We recommend black tea bags with a CHOICE Expert Rating (our overall score) of 70% or more.

Four expert taste testers were asked to rate each tea sample on a seven-point scale ranging from "excellent" to "terrible", looking at appearance, flavour, texture, aroma, aftertaste and mouthfeel. These results were then converted to an overall score to form the CHOICE Expert Rating.

Our expert judges scored each sample for intensity from 1 to 7, with 7 being the most intense. This was converted into a percentage to form the intensity score, but does not factor into the CHOICE Expert Rating.

The flavour profiles our experts used to describe each tea sample. These included floral, fruity, earthy, vegetal, umami, nutty, sweet, smoky and fire, with most of these having subcategory profiles.

Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. The rating ranks from A (highest) to F (lowest); N/A means there is no rating for that company.

Whether the tea bags can be composted at home or industrially (such as in your FOGO bin for the council to handle) as stated on the label and/or by the manufacturer.

Whether the tea bag has a staple.

The company's sustainable certification body or program, if any.

Pack price (not on special) as of March 2024.

Based on the pack price (not on special) as of March 2024.

The type/shape of tea bag: standard, pyramid, square or circle.

Pack size in grams.

The number of tea bags per pack.

Average weight of the tea leaves in grams per tea bag, not including the bag, string and tag.