So glad you chaps took this on, and yes I agree fully. Here's another curve ball for you, bear with me.. Unilever, the previous PG brand owners made no secret that despite the brands market dominance, were not making enough money from PG sales. 2022 arrives and they sell cheap to Liptons. In my search for a PG replacement I managed to get a box of Liptons Yellow Label bags last week (no easy task today in the UK, even though Liptons is a European company). If you can see where I'm heading, you're right. The new PG bags are Lipton's regular tea in a bigger bag, the flavour, lack of brightness and malty nothingness is near identical. PG was always an Assam/Kenyan/Ceylon blend, it got worse over the years as Unilever lowered the percentage of the more expensive Ceylon tea which lends it the slightly fruity and bright notes, but it remained a blend of the 3 teas. Lipton's plantations are almost exclusively Kenyan, and this reflects in the flavour. Its no coincidence IMO that Liptons own brand regular teabags have vanished from UK wholesalers.. I'm pointing my finger at you Liptons 😝👺
Awesome research. It does not come as any surprise. Anytime a large company says that they have improved a product, it is the opposite, although it will always be more profitable. PG Tips, RIP.
Thanks so much for this! I was about to order more PG Tips and saw that the bags changed. So glad I was able to see this before committing! Time to find a new tea. 😀
This could explain why Yorkshire Tea has surpassed PG Tips as the number 1 and best selling tea brand in the UK since 2023 I think. I mean, Yorkshire Tea is owned by Taylors of Harrogate, which is a tea company known for making quality and premium teas since 1886. Yorkshire Tea Loose leaf tea actually does look more like actual tea leaves. The tea leaves PG Tips are using may not actually be the best quality tea leaves, but it does brew a good cup of tea for everyday use that has a unique flavor. It has something to do with their technology, which consumers would just say is marketing, but you can brew a strong good consistent cup of tea in less time compared to other tea brands. For example their loose leaf tea can be brewed in 1 to 2 minutes. Also their tea bags can be steeped longer than the recommended amount of time depending on the strength level of the tea you want, so steeping longer could make it extra strong. Basically if you are a fan of Taylors of Harrogate teas you will most likely like Yorkshire Tea because it is made like traditional tea, which is the point, so they don't have to advertise special technology that is unique to them or patented. Anyway marketing or not special patents and technology does give brands a unique flavor that is consistent. Coca Cola comes to mind. It taste the same regardless of what country you are in.
The smile I had seeing that you two made a video about this! I truly do feel vindicated haha. You really explained what has been bothering me so much about the new version by saying bass versus high notes. It's not just that it's a different (and I think much worse) flavor, it's that it's a completely different profile. It totally misses the point of the pyramid version. If you buy PG Tips, you're likely looking for a good functional tea that you can sip throughout the day, something smooth and not too punchy. You're not looking for a harsher, malty (and chemical tasting) tea. So Unilever spent 50 million to make the opposite of what people liked about PG Tips for decades. Wonderful episode, gents. Many thanks from across the pond. :)
Very kind words. So many people have commented on this issue we just had to do it. It's a shame that PG Tips has gone this way but there are plenty of other teas out there
Absolutely agree, the new one is a different tea, and the old pyramid bags much better. It is possible that they actually improve with age; some teas do. Before PG changed, I got a box of PG tips that was fantastic, and I noticed on the side it said that it was only from Kenya. I have compared them all and the new PG is noticeably worse than both the Kenyan and the more Assamy pyramid bags. Thank you for your videos!
Good morning Gentleman, First of all thank You for the fabulous job you doing and for the great channel about the tea. I am a tea drinker and was looking for a long time to find a channel, that would be doing reviews of teas and coffees in an understandable and interesting ways. Happily, I found You. Please keep doing this great work. I hope more people will subscribe to your channel. I encourage every one to do so. As of the afore mentioned PG tips, i agree with You wholeheartedly, why do they have to sort of improve what was already very good tea. These big conglomerates, when they gooble up smaller tea firms, always ruin the original products by so call new and improved. I drink a lot of tea and noticed if something is new and improved usually is never better. Thank you again for your great job. Best regards from USA. Ps. If You would be kind enough to review at some point and time Ahmad and Dilmah teas that would be much appreciated.
When in doubt buy loose leaf tea. Loose leaf tea always taste better than tea bags. Plus the loose leaf tea from PG Tips does not look like your typical tea leaves. In fact it looks more like ground coffee, so you can actually brew it in a coffee machine like a Keurig. Tetley has similar looking tea leaves to PG Tips. Basically if you brew PG Tips in the Keurig K-mini or K-mini Plus machines you get a very strong cup of PG Tips, which maybe too strong for most folks to drink black. I add whole milk and stevia to my cup. PG Tips has always taste good with milk and sweetener to me, but Tetley taste like trash and week, but my mom loves Tetley tea and thinks it taste better than PG Tips. Anyway what is funny is if you brew PG Tips in the discontinued Keurig K-Mini K15 machine you get a strong cup of PG Tips, but somehow not too strong that it is actually delicious and enjoyable to drink without milk or sugar.
Sent an e-mail to PGTips to express my disgust (politely). They thanked me for my interest and sent me instructions on how to make tea by placing a tea bag into hot water. This made it obvious that they don't care and that they think their customers are idiots. I gave up and went about looking for a replacement. Since then, l have discovered an Irish brand called Thompson's. Their Soft Water Scottish Blend is as close to original PG Tips as I've been able to find and it has become my go-to. If more people switch maybe Lipton will rethink its mistake.
I tried the square ones last night and yes ok they brew a bit faster and they taste a little bit stronger I find but it makes no difference to me anyway because I to keep my tea bag in
I've just compared the square ones with the waitress gold and I'll tell you what the Waitrose gold is a lot better than the pg square ones the pg square ones are watery all the way through and people say you mustn't squeeze your tea bag but even if you. Squeeze a PG tip Square One it does not taste bitter so it says it all
So glad you chaps took this on, and yes I agree fully. Here's another curve ball for you, bear with me.. Unilever, the previous PG brand owners made no secret that despite the brands market dominance, were not making enough money from PG sales. 2022 arrives and they sell cheap to Liptons. In my search for a PG replacement I managed to get a box of Liptons Yellow Label bags last week (no easy task today in the UK, even though Liptons is a European company). If you can see where I'm heading, you're right. The new PG bags are Lipton's regular tea in a bigger bag, the flavour, lack of brightness and malty nothingness is near identical.
PG was always an Assam/Kenyan/Ceylon blend, it got worse over the years as Unilever lowered the percentage of the more expensive Ceylon tea which lends it the slightly fruity and bright notes, but it remained a blend of the 3 teas. Lipton's plantations are almost exclusively Kenyan, and this reflects in the flavour. Its no coincidence IMO that Liptons own brand regular teabags have vanished from UK wholesalers.. I'm pointing my finger at you Liptons 😝👺
Awesome research. It does not come as any surprise. Anytime a large company says that they have improved a product, it is the opposite, although it will always be more profitable. PG Tips, RIP.
@@punktea8142 Indeed, and so sad to witness.
Their loss, many more excellent teas out there.
Thanks so much for this! I was about to order more PG Tips and saw that the bags changed. So glad I was able to see this before committing! Time to find a new tea. 😀
Glad to be of service! 😁
Also the new PG Gold is not nearly as good as the old PG Gold, besides being double the price. What a disappointment!
We are looking into the new PG Gold very soon.
This could explain why Yorkshire Tea has surpassed PG Tips as the number 1 and best selling tea brand in the UK since 2023 I think. I mean, Yorkshire Tea is owned by Taylors of Harrogate, which is a tea company known for making quality and premium teas since 1886. Yorkshire Tea Loose leaf tea actually does look more like actual tea leaves. The tea leaves PG Tips are using may not actually be the best quality tea leaves, but it does brew a good cup of tea for everyday use that has a unique flavor. It has something to do with their technology, which consumers would just say is marketing, but you can brew a strong good consistent cup of tea in less time compared to other tea brands. For example their loose leaf tea can be brewed in 1 to 2 minutes. Also their tea bags can be steeped longer than the recommended amount of time depending on the strength level of the tea you want, so steeping longer could make it extra strong. Basically if you are a fan of Taylors of Harrogate teas you will most likely like Yorkshire Tea because it is made like traditional tea, which is the point, so they don't have to advertise special technology that is unique to them or patented. Anyway marketing or not special patents and technology does give brands a unique flavor that is consistent. Coca Cola comes to mind. It taste the same regardless of what country you are in.
The old PG Tips was not a bad cuppa. The new PG Tips is truly awful, but that is our opinion. There are teas out there for everyone.
The smile I had seeing that you two made a video about this! I truly do feel vindicated haha. You really explained what has been bothering me so much about the new version by saying bass versus high notes. It's not just that it's a different (and I think much worse) flavor, it's that it's a completely different profile. It totally misses the point of the pyramid version. If you buy PG Tips, you're likely looking for a good functional tea that you can sip throughout the day, something smooth and not too punchy. You're not looking for a harsher, malty (and chemical tasting) tea. So Unilever spent 50 million to make the opposite of what people liked about PG Tips for decades. Wonderful episode, gents. Many thanks from across the pond. :)
Very kind words. So many people have commented on this issue we just had to do it. It's a shame that PG Tips has gone this way but there are plenty of other teas out there
Absolutely agree, the new one is a different tea, and the old pyramid bags much better. It is possible that they actually improve with age; some teas do. Before PG changed, I got a box of PG tips that was fantastic, and I noticed on the side it said that it was only from Kenya. I have compared them all and the new PG is noticeably worse than both the Kenyan and the more Assamy pyramid bags. Thank you for your videos!
Wow, I think we have ourselves. PG Tips master! That's good knowledge. It may be time to go find a other brand. Thank you for the kind comments.
Good morning Gentleman, First of all thank You for the fabulous job you doing and for the great channel about the tea. I am a tea drinker and was looking for a long time to find a channel, that would be doing reviews of teas and coffees in an understandable and interesting ways. Happily, I found You. Please keep doing this great work. I hope more people will subscribe to your channel. I encourage every one to do so. As of the afore mentioned PG tips, i agree with You wholeheartedly, why do they have to sort of improve what was already very good tea. These big conglomerates, when they gooble up smaller tea firms, always ruin the original products by so call new and improved. I drink a lot of tea and noticed if something is new and improved usually is never better. Thank you again for your great job. Best regards from USA. Ps. If You would be kind enough to review at some point and time Ahmad and Dilmah teas that would be much appreciated.
You're right, new and improved means new and costs saved. Thanks for the kind words, I'm blushing 😁
When in doubt buy loose leaf tea. Loose leaf tea always taste better than tea bags. Plus the loose leaf tea from PG Tips does not look like your typical tea leaves. In fact it looks more like ground coffee, so you can actually brew it in a coffee machine like a Keurig. Tetley has similar looking tea leaves to PG Tips. Basically if you brew PG Tips in the Keurig K-mini or K-mini Plus machines you get a very strong cup of PG Tips, which maybe too strong for most folks to drink black. I add whole milk and stevia to my cup. PG Tips has always taste good with milk and sweetener to me, but Tetley taste like trash and week, but my mom loves Tetley tea and thinks it taste better than PG Tips. Anyway what is funny is if you brew PG Tips in the discontinued Keurig K-Mini K15 machine you get a strong cup of PG Tips, but somehow not too strong that it is actually delicious and enjoyable to drink without milk or sugar.
We are now not so sure loose leaf is necessarily better.
ua-cam.com/video/hH69Jw7xahc/v-deo.html
Sent an e-mail to PGTips to express my disgust (politely). They thanked me for my interest and sent me instructions on how to make tea by placing a tea bag into hot water. This made it obvious that they don't care and that they think their customers are idiots. I gave up and went about looking for a replacement. Since then, l have discovered an Irish brand called Thompson's. Their Soft Water Scottish Blend is as close to original PG Tips as I've been able to find and it has become my go-to. If more people switch maybe Lipton will rethink its mistake.
Good on you for writing to them, not surprised at their response. Thompson's is an absolute gem of a company, their teas are top notch.
I tried the square ones last night and yes ok they brew a bit faster and they taste a little bit stronger I find but it makes no difference to me anyway because I to keep my tea bag in
There is a tea for everyone.
I've just compared the square ones with the waitress gold and I'll tell you what the Waitrose gold is a lot better than the pg square ones the pg square ones are watery all the way through and people say you mustn't squeeze your tea bag but even if you. Squeeze a PG tip Square One it does not taste bitter so it says it all
I like the Malty, I am not a big bitter guy
Check out Assam teas.
New tea bag is absolutely rubbish
Anyone recommend a brand that tastes like the old pyramid teabag
Dorset tea might be worth a try.