I tested flavoured teas including jam & sticky toffee… winner was spicy & warming but I had to tip loser down the sink

A CUPPA is very precious to us - so much so that Tesco is now putting shoplifting tags on boxes of tea.

With a market full of flavoured versions, what are the alternatives to the much desired English Breakfast?

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From Toast and Jam to Sticky Toffee, Laura Stott puts the kettle on to try out a variety.

YORKSHIRE TEA TOAST & JAM TEA BAGS

£2, 40, tesco.com

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With a strong Builder’s base I wasn’t quite sure if I’d enjoy the idea of warm sweet jam and buttered bread swirled on top in my mug.

It tasted surprisingly pleasant with a mild strawberry flavour and aroma when you sip.

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Would pair nicely with a mid-morning biccie.

Rating: 4/5

M&S LUXURY GOLD SHORTBREAD BISCUIT TEA BAGS

£2.80, 40, Marks & Spencer Stores and Ocado.com

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Elevenses’ straight into your cup, this combo of smooth tea and buttery biscuit flavours claims to give all the flavours of shortbread straight in your brew, just without the crumbs.

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Smells absolutely gorgeous, but the flavour is not that strong.

A bit disappointing.

Rating: 3/5

STICKY TOFFEE INFUSION TEA BAGS

£2.75, 15, Marks & Spencer Stores

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Sadly I couldn’t get on with the end result of a brew from these bags at all and had to tip my mug away.

The overwhelming flavour in my cup wasn’t delivering much more than a weird warm sugary water.

You’d be better sticking with a reliable cup of builders instead.

Rating: 1/5

TESCO VANILLA CHAI TEA BAGS

£1.90, 50, tesco.com

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Combined with vanilla and spices this is a good value box of ice-cream themed tea from Tesco giving you 50 bags for under two quid.

A mix with cinnamon, ginger, lemongrass and cardamom in the bag so there’s plenty of chai flavours which definitely elevates it.

Rating: 3/5

TWININGS GINGERBREAD TEA BAGS

£2.39, 20, twinings.co.,uk or £3 ocado.com

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This is a lovely all natural brew made with spicy and fragrant real ginger root pieces and warming golden syrup flavours.

A softer, gentle type of tea this probably won’t be your start the day brew, but a nice option for when you don’t fancy a strong, traditional tea.

Rating: 5/5

YOGI CHOCO TEA BAGS

£2.40, 17, Holland and Barrett

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Made with 56 percent cocoa shells, this tea has very good quality ingredients, but is pretty sweet.

There’s also extra vanilla, cinnamon, liquorice and cocoa flakes so you get all the pudding and sweetie flavours in your mug.

Rating: 3/5

TEA PIGS POPCORN TEA BAGS

£4.75, 15, amazon.co.uk

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A posher and pricier style of flavoured tea this popcorn kernel flavour is a good quality brew.

It’s made with half green tea (50 per cent) and half toasted rice (50 per cent) and doesn’t really deliver the flavour of popcorn.

Wasn’t unpleasant but it’s pricey.

Rating: 2/5

BIRD AND BLEND CARROT CAKE LOOSE TEA

£3.50, 20g, birdandblend.com

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This cake-themed loose tea comes packaged in lovely tins that would make a great gift idea for the tea lover in your life.

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Smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and caramelised hazelnut and you really do get that sweet, baked sponge taste when you glug.

Rating: 4/5