Irish Breakfast
A breakfast blend built heavier and maltier than the English version, conventionally with a large proportion of Assam and often a substantial share of African CTC. The distinction is one of degree rather than of rule: Irish Breakfast is the stronger, redder, more assertively malty of the two.
Character
Heavier and rounder than English Breakfast, with more malt and less citrus lift. Built for a large mug, a generous quantity of milk and no ceremony.
- Flavour
- Chocolate, Fruity
- Aroma
- Malty
- Mouthfeel
- Full bodied, Rich, Drying
- Complexity
- Straightforward
- Notes
- heavy malt, raisin, leather
- Aftertaste
- Thick and drying, holding through generous milk.
Bold intensity: full-bodied, astringent or bitter enough to lead the cup.
Provenance and production
- Origin
- Not recorded — blends have components rather than a place.
- Oxidation
- Fully oxidised
- Processing
- Withering → Rolling and shaping → Oxidation → Drying
History
A blend name that emerged commercially in the twentieth century for a stronger, Assam-heavier profile than English Breakfast. Like its counterpart it has no formula, and the distinction is one of expected strength rather than of origin.
Brewing
Western brewing (teapot or mug)
1.25–1.75 g/100 ml · 98–100 °C · 1 authored infusion
Mug infuser brewing
1–1.5 g/100 ml · 95–101 °C · 1 authored infusion
Tea bag brewing
1–1.5 g/100 ml · 95–100 °C · 1 authored infusion
No caffeine estimate is authored for this tea. TeaHQ does not infer one from its category, because category predicts caffeine poorly — matcha and gyokuro carry more than many black teas.
Common mistakes
- Drinking it black and finding it coarse — it was not blended for that
If you like this
Grouped by why they were suggested, strongest reason first. Nothing here is a blended score — a suggestion appears under the best reason that exists for it, and never under a weaker one as well.
Editorially linked
Someone wrote down why these two belong together. The note below is theirs.
- Scottish Breakfast
Two blend names for the same idea — a stronger, Assam-heavier breakfast blend. Neither has a formula and the distinction between them is marketing rather than composition.
Similar sensory profile
Shares controlled flavour, aroma and mouthfeel descriptors. A looser match — two teas can share descriptors and still taste nothing alike.
- Assam
Shares 6 descriptors with Irish Breakfast: chocolate, fruity, full bodied, drying, rich and malty.
- Assam golden tips
Shares 5 descriptors with Irish Breakfast: chocolate, fruity, full bodied, rich and malty.
- Ruhuna
Shares 5 descriptors with Irish Breakfast: chocolate, full bodied, rich, drying and malty.
- Yingde Hong
Shares 5 descriptors with Irish Breakfast: chocolate, full bodied, drying, rich and malty.
- Assam orthodox tippy
Shares 4 descriptors with Irish Breakfast: fruity, full bodied, rich and malty.
- Assam second flush
Shares 4 descriptors with Irish Breakfast: chocolate, full bodied, rich and malty.
- Dian Hong
Shares 4 descriptors with Irish Breakfast: chocolate, full bodied, rich and malty.