Latest news with #teaLovers
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Aldi is selling an essential kitchen gadget that's £70 cheaper than the John Lewis version – but you'll need to be quick
TEA-loving Brits can now get their hands on a must-have kitchen gadget that promises to take the stress out of brewing – and it's a bargain. Aldi has launched a brand new Smart Kettle for just £29.99, making it £70 cheaper than a similar model sold by John Lewis. 5 The Aldi Smart Kettle lands in stores from July 13. With a sleek stainless-steel finish, the kettle not only looks the part, but it's packed with clever features. It can be controlled via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, letting you boil the kettle straight from your phone. There's also a temperature display and an easy-touch screen so you can set the heat anywhere between 40°C and 100°C, depending on your drink of choice. It even comes with a keep warm function, meaning no more running back to re-boil the kettle – something 48 per cent of Brits admit to doing after getting distracted. That's a lot of wasted water, energy and time. The launch ties in with new Aldi research showing that tea remains the UK's top drink, with the average Brit drinking four cups a day. That's 127 million cups brewed daily across the country. Despite our national love for a brew, nearly a quarter of people (22%) are still making it wrong – by pouring the milk in first. According to the study, 78 per cent of people agree water should go in first, with the tea bag left to steep for two minutes for that perfect 'builders' brew' colour – toffee brown. English Breakfast tea remains the firm favourite, with 67 per cent choosing it over other blends. And when it comes to milk, most agree that a splash of semi-skimmed is best to bring the temperature down to the ideal 57°C. Etiquette expert Jo Bryant explains: "It's clear that tea remains a very important part of our lives, with the average Brit consuming a staggering 1,460 cups a year. "It is good manners when making someone else a cup of tea to check how they like it. "Try to take the time to make perfect brews for friends, colleagues and family, and make sure you remember just how they like it for next time.' The Aldi kettle might also help avoid the classic office dilemma – badly made brews. The research revealed that colleagues are the worst at making tea (45 per cent), while partners (57 per cent) and mums (28 per cent) tend to get it just right. The data also shows just how picky we are. Over three-quarters (78 per cent) of tea drinkers give specific instructions when someone offers to make a cuppa, including strength, milk, sugar (or no sugar at all), and even which mug to use – with 40 per cent claiming to have a favourite mug that makes their tea taste better. Compared to John Lewis's Sage Smart Kettle, which retails at £99.95, Aldi's version offers comparable smart features at a fraction of the price. While Sage is known for its premium kitchen appliances, Aldi's kettle delivers similar functionality – including app control and temperature settings – making it a standout choice for shoppers after modern convenience without the designer price tag. How to compare prices to get the best deal JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn't mean it's always a good deal. There are plenty of comparison websites out there that'll check prices for you - so don't be left paying more than you have to. Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers. Here are some that we recommend: Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results. Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one. CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of. 5 5
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Twinings quietly discontinues ‘addictive' favourite across all UK supermarkets
TWININGS has quietly discontinued a beloved tea blend, leaving shoppers disappointed. The renowned tea brand has decided to retire its much-loved No22 Dark Caramel Tea. Dark Caramel Tea was described as a luxurious black tea blend infused with the rich, indulgent flavours of toffee and golden syrup. Brewed in just three minutes, it is best enjoyed black or with a splash of milk, including hazelnut milk for an extra creamy finish. However, the product's axe was confirmed after a customer asked Twining's on X (formerly Twitter). They said: "I have No22 addiction. "It's the tea I always have after my on calls. "I'd get 20 boxes if I knew... "Do you know anywhere that we can find them? Looks like its our of stock everywhere." In response Twinings UK said: "Hi there! We're so sorry to let you know our Dark Caramel (No22) is no longer available as it has been discontinued and we've sold through all our remaining stock. "Our apologies for any disappointment caused." Although the product is still listed on major supermarket websites, such as Asda, it is no longer available to add to shopping baskets. Which chocolate bars have been discontinued in the UK? This isn't the only tea flavour Twinings has discontinued in recent months. In October, the iconic tea brand also retired its Inner Strength teabags. After learning of its discontinuation, one fan wrote on X: "That's a shame. It was a thing of beauty." The same user had previously quizzed the brand on where the teabags had gone, typing: "@TwiningsUK hello there. Do you still sell the inner strength tea bags please. "I can't seem to find them anywhere anymore." To this, a spokesperson confirmed: "We're sorry to let you know that our Inner Strength has been discontinued and we have sold through all our remaining stock." It came shortly after a popular Yorkshire Tea product was also axed - Toast and Jam teabags. The gradual phase-out of the comforting brew left customers desperately scrambling for one last box. Why are products axed or recipes changed? ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders. Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether. They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers. There are several reasons why this could be done. For example, government regulation, like the "sugar tax," forces firms to change their recipes. Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs. They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable. For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018. It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version. Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year. Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks. While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose. OTHER DISCONTINUED ITEMS Earlier this week, The Sun revealed that Alpen cereal bars have permanently disappeared from supermarket shelves. The snack, usually topped with chocolate or yogurt, has been a staple in many Brits kitchen cupboards since the early noughties. Alpen bars were also loved by many watching what they eat or following a Slimming World or Weight Watchers diet plan, as the treat was low in calories. Alpen's entire cereal bar range, which includes Alpen Light and Alpen Delight has been discontinued. However shoppers can continue to buy it's range of muesli, which costs around £3 from major supermarkets. Cadbury also told us that its Fry Coffee Cream bars are no longer being sold in stores. A spokesperson said: "We continuously adapt our product range to ensure it meets changing tastes whilst supporting growth for our customers and our business. 'Our Fry's Coffee Cream multi-packs were introduced as a limited-edition product in summer 2023 for fans to enjoy while stocks lasted. "They have since been discontinued but we still have plenty of other delicious Fry's products for consumers to choose from, including Fry's Chocolate Cream and Fry's Peppermint Cream Multipacks."
