Hosts planning around 240 cups
Work out how many bags your expected cups will require, including second cups, before choosing an exact-count combination or a pack with a small reserve.
Who is this for?
Hosts serving decaf black tea
Compare decaffeinated black-tea formats when you want to offer a traditional tea option at an afternoon tea table, including for guests who take milk.
Hosts serving caffeine-sensitive guests
Check whether a guest wants decaf tea or needs a separately labelled caffeine-free drink. The two descriptions should not be treated as interchangeable.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the bags needed for the cups you expect to serve, then check the tea designation and the format in which those bags arrive.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Bag count | Check the count on every pack. Three 80-bag packs or a 160-bag and 80-bag pair total 240; Clipper Tea Shop lists a separate 250-envelope catering pack. | I’m planning for cups poured, including possible seconds, rather than assuming 240 bags means 240 guests. |
| Decaf designation | Read each pack’s tea description. Tesco Groceries describes its 240-bag product as ordinary black tea, not decaf. | I want every bag in the party supply to be labelled decaffeinated, regardless of the count printed on the box. |
| Service format | Check whether bags are individually wrapped if guests will serve themselves. Clipper Tea Shop specifies 250 envelopes for its catering pack; do not assume the same presentation for an 80-bag pack. | Individual envelopes would help at my self-service table, even if they leave 10 bags beyond my 240-bag target. |
| Brewing | Follow the chosen blend’s directions. Tesco Groceries gives 4–5 minutes for Yorkshire Decaffeinated 80 bags; Twinings gives 2–3 minutes for its reviewed 80-bag decaf blends. | With several pots or cups to prepare, I need to allow for the instructions on the packs I actually buy. |
| Caffeine claims | Check the exact pack and any alternative drink separately. Twinings describes its reviewed Everyday and English Breakfast decaf blends as decaffeinated to 0.02% caffeine. | Some guests may want less caffeine, while someone who needs none will need a separately checked caffeine-free option. |
| Ordering conditions | Compare the full quantity required, and check any loyalty eligibility, delivery terms and pack presentation before ordering. | I’d rather check the conditions for my whole party supply than choose from a single-pack listing alone. |
What can go wrong with a 240-bag plan?
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Assuming a 240-bag carton is decaf
Tesco Groceries describes its 240-bag product as ordinary black tea. The count tells you nothing about whether the tea is decaffeinated.
Check for a decaf or decaffeinated designation on every pack in the order.
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Using a conditional offer for the whole plan
A multi-pack order can involve different conditions for its constituent packs, including loyalty eligibility or delivery terms.
Check the terms that apply to each pack before committing to a quantity.
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Calling decaf tea caffeine-free
Twinings says its reviewed decaf blends are decaffeinated to 0.02% caffeine. A decaf label should not be used as a promise of zero caffeine.
If a guest needs to avoid caffeine entirely, check the label of a separate caffeine-free drink.
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Confusing 250 envelopes with exactly 240 bags
Clipper Tea Shop’s catering pack contains 250 envelopes, leaving 10 beyond a 240-bag plan.
Choose that format if individual envelopes and the reserve suit the way you will serve tea; otherwise compare exact-count pack combinations.
Which brands have relevant formats?
These are pack-format references for planning the party quantity, not a list of brands available in the product selection below.
Yorkshire Tea
Tesco Groceries lists Yorkshire decaf in 160- and 80-bag formats, which can be paired for 240 bags.
- The Yorkshire Decaffeinated 80-bag listing identifies the ingredient as decaffeinated black tea.
- The listed route uses two packs; the 80-bag product gives a 4–5 minute brewing time.
Tetley
Tesco Groceries lists Tetley Decaffeinated in both 160- and 80-bag formats.
- One of each listed format totals 240 bags in two packs.
- Check that both packs selected are the decaffeinated versions rather than relying on the brand name alone.
PG Tips
Tesco Groceries lists a PG Tips Decaf Black Tea 160-bag format.
- The listed 160-bag format can be considered as part of a larger quantity plan.
- Confirm the count and decaf designation of any additional pack needed to reach your target.
Twinings
Twinings lists Everyday Decaffeinated and English Breakfast Decaffeinated in 80-bag packs.
- Three 80-bag packs total 240 bags; Twinings gives a 2–3 minute brew for the reviewed blends.
- Twinings describes these blends as decaffeinated to 0.02% caffeine, not as caffeine-free.
Clipper
Clipper Tea Shop lists Organic Everyday Decaf Tea as a 250-envelope catering pack.
- The catering pack supplies individual envelopes and 10 bags beyond a 240-bag target.
- It is a 250-envelope pack, not an exact 240-bag option or the same product as the 80-bag card below.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists Tesco Decaff Original Tea in an 80-pack.
- Three of those 80-packs total 240 bags.
- Tesco’s separate 240-bag black-tea product is not identified as decaf; check the name of each pack before buying.
Joybuy decaf tea options
These 80- and 160-bag options can help assemble a 240-bag afternoon tea supply. The Clipper 80-bag option shown here is distinct from Clipper’s 250-envelope catering pack.
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Tetley Decaffeinated 80 Tea Bags 250g
This 80-bag pack can be paired with a matching 160-bag Tetley decaf pack for a 240-bag plan; it does not reach that quantity on its own. Check the pack label if residual caffeine is important for your guests.
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Tetley Decaf 160 Tea Bags 500g
This 160-bag pack supplies part of a 240-bag plan when paired with a matching 80-bag Tetley decaf pack. Check the instructions and caffeine wording on the exact pack before serving.
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Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Everyday 80 Tea Bags 277g
Three of these 80-bag packs would total 240 bags; this is not Clipper’s 250-envelope catering product. Check the pack presentation, preparation instructions and caffeine wording for this 80-bag variant.
Questions about party quantities and decaf tea
Should I look for a single 240-bag decaf box?
Check the decaf designation before choosing by count. Tesco Groceries describes its reviewed 240-bag product as ordinary black tea, while its decaf listing includes smaller formats. Clipper Tea Shop lists a 250-envelope decaf catering pack if 10 extra bags suit your plans.
How can I get exactly 240 decaf tea bags?
Use three 80-bag decaf packs or pair a matching 160-bag and 80-bag decaf pack. Tesco Groceries lists relevant 80-bag Tesco Decaff and 160- and 80-bag Tetley formats; check each pack’s name and count when ordering.
Are 240 bags enough for 240 guests?
Not necessarily: plan for the cups you expect to pour, not just the guest count. Second cups and the brewing directions for your chosen tea can affect how many bags you use.
Does decaf black tea contain no caffeine?
Do not assume it is caffeine-free. Twinings states that its reviewed Everyday and English Breakfast decaf blends are decaffeinated to 0.02% caffeine. If a guest needs to avoid caffeine entirely, check the label of a separate caffeine-free drink.
How long should I brew decaf tea for the party?
Follow the instructions for the blend you serve. Tesco Groceries gives 4–5 minutes with freshly boiled water for Yorkshire Decaffeinated 80 bags, whereas Twinings gives 2–3 minutes for its reviewed decaf blends.