Cream-tea hosts seeking a herbal alternative
If you want to offer a clearly flavoured drink alongside scones, clotted cream and jam, peppermint gives guests a mint-led option rather than another version of black tea.
Who is this for?
Shoppers who like to adjust mint strength
Look for product-specific brewing guidance. Teapigs calls for at least three minutes for its peppermint tea, while Tesco’s listing for Twinings Pure Peppermint 20 Pack says it can be infused longer than three minutes for a stronger cup.
Guests considering sweeter mint blends
Liquorice changes the flavour of a mint infusion. Read the ingredients and pack warnings before choosing a blend, particularly if hypertension is relevant.
What should you check?
Decide whether “strong” means pronounced herbal flavour or the body of black tea, then check the ingredients and brewing directions of the product you plan to serve.
Pure peppermint
Choose it: When you want a mint-led herbal cup without liquorice sweetness.
Bear in mind: It will not provide the body or usual milk-serving style of English Breakfast tea.
Mint and liquorice
Choose it: When the sweetness of liquorice appeals more than pure mint.
Bear in mind: Liquorice is a distinct ingredient; check the pack warnings before serving it to guests.
English Breakfast
Choose it: When you want a conventional strong black tea that can be served with milk.
Bear in mind: It is black tea, not a herbal peppermint infusion.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour strength | Check whether the ingredients are pure peppermint or a mint blend. Follow the stated brewing time: teapigs specifies 3+ minutes for its peppermint tea, while Tesco’s Twinings Pure Peppermint 20 Pack listing permits longer than three minutes for stronger flavour. | I want a mint flavour I can notice alongside sweet food, rather than the malty character of black tea. |
| Type of tea | Read the ingredients and the individual product’s caffeine statement. Do not treat a black tea such as English Breakfast as interchangeable with a peppermint infusion. | I would like to offer a herbal drink as well as, or instead of, conventional tea. |
| Sweetness and milk | Distinguish pure mint from mint-and-liquorice blends. Check serving directions: Tesco says to serve its peppermint infusion without milk; Twinings describes English Breakfast as a tea often enjoyed with milk and sugar. | Do I want a clean mint flavour beside jam and cream, a sweeter liquorice blend, or a milky black tea? |
| Liquorice warnings | Check the ingredients and any warning on the exact pack. Teapigs advises people with hypertension to limit its Liquorice & Peppermint Herbal Tea to one cup a day; do not apply that product-specific instruction to every blend. | If I am serving a liquorice blend, guests need to be able to see its ingredients and warnings. |
Common buying mistakes
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Expecting mint tea to taste like strong black tea
A pronounced peppermint flavour does not give a cup the same character as English Breakfast. Twinings describes English Breakfast as a strong tea often enjoyed with milk and sugar.
Offer peppermint for a herbal alternative, or choose English Breakfast when the intended drink is a conventional milky tea.
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Ignoring the brewing directions
Preparation guidance differs between products, so a time printed for one peppermint infusion should not be assumed for another.
Follow the chosen pack: teapigs specifies 3+ minutes for its peppermint tea, Tesco gives 3–5 minutes for Tesco Peppermint, and Tesco’s Twinings Pure Peppermint 20 Pack listing allows longer than three minutes for stronger flavour.
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Overlooking liquorice in a sweet mint blend
Liquorice changes more than the taste decision: product warnings and consumption advice matter for people with hypertension.
Keep the packaging available so guests can check the ingredients and warnings. Pure peppermint is an alternative when you do not want liquorice in the drink.
Brand references for mint infusions
Teapigs
Its peppermint Tea Temples are an option when explicit mint-flavour and brewing descriptions matter.
- Teapigs describes its peppermint tea as having a strong minty taste and specifies a brew of 3+ minutes.
- That flavour description is the brand’s own, not a comparison established against other peppermint teas. Check liquorice warnings on its separate liquorice blends.
Twinings
Pure Peppermint suits shoppers looking for a straightforward peppermint infusion with preparation guidance.
- Tesco’s listing for the 20-pack says to infuse it for three minutes or longer for stronger flavour.
- Peppermint is a different drink from the milk-friendly English Breakfast tea described by Twinings.
Tesco
Its own-label Peppermint is a 40-bag infusion with a stated brewing range.
- Tesco instructs drinkers to infuse it for 3–5 minutes according to taste.
- Its serving instructions say to drink it without milk.
Pukka
Peppermint & Liquorice offers a mint-and-liquorice flavour rather than pure peppermint.
- Pukka describes the blend as peppermint with naturally sweet liquorice.
- Check the exact pack’s ingredients and warnings before choosing a liquorice-containing drink.
Clipper
Its range includes pure peppermint and a separate peppermint-and-spearmint infusion.
- Clipper lists peppermint as the sole ingredient in its pure peppermint infusion.
- Clipper describes that infusion as light, so its description alone does not establish it as an especially bold choice.
Joybuy mint infusions
These peppermint and mint-blend products offer herbal options for a cream tea. Check each pack’s brewing directions if a particularly pronounced flavour is your priority.
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Twinings Pure Peppermint 80 Pack
A pure peppermint option for guests who want mint rather than liquorice sweetness. The 80-bag pack has a stated net quantity of 160 g; check its own brewing instructions when preparing a stronger cup.
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Pukka Peppermint & Liquorice Organic Herbal Tea, 20 sachets, 30 g
Consider this blend if you want liquorice sweetness alongside mint rather than a pure-peppermint cup. Check its pack warnings about high blood pressure and pregnancy before serving, and follow its own brewing directions.
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Pukka Organic Three Mint Herbal Tea, 20 sachets, 32 g
A multi-mint option if you would rather serve a blend than pure peppermint. The product description also contains conflicting Three Ginger wording, so check that the pack label and ingredients match Three Mint before buying.
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English Tea Shop Organic Perfect Peppermint, 20 g
A mint-led herbal option for the cream-tea table. Check the pack’s ingredients and preparation instructions if you want to compare its flavour profile or brewing time with another mint infusion.
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Teapigs Liquorice & Mint, 15 tea bags
A liquorice-and-mint choice for guests who prefer that flavour to pure peppermint. Check the ingredients and warnings on this exact pack, particularly where hypertension is relevant; do not assume advice for a different Teapigs blend applies to it.
Frequently asked questions
Is strong herbal tea the same as strong English Breakfast tea?
No. Teapigs describes a strong mint taste in its peppermint infusion, whereas Twinings describes English Breakfast as a strong black tea often enjoyed with milk and sugar. Choose according to whether you want mint flavour or a conventional milky tea.
How can I make peppermint tea taste stronger?
Follow the directions for the particular pack. Teapigs specifies 3+ minutes for its peppermint tea; Tesco’s listing for Twinings Pure Peppermint 20 Pack says three minutes or longer for stronger flavour. Do not assume those times apply to every peppermint product.
Should I serve peppermint tea with milk at a cream tea?
Check the product’s serving instructions rather than treating it like black tea. Tesco says to serve its own-label peppermint infusion without milk; if a milky cup is the aim, Twinings describes English Breakfast as a tea often enjoyed with milk.
Can I assume a drink called herbal tea is caffeine-free?
Check its ingredients and product-specific caffeine statement. Pure peppermint infusions described by Twinings and Clipper are presented as naturally caffeine-free, but the word “tea” alone does not identify what is in a particular blend.
What matters when choosing a liquorice-and-mint blend?
Read the ingredients and any warning on the exact pack before serving it. Teapigs advises people with hypertension to limit its Liquorice & Peppermint Herbal Tea to one cup a day; that is guidance for the named product, not a rule to apply to every liquorice blend.