English Breakfast vs Russian Caravan

English Breakfast

English Breakfast is a blended black tea, traditionally built on Keemun, Assam, and Ceylon lots, designed for a hearty morning cup. The flavor is malty and round with toasted grain, gentle honey sweetness, and a brisk edge that pairs naturally with milk. Blends vary by producer, but the style aims for balance: strong enough to wake up with, smooth enough to drink every day. It became a standard offering in British and Western tea culture.

Russian Caravan

Russian Caravan is a blended black tea named for the camel caravans that once carried tea from China to Russia. Most blends combine dark Chinese black teas with a portion of smoky Lapsang Souchong, giving a cup that is malty and full-bodied with a gentle campfire-smoke thread woven through sweet dried-fruit notes. The smoke level varies by blender — some versions are subtle, others unmistakably smoky. Traditionally enjoyed strong, often with sugar or lemon.

English Breakfast

Water temperature

95–100°C

Leaf to water

3g / 250ml

Steep time

3–5 min

Re-steep

1–2 times

Russian Caravan

Water temperature

95–100°C

Leaf to water

3g / 250ml

Steep time

3–5 min

Re-steep

1–2 times

English Breakfast

High caffeine — roughly 40–70 mg per brewed serving

A noticeable lift — best earlier in the day.

Russian Caravan

High caffeine — roughly 40–70 mg per brewed serving

A noticeable lift — best earlier in the day.

English Breakfast

Blended

English Breakfast is a blended style; recipes typically combine teas from India, Sri Lanka, and China.

Russian Caravan

Blended

Russian Caravan evokes the historic overland tea trade between China and Russia.