Tea Showdown: PG Tips vs. Devonshire Tea

My tea adventures over the past year have taken me in many directions.

While I generally prefer loose leaf teas, a few bagged teas have earned a place in my tea routine—most notably PG Tips and Devonshire Tea.

Both originate from Britain, but how do they compare in the cup?

Let’s take a closer look.

The Tea Bags

Both teas use bags made from plant-based fibers and are filled with small tea particles (fannings or dust).

• PG Tips: Pyramid-shaped bags, designed to allow more movement for the tea leaves
• Devonshire Tea: Traditional square bags, simple and effective

While the pyramid design is often marketed as improving infusion, in practice both performed similarly.

At the end of the day, a tea bag is a tea bag—though for convenience, both are perfectly acceptable.

The Tea Inside

Both teas are blends, but with different approaches:

• Devonshire Tea: Kenyan teas from a limited number of plantations
• PG Tips: A broader blend including teas from India and China

Blending serves two main purposes:

• Creating consistent flavor across batches
• Balancing characteristics such as strength, sweetness, and body

Both teas achieve a well-balanced blend, though their flavor profiles differ noticeably.

Aroma and Appearance

The aroma of both teas is typical of black tea blends:

• Earthy
• Plant-like
• Slightly brisk

In the cup, both teas produce a rich reddish-brown color that reflects good extraction and strength.

Brewing Method

For consistency, both teas were brewed under the same conditions:

• 1 tea bag per 8 ounces of water
• Water temperature: 212°F
• Steeping time: 5 minutes

This allowed for a direct comparison of flavor and strength.

Flavor Comparison

PG Tips:

• Robust and full-bodied
• Noticeable bitter edge
• Benefits from milk and sweetener to balance

Devonshire Tea:

• Smoother and more approachable
• Less bitterness when plain
• Even more balanced when enhanced

While both teas deliver a classic black tea experience, their personalities differ:

• PG Tips leans bold and bracing
• Devonshire leans smooth and mellow

Final Verdict

Comparing these teas is a bit like comparing apple varieties—each has its place depending on what you’re looking for.

• PG Tips: Ideal for a strong, invigorating morning cup
• Devonshire Tea: Better suited for a smoother, more relaxing afternoon tea

Both are enjoyable—it simply depends on your taste and mood.

Final Thoughts

Bagged teas may not always match the depth of loose leaf, but they still play an important role in everyday tea drinking.

Whether you prefer bold and bracing or smooth and mellow, there’s a place for both in your tea collection.

So brew a cup, take a moment, and enjoy the experience.