Clipper Pure Green Tea

After the abomination from Tetley, Clipper's Organic Pure Green Tea is what I left at their house. This is exactly how a mainstream brand should introduce the average Briton to green tea, acting as the perfect gateway to the category.

The entire setup, from the box to the teabags, is familiar. The crucial difference, however, lies in the brewing instructions. Clipper wisely advises letting the boiled water cool for a minute before infusing for 1-3 minutes. This single step is the difference between a respectable brew and the bitter mess offered by rivals. The result is a proper, light-coloured liquor with a pleasant and distinctly vegetal aroma.

While the taste doesn't reach the complexity of a good sencha, it's on a completely different level from the typical low-quality garbage. The flavour is light, clean, and mild with clear vegetal notes. It carries just a hint of the bitterness a British palate might be used to, but it's balanced and clean enough that it requires no milk or sugar to be enjoyable.

Beyond the tea itself, the company's ethics are a significant plus. Clipper is not only Organic and Fairtrade, but it is also a certified B Corporation, holding them to high standards of social and environmental performance. For a fair price, you get a solid, respectable, and ethical product. A firm three stars.