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A gray box of Whittard 1886 Loose Leaf Tea, adorned with botanical illustrations and a labeled front, stands upright against a white background, showcasing its premium loose leaf black tea made from Camellia assamica leaves.

A rectangular, open box of 1886 Loose Leaf Tea filled with dark loose-leaf black tea is displayed from above against a plain white background. This premium Indonesian Camellia assamica offers a full-bodied brew for true tea enthusiasts.

A close-up of 1886 Loose Leaf Tea reveals dark brown and reddish fragments with a rough, textured appearance—these Indonesian Camellia assamica leaves promise a full-bodied brew.

A round, dark blue container of 1886 Loose Leaf Tea, featuring Indonesian Camellia assamica black tea leaves, photographed from above against a white background.

A close-up view of 1886 Loose Leaf Tea showcases dark brown leaves with a slightly curled texture, produced by the crush-tear-curl technique, highlighting the unique character of Indonesian Camellia assamica.

Bestseller

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Bestseller

1886 Loose Leaf Tea

4.7 (206)

$31.00 CAD

A rich, malty loose leaf black tea that celebrates our origins

Tasting notes + More info

Rich, malty & robust

Type Black Tea

This rich and malty loose leaf black tea is named for the year Walter Whittard opened his very first shop: 1886.

At its heart are the strong, robust leaves of Indonesian Camellia assamica tea bushes. We blend these whole leaves with leaves processed using the crush-tear-curl technique for a hearty, full-bodied brew.

This technique is a tribute to our heritage.

It was originally developed to speed up oxidation, which strengthened colour and flavour enough to mask the taste of Victorian London's... less than lovely water. The invigorating result soon became a favourite of the time.

Happily water quality has much improved, while our quality has always been timeless.

This tea is as delicious as it is authentic: moreish, marvellous and full of deep, smooth flavour. We love it with a generous splash of cold milk at breakfast.