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Yorkshire Tea
Yorkshire Tea Logo.png
Owner Bettys & Taylors Group
Introduced 1977
Tagline "Where everything's done proper"
"Let's have a proper brew"

Yorkshire Tea is a popular black tea mix made by the Bettys & Taylors Group. It first came out in 1977. This tea became the best-selling tea brand in Britain in 2019.

The company started way back in 1886. Charles Edward Taylor created a company called CE Taylor & Co. Later, a tea room called 'Betty's' bought Taylor's. Today, these two companies are known as the Bettys & Taylors Group. Taylors of Harrogate is still based in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. The group is still owned by the family of Fredrick Belmont, who started 'Betty's'.

What is Yorkshire Tea?

Yorkshire Tea area at the Stray Harrogate (geograph 6281833)
A special area for Yorkshire Tea in Harrogate, England.

Yorkshire Tea is made from different types of tea leaves. These leaves come from places like India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. They are mixed together to create special "blends."

There are eight main blends of Yorkshire Tea:

  • Yorkshire Tea (the classic one)
  • Yorkshire Decaf (without caffeine)
  • Yorkshire Hardwater (made for areas with hard water)
  • Yorkshire Gold (a richer blend)
  • Breakfast Brew (for morning)
  • Bedtime Brew (for evening)
  • Biscuit Brew (tastes a bit like biscuits)
  • Toast and Jam Brew (tastes like toast and jam)

In 2016, they added Breakfast Brew, Breaktime Brew, and Bedtime Brew. Then, in 2018, they launched Biscuit Brew, which has a malty taste. In 2020, they introduced Toast and Jam Brew.

The Story of Yorkshire Tea

How the Company Started

In 1886, two brothers, Charles Edward Taylor and his brother, started their own company. It was called CE Taylor & Co., but people soon called it "Taylor's." The brothers opened small "Tea Kiosks" in towns like Harrogate and Ilkley in Yorkshire.

Later, in 1962, a local tea room called 'Betty's' bought 'Taylor's'. They changed the name to 'Taylors of Harrogate'. This is how the Bettys & Taylors Group was formed. The family of Fredrick Belmont, who started 'Bettys Tea Rooms', still owns the group today.

The group now uses both the 'Bettys' and 'Taylors' names. 'Taylors of Harrogate' makes Yorkshire Tea and Taylors Coffee. 'Bettys' is known for its tea rooms, a cooking school, and sweets.

The Birth of Yorkshire Tea Brand

The Yorkshire Tea brand itself was launched in 1977. It was first made as a "Yorkshire blend for Yorkshire people." This means it was created to suit the tastes of people in Yorkshire.

In the beginning, they even made different blends for different parts of Yorkshire. This was because the water in some areas was "hard" and in others it was "soft." Over time, as the tea became popular across the whole country, they created one main blend. This is the one you see in the orange-colored pack. However, they still make a special "hard water" version in green packs for areas with hard water.

Royal Recognition and Popularity

In 2009, something very special happened. The Prince of Wales (who is now King Charles III) gave Yorkshire Tea a Royal Warrant. This means the Royal Family approves of their products.

Yorkshire Tea also sponsored a TV show called Heartbeat from 1998 to 2001. This show was set in Yorkshire.

By 2015, Yorkshire Tea was the third most popular tea in Britain. It was behind Tetley and PG Tips. But by 2017, it moved up to second place, passing Tetley. Then, in November 2019, Yorkshire Tea became the number one selling tea brand in the United Kingdom! It now sells more than any other traditional black tea.

See also

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