History of Irish Breakfast Tea

Where does Irish breakfast tea come from?

It comes from Ireland’s tea culture, not from one documented invention. The Irish Place says tea reached Ireland in the mid-18th century and was at first expensive, so it became a status symbol. Over time, cheaper imports made it an everyday drink. We found no source that names who first blended an Irish breakfast tea or when.

Who was Bewley’s, and why does it matter?

Bewley’s is one of the best-known Irish tea names. The English Tea Store says the Bewleys brought a shipload of tea directly from Canton, China, to Dublin in 1835, at a time when the East India Company held a monopoly on tea imports. IrishCentral names Samuel Bewley and his son Charles and says the shipment broke that monopoly. IrishCentral adds that Bewley’s was officially founded in 1840, and that Ernest Bewley opened the Grafton Street cafe in 1927. These pages do not date the Irish breakfast blend itself.

When was Barry’s Tea founded?

The Irish Place describes Barry’s Tea as the quintessential Irish tea brand and says it has been around since 1901. We could not open Barry’s own history page, so treat that as the source’s statement.

When did tea bags become popular in Ireland?

The same page says tea bags were not popular until the late 1970s, and many households still prefer loose leaf.

What is in the blend?

Assam is the key ingredient, giving a strong, malty flavor, with Darjeeling a classic partner and Ceylon or African teas sometimes used.

A timeline

• Mid-18th century: tea reaches Ireland as an expensive import.
• 1835: Bewley’s direct shipment from Canton.
• 1840: Bewley’s officially founded.
• 1901: Barry’s Tea, as stated by The Irish Place (no founder is named on the page).
• Late 1970s: tea bags become popular.

Be wary of sites that give a precise year or a named blender for the first Irish breakfast blend; we found no source to back one. For what the blend is and how to make it, see what is Irish breakfast tea.