Glengettie Tea from Wales: An Introduction
Share
If you've spent any time in Wales, you've probably seen the green box with English on one side and Welsh on the other. Glengettie has been the everyday cup in Welsh kitchens for over 70 years, strong, brisk, and built for milk.
There's a good story behind that box too: where the blend comes from, why it was originally made for miners, and how Glengettie ended up connected to one of England's biggest tea names.
Here's what's actually in the blend, where the brand came from, and who makes it today.
The Short Version
If you just want the basics, here they are:
- Glengettie is a black tea blend first sold in Wales in 1952.
- It was originally made for Welsh miners who needed a strong, reliable cup to start the day.
- The blend is Kenyan and Assam tea, designed to suit Wales's soft water.
- Boxes are bilingual, with English text on one side and Welsh on the other.
- Glengettie is part of the same family of brands as Typhoo, both made by Typhoo Tea Limited.
Quick Guide to Glengettie Tea
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What type of tea is Glengettie? | A black tea blend made from Kenyan and Assam teas, sold in tea bags and loose leaf. |
| Where is Glengettie from? | Wales, it's one of the best-known Welsh tea brands. |
| When did Glengettie start? | 1952, originally made for Welsh miners. |
| What does Glengettie taste like? | Strong and brisk, with rich colour from the Kenyan tea and body from the Assam. |
| Is there a Glengettie Gold? | Yes, a smoother, premium version of the everyday blend. |
| Who makes Glengettie now? | Typhoo Tea Limited, the same company behind Typhoo, now owned by Supreme. |
| Is it still made in Wales? | Production is now outsourced, following changes across the whole Typhoo family of brands in 2023. |
What Does Glengettie Tea Taste Like?
Glengettie is a proper builder's-style black tea, made for a strong cup with milk rather than a delicate one without.
Flavour: strong and brisk, with rich colour from the Kenyan teas and good body from the Assam.
Best with: milk, the blend is designed to hold its flavour against it.
Best if you like: bold everyday tea bags rather than delicate or floral blends.
The History of Glengettie Tea
Glengettie was first sold in Wales in 1952, developed as a strong, reliable cup for Welsh miners who needed something robust enough to get through a long shift. From the start it was blended with Wales's soft water in mind, which is part of why it became such a fixture in Welsh kitchens.
One of Glengettie's most distinctive features is its packaging: boxes carry English text on one side and Welsh on the other, with the slogan "A favourite in Wales for generations" reflecting how the brand has been passed down within families over the decades.
In November 2016, Glengettie launched a series of radio adverts featuring Di Botcher, who plays Aunty Brenda in the Welsh sitcom Stella, set in South Wales, a nice nod to the brand's regional roots.
Did you know? Glengettie has been owned by Typhoo Tea Limited for decades, the same company behind Typhoo itself. The two brands have shared a manufacturing home for years, even though they're sold under very different names and identities.
Who Makes Glengettie Today?
Glengettie has been part of a larger group of tea brands for a long time. It's owned by Typhoo Tea Limited, the same company that makes Typhoo, and the two brands' fortunes have moved together. Until 2021, that group was part of India's Apeejay Surrendra Group. In 2021 it was sold to British private equity firm Zetland Capital, and in 2023 Zetland closed the long-running Moreton factory on the Wirral and moved production of all the group's tea brands, Glengettie included, to outsourced manufacturers.
That same group went through administration in late 2024 and was bought out of it by Supreme, a UK consumer goods group whose better-known brands include 88Vape, the same company that now owns Typhoo also owns Glengettie. (We go into that story in more detail in our piece on Typhoo's history.)
None of that has changed what's actually in the box. The blend, the bilingual packaging, and the "favourite in Wales for generations" positioning are the same ones that have been on Welsh shelves for years, the ownership changes are happening several steps removed from the tea itself.
How to Brew Glengettie Tea
Glengettie is made to be strong, so don't be shy with the brew time.
- Start with freshly drawn water.
- Bring the water to a full boil.
- Pour over the tea bag, or loose leaf in an infuser.
- Brew for 3 to 5 minutes for a proper builder's-style cup.
- Add milk to taste.
If you usually drink lighter teas, start at the shorter end of that range and adjust from there, Glengettie holds its flavour well even with a longer steep.
The Verdict
Glengettie has been Wales's everyday black tea since 1952: strong, brisk, blended for soft water, and instantly recognisable from its bilingual box. More than 70 years and a few corporate changes later, it's still the same reliable cup, made for milk, mornings, and the kind of tea that gets passed down in families.
Try a Taste of Wales
Explore Glengettie and other classic Welsh and British black teas made for a proper, strong cup.
