PG Tips

Waitrose lists PG Tips Original Tea Bags 240s as a 696g black-tea pack.

  • Waitrose states a 1–2 minute steep in boiling water.
  • Its 696g pack weight differs from the 750g Tetley and Yorkshire Tea packs; equal bag counts do not mean equal tea weight.

Yorkshire Tea

Morrisons lists a 240-bag, 750g Yorkshire Tea pack; Bettys gives brewing instructions for a 240-bag pack.

  • Morrisons describes the tea bags as plant-based compostable, subject to the collection route available locally.
  • Bettys advises a 4–5 minute infusion, which needs accounting for if drinks are made to order.

Typhoo

Tesco lists Typhoo Premium Everyday Tea Bags in a 240-bag, 750g format.

  • The listed bag count suits planning for one-bag servings.
  • Check the current pack for brewing directions and ingredient information before planning service around it.

Clipper

Clipper describes its tea range as including organic and Fairtrade options. Tesco lists Clipper Everyday in 80- and 160-bag packs.

  • Smaller packs can be combined when a single 240-bag box is not essential.
  • Check the count of the packs you choose rather than assuming one box contains 240 bags.

Twinings

Twinings lists its English Breakfast tea in an 80-bag pack, and Tesco lists Twinings 80-bag products.

  • Twinings says the English Breakfast tea bags are biodegradable and the cartons recyclable; use an appropriate local disposal route.
  • An 80-bag pack does not meet the single-box 240-bag format.

240-bag options on Joybuy

These two 240-bag black-tea boxes fit planning for straightforward, one-bag drinks at a car boot sale. Their stated brewing times may lead to different preparation routines.

Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea 240 tea bags, 750g

Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea 240 Tea Bags 750g

For a stall able to prepare tea in batches, this 240-bag, 750g box provides a count for one-bag serving plans. Bettys advises a 4–5 minute infusion for Yorkshire Tea 240, so allow for that time when managing a queue. Morrisons describes the bags as plant-based compostable; check whether the collection available at your event accepts them.

Joybuy
Tetley 240 Original Tea Bags, 750g

Tetley 240 Original Tea Bags 750g

This 240-bag, 750g black-tea box fits a plan based on one bag per drink. Tesco gives 2–3 minutes’ brewing guidance for Tetley 240, so allow for that interval whether making cups individually or preparing tea ahead. Keep the supply cool and dry, and check the current pack information before serving.

Joybuy

Questions about serving tea

Will one 240-bag box cover a car boot sale?

It allows for up to 240 drinks if each uses one bag. Estimate your likely cups and allow for stronger drinks, staff cups and spillage; you will also need the supplies and equipment to make and serve the tea.

Which of the listed 240-bag teas has the shortest stated brew time?

Waitrose states a 1–2 minute steep for PG Tips Original 240s. Tesco gives 2–3 minutes for Tetley 240, while Bettys advises 4–5 minutes for Yorkshire Tea 240. Follow the current pack instructions and consider batch preparation if queues are likely.

Do I need to register to sell hot tea from a temporary stall?

Food-business registration may apply: Food Standards Agency guidance covers businesses selling food or drink from temporary premises, including stalls. Ask the relevant local authority whether your planned activity requires registration. Where it does in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the guidance says to register at least 28 days before trading.

Can I assume the same car boot sale rules apply at every event?

No. The London Borough of Bromley notes that conditions can depend on whether a seller is a trader and that some authorities impose market-licence conditions or restrict sales. Check with your event organiser and the relevant local authority before planning refreshment sales.

How should I store tea bags before the event?

Follow the pack instructions and keep the tea cool and dry, away from direct sunlight where specified. Check the best-before date and current ingredient and allergen information on the packs you will use, including any milk or other additions served with the tea.