Cinnamon Stick Black Tea - Bigelow

A Warm, Spiced Cup to Start the Day

Few flavours feel as instantly comforting as cinnamon, and Bigelow's Cinnamon Stick blend bottles that warmth into a single tea bag. This is a classic, full-bodied black tea infused with real cinnamon, built for people who want their morning cup to taste like something — bold, a little sweet on its own, and unmistakably spiced. If you have ever stirred a cinnamon stick into your coffee or reached for a baked-apple dessert on a cold Canada afternoon, this brew speaks your language.

At LocoYoko we stock this blend and others because they do one thing exceptionally well: it delivers a dependable, no-fuss spiced cup without chai's competing spices or the bitterness that ruins a poorly made black tea. It is an everyday tea rather than a special-occasion novelty, and that is exactly why it earns a permanent spot in so many cupboards across Canada.

Who this tea is for

This one suits the practical tea drinker who wants flavour and convenience in equal measure. It is a strong fit if you are a coffee drinker curious about switching to tea — try this, Earl Grey decaf, or other afternoon blends, since the body and aroma give you something substantial to hold onto. It also rewards anyone who already loves teas with cinnamon but finds heavily blended chai too busy. Here, the spice leads and the black tea base supports it cleanly.

What the Flavour Is Actually Like

Pour a fresh cup and the first thing you notice is the aroma: sweet, woody cinnamon rising on the steam before you have even taken a sip. The taste follows through. The cinnamon reads as warm and slightly candied rather than sharp or medicinal, sitting on top of a brisk, malty black tea body that gives the cup its backbone.

Because the spice carries a natural sweetness, many people drink it with no sugar at all. The finish is clean and lingering, with that signature cinnamon warmth coating the back of the palate. Compared with a Ceylon cinnamon tea or a green tea built around the same spice, this version is rounder and fuller — the black tea base makes it feel more like a proper, hearty brew than a light infusion.

If you have tried Darjeeling or other hot cinnamon tea blends and found them either too thin or aggressively spicy, this sits comfortably in the middle: confidently flavoured, but balanced enough to drink cup after cup.

How to Brew It Properly

Getting the most from this blend takes barely any effort, but a few details matter. Black tea wants near-boiling water and a generous steep to pull out its full body, and that is exactly what this one is built for.

• Use one tea bag per cup, roughly 240 ml (about 8 oz) of water.
• Heat fresh water to 95 °C — just off a rolling boil. If you do not own a temperature kettle, bring the water to a boil and let it rest for about 30 seconds.
• Pour the water over the bag and steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Four minutes gives a brighter cup; five gives you the deepest cinnamon and the fullest body.
• Lift the bag out and let it drip rather than squeezing it hard, which can drag astringency into the cup.

The single biggest mistake people make with any black tea is using water that has gone cold, which leaves the cup flat and underdeveloped. The second is over-steeping past the five-minute mark in the hope of more strength — that mostly adds tannic bitterness, not flavour. Stay inside the window above and the cinnamon stays sweet and the tea stays smooth.

Brewing a bigger batch

For a teapot, simply scale up: one bag for every 240 ml of water, the same 95 °C and the same 4-to-5-minute window. To make iced tea, brew it at full strength, let it cool, then pour over ice. A cinnamon brew over ice with a slice of orange is a genuinely underrated summer drink.

Milk, Lemon, Sweetener and a Few Ideas Worth Trying

Like our English Teatime blend, this is one of the more flexible cups you can keep on the shelf, because cinnamon plays well with so many additions.

• With milk: a splash of milk or oat milk turns it into something close to a relaxed, lightly spiced latte. It softens the tannins and pushes the flavour toward warm cinnamon toast.
• With a sweetener: honey is the natural partner here — it amplifies the cinnamon without burying the tea. Maple syrup is a fitting Canadian alternative.
• With lemon: a small squeeze of lemon brightens the cup and leans it toward a soothing, cold-weather drink. Skip the milk if you go this route, since the two do not mix.
• As a quick spiced "chai": add a pinch of ground ginger and a crack of black pepper while it steeps for a fast homemade nod to cinnamon chai, without buying a separate blend.
• As a hot toddy base: brew strong, add honey, lemon and a small measure of whisky for a classic winter warmer.

There is no wrong answer. Try it plain first to see where the natural sweetness lands, then adjust from there.

When to Drink It and What to Pair It With

Bigelow positions this as a morning, full-bodied tea, and that is precisely where it shines. The brisk black tea base gives you a real lift first thing, while the cinnamon makes it feel like a treat rather than a routine. It is equally good as an afternoon pick-me-up when you want warmth without the jolt of another coffee.

On the food side, cinnamon and black tea are natural companions for baked goods and anything warm and spiced. Strong pairings include:

• Buttered toast, cinnamon rolls, banana bread or oatmeal at breakfast.
• Apple pie, carrot cake, shortbread or biscotti in the afternoon.
• Roasted or poached fruit — baked apples and pears especially.
• Anything with caramel, maple or brown sugar, all of which echo the cinnamon.

It is also a lovely after-dinner cup when you want something cosy that is not a heavy dessert. Because the spice satisfies a sweet craving on its own, a plain cup can stand in for a proper dessert on the nights you would rather not.

Caffeine and Ingredients

This is a true black tea blend, so it does contain caffeine — the same energising lift you would expect from a standard cup of black tea. That makes it a smart morning or early-afternoon choice. If you are sensitive to caffeine, treat it the way you would any black tea and keep it to the first half of the day so it does not interfere with sleep.

The blend keeps things refreshingly simple: black tea leaves with natural cinnamon flavour. There is no fruit clutter or long list of competing botanicals — just tea and spice, which is why the cinnamon comes through so cleanly. It comes in convenient individually portioned bags, so every cup is consistent and there is no loose-leaf mess or measuring required.

How to Store It for Maximum Freshness

Tea is more delicate than it looks. Its flavour fades when exposed to air, light, heat and moisture, and an aromatic blend like this one loses its punch faster than plain tea because those volatile cinnamon notes are the first to escape. A little care keeps it tasting vivid right to the last bag.

• Keep the bags in an airtight container, away from light — a tin or sealed jar is ideal once the box is opened.
• Store it somewhere cool and dry, well away from the stove, kettle steam and any strong-smelling foods or spices, since tea readily absorbs surrounding odours.
• Do not refrigerate or freeze it; the humidity does more harm than good.
• Use it within about a year of opening for the brightest cinnamon character, though sealed tea stays safe well beyond that.

Follow those basics and the blend you brew in month ten will taste nearly as good as the first cup.

Why Buy This Tea From LocoYoko

As a Canada coffee roaster and tea shop, we are obsessive about freshness and we ship right across Canada. When you order this blend from us, you are buying from local stock that moves quickly — not a box that has been sitting on a warehouse shelf overseas. That turnover is the difference between aromatic cinnamon and a tired, flat cup.

A few more reasons customers shop with us:

• Free shipping on orders over $50, so it is easy to stock up your favourites in one go.
• A 30-day happiness guarantee — if the tea is not right for you, we will make it right, no fuss.
• Genuinely Canadian service and support, with people who actually drink what they sell and can point you toward your next favourite cup.

Whether this is your everyday morning brew or a cosy treat for cold evenings, we want it to land at your door tasting exactly as it should.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this tea contain caffeine?

Yes. It is made on a black tea base, so it contains caffeine and gives you the familiar lift of a regular cup of black tea. It is best enjoyed in the morning or early afternoon rather than right before bed.

How long should I steep it, and at what temperature?

Use water at 95 °C — just off the boil — and steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Aim for the shorter end if you like a brighter cup and the longer end for the deepest cinnamon and fullest body. One bag per 240 ml of water is the right ratio.

Can I drink it with milk?

Absolutely. A splash of milk or oat milk softens the tannins and brings out a cinnamon-toast character, almost like a light spiced latte. If you prefer lemon instead, skip the milk, since the two do not combine well.

Is it sweet, or do I need to add sugar?

The cinnamon carries a natural, candied sweetness, so many people enjoy it with nothing added at all. Try a cup plain first; if you want more, honey or maple syrup complement the spice better than plain sugar.

How is it different from chai or a cinnamon green tea?

Chai layers in several spices like cardamom, clove and ginger, while this blend keeps the focus squarely on cinnamon over a robust black base. Compared with a lighter green tea version, the black tea here makes for a fuller, rounder, more warming cup.

Can I make iced tea with it?

Yes, and it is excellent. Brew it at full strength, let it cool, then pour over ice. A slice of orange or a touch of honey turns it into a refreshing spiced iced tea for warmer days.