Our Pick: Stash
Check price →Stash vs Twinings: Which Tea Brand Is Better? (2026)
Portland's flavor adventurer versus Britain's heritage benchmark — and which belongs in your cupboard.
By Justin Park · ~7 min read · Updated 2026-06-28
Our top picks
Best reason to buy Stash
Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey Black TeaStash
The single blend that wins this whole matchup on flavor — a brighter, milk-proof Earl Grey.
$4-$7 (18 ct)
Check price →Read review ↓Best classic Earl Grey
Twinings Earl Grey Tea, 100 CountTwinings
The benchmark Earl Grey — balanced, bright, and on a shelf near you no matter where you are.
$14.34
Check price →Read review ↓Short version: Buy Twinings if you want a classic black tea — its Earl Grey and English Breakfast are the supermarket benchmarks every other brand gets measured against, and you can grab them at any store on the planet. Buy Stash if you want range and surprise: a Portland brand with a sprawling, genuinely fun flavored catalog and a Double Bergamot Earl Grey that out-bergamots Twinings outright.
These are the two brands people actually live with — the ones in the pantry, not the ones you save for guests. Both sit at the grocery/value tier, both are caffeinated black tea at their core, and both are easy to find. The real fork is temperament: Twinings is the steady classicist, Stash is the one that keeps you trying new boxes. Below is how they split on the things that matter — flavor range, classic black quality, value per cup, and availability — followed by a clear pick for each kind of drinker.
The short version
- <strong>Classic black tea:</strong> Twinings wins. Its Earl Grey and English Breakfast are the reference standard at this price.
- <strong>Flavor range and adventurousness:</strong> Stash wins, and it isn't close — the catalog is huge, playful, and genuinely worth browsing.
- <strong>Best single product across both brands:</strong> Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey — a brighter, milk-proof Earl Grey that beats the standard versions.
- <strong>Value per cup:</strong> Roughly a wash; both land under a quarter a cup. Stash's variety packs win for sampling, Twinings' 100-count boxes win for a daily staple.
- <strong>Availability:</strong> Twinings is more universally stocked worldwide; Stash is easy in the U.S. and online everywhere.
| Stash | Twinings | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin / identity | Portland, OR — flavor-forward, playful | British heritage — classic blends since 1706 |
| Flavor range | Huge, adventurous, constantly expanding | Wide and reliable, leans traditional |
| Signature strength | Double Bergamot Earl Grey, fun blends | Classic Earl Grey & English Breakfast |
| Classic black quality | Solid, above budget brands | Benchmark-grade for the price |
| Leaf grade | Bagged / broken-leaf | Bagged / broken-leaf |
| Value per cup | Under ~$0.25; great variety packs | Under ~$0.25; great 100-ct staples |
| Availability | Strong in U.S., everywhere online | Near-universal, worldwide |
| Best for | Trying new flavors, bolder Earl Grey | A dependable everyday classic |
Stash vs Twinings at a glance
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💡 Good to know
Classic black tea: Twinings wins. Its Earl Grey and English Breakfast are the reference standard at this price.
01 · Best reason to buy Stash
Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey Black Tea
The single blend that wins this whole matchup on flavor — a brighter, milk-proof Earl Grey.
Origin & grade: Non-GMO Project Verified; full-caffeine black tea with natural bergamot, no artificial ingredients
If you only try one Stash blend, make it this one. Double Bergamot Earl Grey uses roughly twice the bergamot oil of a standard Earl Grey, and the difference lands immediately: a brighter, more floral citrus lift over a sturdy black base. It brews dark and holds its own against milk without the bergamot disappearing — which is exactly where a lot of supermarket Earl Greys fall apart.
It's a full-caffeine black tea, so treat it as a morning cup. The base leaf is solid bagged-tea quality — not a single-origin showpiece, but well above budget brands. At under a quarter per cup, it's our top value pick across either brand. Check it on Amazon.
- Type
- Black tea
- Caffeine
- Full (~40-60mg/cup)
- Form
- Foil-wrapped tea bags
- Certification
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- Common sizes
- 18, 30, 100 ct
What we like
- Distinctly bolder bergamot than Twinings
- Holds up to milk
- Excellent value per cup
Worth noting
- Too perfumey for some
- Full caffeine only — no decaf version
Who should buy it: Earl Grey lovers who find Twinings' classic too timid, and anyone who takes their Earl Grey with milk.
What we don't like: The strong bergamot can read as soapy if you already find Earl Grey perfumey — reach for a plain black instead if that's you.
Bottom line: If there's one product that makes the case for Stash over Twinings, this is it. The 'double' bergamot is not marketing — it's a brighter, more perfumed Earl Grey than Twinings' classic, and it's the rare flavored bag that survives a splash of milk with its citrus intact.
02 · Best classic Earl Grey
Twinings Earl Grey Tea, 100 Count
The benchmark Earl Grey — balanced, bright, and on a shelf near you no matter where you are.
Origin & grade: Rainforest Alliance Certified sourcing; ingredients listed transparently (black tea, natural bergamot flavoring).
Earl Grey lives or dies on its bergamot, and this is where Twinings' blending pedigree shows. The aroma off a freshly steeped cup is citrus-forward and floral rather than the flat, candied note you get from lower-tier grocery brands. Steeped for the recommended time, it delivers a clean, slightly tannic black-tea body with a bright lift on the finish.
It takes equally well to milk or lemon, though purists will drink it black to let the bergamot sing. Our one nitpick: like all Twinings, this is broken-leaf tea-bag grade, so a loose-leaf Earl Grey from a specialty roaster gives you more depth — and Stash's Double Bergamot beats it on sheer citrus punch. But for grab-it-anywhere reliability, nothing at this price is steadier. The 100-count box is the value buy.
- Type
- Flavored black tea
- Format
- Tea bags (string & tag, individually foil-wrapped on some SKUs)
- Count
- 100 bags
- Caffeine
- Caffeinated (~40-50 mg per cup)
- Origin
- Blend; Rainforest Alliance sourced
What we like
- Bright, well-balanced bergamot that avoids soapiness
- Black-tea base stays present under the citrus
- Widely available at near-universal pricing
- Works black, with milk, or with lemon
Worth noting
- Broken-leaf grade limits depth vs. loose-leaf
- Uses 'natural flavoring' rather than pressed oil
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a dependable, aromatic Earl Grey they can buy anywhere — and the reader who's never been impressed by Earl Grey and suspects they just had a bad version.
What we don't like: It's still tea-bag-grade leaf, so it can't match loose-leaf complexity, and the flavoring is 'natural bergamot flavoring' rather than cold-pressed oil — which is why Stash's double-dose reads bolder.
Bottom line: This is the Earl Grey other Earl Greys get compared to. The bergamot is assertive without tipping into the soapy, candied quality that sinks cheaper versions, and the black-tea base holds up underneath the citrus instead of vanishing. It's the everyday classic Stash's range can't replace.
Questions, answered
Is Stash or Twinings better for Earl Grey?
For a classic Earl Grey, Twinings is the benchmark — balanced bergamot over a black base that stays present. But if you want a bolder, brighter Earl Grey that holds up to milk, Stash's Double Bergamot Earl Grey actually beats it on citrus intensity. Traditionalists go Twinings; bergamot lovers go Stash.
Which brand has more flavors?
Stash, by a wide margin. The Portland brand keeps a large, frequently refreshed catalog of flavored and herbal blends and is the better pick if you like variety. Twinings has a wide range too, but it leans toward traditional classics rather than adventurous flavors.
Are Stash and Twinings the same quality of tea?
Both are bagged, broken-leaf grocery-tier teas — neither is loose-leaf specialty tea. Twinings sets the standard for classic black blends at this price. Stash is solidly above budget brands and excels on flavored blends. Quality is comparable; the difference is style, not tier.
Which is better value per cup?
It's roughly a wash — both land under about a quarter per cup for standard black blends. Stash's variety packs are the best value for sampling; Twinings' 100-count boxes are the best value for a daily staple you drink every morning.
Where can I buy Stash and Twinings?
Twinings is stocked almost universally — supermarkets worldwide plus every major online retailer. Stash is easy to find across U.S. grocery stores and widely available online, where its full catalog is accessible. International shoppers may need to order Stash online for the deeper range.
Keep reading
Stash Tea Review
Our full take on Stash's lineup — the standout blends, the value packs, and what's worth skipping.
Twinings Tea Review
How Twinings' classics hold up, from Earl Grey to English Breakfast, at supermarket prices.
Twinings Alternatives
If Twinings isn't quite it, here's where else to look for a great everyday black tea.