Black Tea Variety Pack - Bigelow

A Sampler Built for People Who Love a Proper Cuppa

The Bigelow Black Tea Variety Pack is exactly what it sounds like: a curated assortment of Bigelow's most-loved black tea bags gathered into a single box so you can explore several characters without committing to a full carton of any one. Instead of guessing which blend suits your mornings, you get to taste your way through them — a brisk classic here, a citrus-kissed Earl Grey there, perhaps a smoother, gentler option for the afternoon. It is the easiest, lowest-risk way to find your house favourite, and a great entry point into our broader tea collection.

This sampler is ideal for a few kinds of people. New tea drinkers who want a guided introduction without buying five separate boxes. Households where two or three people each prefer something slightly different. Office kitchens and guest pantries that need range on hand. And seasoned drinkers who simply enjoy variety and like reaching into the box for whatever mood the day calls for. If you take your tea seriously enough to care about a full-bodied, satisfying cup but don't want the fuss of loose leaf and an infuser, a bagged assortment like this hits the sweet spot. And if you want a black tea with a little extra purpose behind it, our moringa and black tea blend built for focus is worth exploring once you know your favourite base style.

What Makes Black Tea Different

All true tea — black, green, oolong, white — comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. What sets black apart is full oxidation. After the leaves are picked, they are rolled and left to react with oxygen until they darken and develop those deep, malty, sometimes brisk flavours we associate with a strong morning brew. That oxidation is also why this style holds up so well to milk and stands firm against bold breakfasts. Greens are gentle and grassy; this is the bracing, dependable end of the spectrum, the one that wakes you up and keeps you going.

The Flavours You'll Find Inside

The pleasure of an assortment is the contrast from cup to cup. While the exact selection can vary by batch, a Bigelow black assortment typically leans on a few well-loved profiles, and tasting them side by side teaches you a lot about your own palate.

• Classic black — brisk, malty, and straightforward. This is the everyday workhorse: clean, robust, and built to take milk. Think of it as the reliable backbone of the box.
• Earl Grey — black tea perfumed with oil of bergamot, a fragrant Mediterranean citrus. It is floral, bright, and aromatic, equally lovely on its own or with a thin slice of lemon. If you have searched for an earl grey black tea before, this is the blend that scratches that itch, and once you know it is your favourite, our standalone Earl Grey tea lets you stock up on that flavour alone.
• Smoother, mellower blends — softer options with less bite, often a touch sweeter or rounder, perfect for the afternoon or for anyone easing into stronger styles.

Across the board you can expect amber-to-mahogany liquor in the cup, a comforting aroma, and a finish that is clean rather than bitter — provided you brew it correctly, which we'll get to next. The variety here means you are never locked into one note; you can chase brisk and bold one morning and aromatic and citrusy the next.

How to Brew It Properly

Bagged tea forgives a lot, but a few small habits turn an ordinary mug into something genuinely good. Here are the real specifications for this blend, and they are worth following closely.

• Use one tea bag per roughly 240 ml (one standard mug) of water. Doubling up makes a stronger, more astringent cup rather than a better one.
• Heat your water to 95 °C — a full rolling boil that has settled for just a few seconds. Black tea wants properly hot water to extract its full body; under-heated water gives you a thin, flat result.
• Steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Set a timer. Four minutes gives a lighter, brighter cup; five gives you the fuller, deeper extraction this style is known for.
• Lift the bag out when the time is up. Leaving it in indefinitely is the single most common reason a cup turns bitter and harsh.

Warm the pot or mug first with a splash of hot water if you can — it keeps the brewing temperature stable and noticeably improves the cup. And always start with fresh, cold water brought up to heat; water that has been boiled repeatedly tastes dull and goes flat.

Milk, Lemon, Sweetener, and Other Finishes

This is where black tea shows its versatility. The classic and brisk blends in the box take to a splash of milk beautifully, softening the briskness into something creamy and breakfast-ready; a touch of sugar or honey rounds it further. The Earl Grey is a different story — its bergamot perfume shines on its own, but a thin slice of lemon plays up the citrus wonderfully, while milk can mute the aromatics, so try it black first.

If you find yourself drawn to the spiced cinnamon cup above, it is worth trying our Vanilla Chai tea next, since it leans further into that warm, spiced direction. A few more ideas worth trying:

• Iced tea: brew at double strength, then pour over a full glass of ice. The Earl Grey makes a particularly elegant iced version with a lemon wheel.
• London Fog: brew the Earl Grey, add steamed or frothed milk and a little vanilla syrup for a café-style treat.
• Spiced morning cup: drop a cinnamon stick or a couple of cloves into the mug with a classic black bag for a cosy, lightly spiced brew.

When to Drink It and What to Eat Alongside

This assortment is, first and foremost, a morning companion. The robust, full-bodied character is tailor-made for the start of the day — it cuts through a hearty breakfast and gives you a gentle, steady lift. The smoother blends extend nicely into the early afternoon, while the aromatic Earl Grey is lovely any time you want something a little more refined, including the classic four-o'clock pause.

For food, lean into the brew's backbone. It loves:

• Buttered toast, scones with jam, and croissants — the brisk styles cut richness cleanly.
• Eggs, bacon, and a full cooked breakfast — this is precisely what a strong black tea was built for.
• Dark chocolate and rich cakes — Earl Grey and chocolate are a genuinely sophisticated pairing.
• Lemon loaf, shortbread, and biscuits — citrus and buttery sweetness both flatter the cup.

Caffeine and Ingredients

This is a fully caffeinated black tea, so treat it as your morning or early-afternoon drink rather than a bedtime one. As a guide, a properly steeped cup of black tea typically delivers noticeably more caffeine than green or white tea and roughly half to two-thirds that of a similar serving of drip coffee — enough to feel awake without the jolt some find in espresso. If you are sensitive to caffeine, keep it to the first half of your day.

The ingredients are refreshingly simple. At its core this is real black tea, blended and bagged. The Earl Grey adds natural bergamot flavour, and individual blends in the assortment may carry their own natural flavourings — always check the specific packet if you have allergies or strict dietary needs. There is nothing exotic going on here: just oxidised tea leaves brewed the way they have been for centuries.

How to Store It So It Stays Fresh

Tea is more perishable than people think — it doesn't spoil, but it does fade, losing aroma and brightness over time. To keep every bag in the box tasting its best:

• Keep the box sealed, cool, dry, and out of direct light. A cupboard or pantry shelf is perfect.
• Store it away from strong-smelling neighbours — coffee, spices, onions. Tea readily absorbs odours, and individually wrapped bags help but aren't a complete shield.
• Avoid the fridge or freezer; condensation is the enemy. Room temperature in a dark cupboard wins.
• Mind any best-before date, but trust your nose first — if a bag still smells fragrant and lively, it's good to brew.

Why Buy This from LocoYoko

LocoYoko is a Canadian coffee roaster and tea shop, and we ship this assortment right across Canada. Buying from us means you're getting fresh, properly stored stock from a local business that actually cares about what's in your cup — not a dusty box that has been sitting in a warehouse for a year. We package quickly and ship promptly so it arrives in good condition.

A few more reasons to order from us: free shipping on orders over $50, so it's easy to round out your cart with something from our coffee collection or another tea; and our 30-day happiness guarantee, which means if you're not delighted, we'll make it right. As a Canadian retailer offering a genuine manufacturer's assortment, we make it simple to discover your favourite black tea without ordering from across the border or paying surprise duties at the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tea bags do I get, and how many different blends?

This is a variety pack, so it contains an assortment of Bigelow's black blends in a single box. The exact count and lineup can vary by batch, but you'll receive multiple flavours and enough bags to genuinely explore each one before deciding on a favourite.

What is the correct way to brew these?

Use one bag per about 240 ml of water heated to 95 °C, and steep for 4 to 5 minutes — closer to four for a brighter cup, five for a fuller one. Remove the bag promptly when the time is up to avoid bitterness.

Does this tea contain caffeine?

Yes. These are true black teas and they contain caffeine, which makes the assortment a great choice for mornings and early afternoons. If you're caffeine-sensitive, enjoy it earlier in the day.

Can I add milk and sugar?

Absolutely. The classic and brisk blends are excellent with a splash of milk and a little sweetener. With the Earl Grey, try it black or with a slice of lemon first to let the bergamot aroma come through, since milk can soften it.

Is this a good gift or office tea?

It's one of the easiest crowd-pleasers going. The range of flavours means there's something for nearly everyone, which makes it ideal for offices, guest pantries, and gifting to anyone who enjoys a reliable, full-bodied cup.

How long will it stay fresh?

Stored sealed in a cool, dark, dry cupboard away from strong odours, the bags will hold their flavour well past your first few brews. Check the best-before date on the box, but a fragrant, lively aroma is the surest sign it's still great to drink.