The Harrods Guide to Tea and Biscuits Pairings

Words by Bridie Newman and Louise Springham

19th October 2026

A swift dunk of a biscuit into a freshly poured cup of tea is one of life’s quiet pleasures. And while there’s no right or wrong when pairing the two, some biscuits naturally bring out the best in certain brews – much like cheese and wine or oysters and Champagne.

With more than 190 years of sourcing the finest teas behind us – explored in depth in our tea guide – we’re perfectly poised to inform your dunking decisions. To help, we asked our resident tea expert and lead product developer Alex Boyle to share the thinking behind nine of the best tea-and-biscuit pairings from The Food Halls.

English Breakfast Tea and Orange Marmalade Biscuits

The choice of Paddington Bear, this time-honoured duo is as classic and comforting as you’d expect. The quintessential tea holds a special place in British hearts, and our bestselling blend creates a well-rounded pot that holds its strength when served with milk. Serve with a satisfying snap of our tart Orange Marmalade Biscuits for an elevenses moment.

“Seville oranges have a wonderful bittersweet bite, so you need a tea with some backbone to stand up to it, and our English Breakfast is more than up to the job.”

Shop English Breakfast Tea

Shop Orange Marmalade Biscuits

Earl Grey Tea and Earl Grey Biscuits

If you’re fond of Earl Grey’s fragrant bergamot notes, pair this distinctive blend with its irresistibly crunchy counterpart. The all-butter Earl Grey Tea Biscuit, infused with aromatic citrus notes, comes into its own when dipped into a cup of Earl Grey.

"Bergamot is such a fragrant, delicate note that it needs something rich to balance it, which is where the all-butter biscuit comes in. Dunk it into a cup swirled with milk and manuka honey and you’ll see what I mean."

Shop Earl Grey Tea

Shop Earl Grey Biscuits

Harrods

No. 25 Darjeeling Single Origin Loose Leaf Tea (125g)

$24.00

Harrods

Darjeeling Tea Biscuits (200g)

$23.00

Harrods

No. 58 Lemon Flavoured Black Loose Leaf Tea (125g)

$24.00

Harrods

Citrus Biscuit Selection Tin (300g)

$30.00

Harrods

Lapsang Souchong Black Tea Biscuits (200g)

$23.00

Blend No. 49 Tea and Chocolate Chip Shortbread Biscuits

Our historic Blend No. 49 celebrates the finest teas from India – blending varieties from Darjeeling and Assam to the Nilgiri Mountains and the Sikkim Valley. Its full-bodied flavour finds a natural pairing in a sweet Scottish shortbread round.

“A blend this full-bodied can carry a buttery biscuit with ease, and the dark chocolate chips echo the tea’s lingering depth. The shortbread is sturdy enough for confident dunking, too.”

Shop Blend No. 49 Tea

Shop Chocolate Chip Shortbread Biscuits

Lemongrass and Ginger Tea and Stem Ginger and Lemon Biscuits

This zesty pair will lift any afternoon lull – who said tea and biscuits weren’t medicinal? The gentle heat of our lemongrass and ginger tea is a bright, invigorating boost, and its ideal match is – of course – a Stem Ginger and Lemon Biscuit, perched temptingly on the saucer.

“Ginger and lemon are natural partners, so the tea and the biscuit mirror each other beautifully. The warmth builds gently, and the citrus keeps everything fresh.”

Shop Lemongrass and Ginger Tea

Shop Stem Ginger and Lemon Biscuits

Rose Tea and Shortbread Biscuits

A floral, refreshing cup pairs well with a biscuit that is just as subtle, but still offers a contrasting flavour. Our delectable Scottish All-Butter Shortbread Rounds from Edinburgh are just the thing. While away the afternoon with a pot and tin among friends.

“A good pairing doesn’t always have to match, and this is a lovely example. The shortbread brings sweet, buttery richness, while the rose tea cuts through it with something light and floral.”

Shop Rose Tea

Shop Shortbread Biscuits

Assam Tea and Triple Chocolate Biscuits

Decadence in tea-and-biscuit form, our chunky Triple Chocolate Biscuits – with milk and dark chocolate chips and further chocolate coating – are at their best with a cup of Assam. Be warned, it’s nigh impossible to stop at just one, so we recommend brewing a full pot of tea.

“Assam has a robust, malty character that meets rich chocolate head-on rather than being overwhelmed by it. With this much chocolate in the biscuit, you want a tea with plenty of character.”

Shop Assam Tea

Shop Triple Chocolate Biscuits

Red Berries Tea and Strawberries and Cream Biscuits

This fruity blend finds its ideal match in our equally fruity Strawberries and Cream Biscuits. It’s a combination that’s perfect for sweet tooths.

"Red berry teas can taste quite tart on their own, and the buttery richness of the biscuit softens that edge so the fruit comes through bright and clear. There's also something so quintessentially British about strawberries-and-cream biscuits, which makes this pairing a huge favourite of mine."

Shop Red Berries Tea

Shop Strawberries and Cream Biscuits

Green Tea and Jasmine Green Tea Biscuits

If bold brews aren't your cup of tea, look no further. Our Green Tea's light, grassy freshness finds a fitting partner in our Jasmine Green Tea Biscuits, whose delicate floral notes bring a fragrant lift to every sip.

"I love how understated this pairing is. The jasmine echoes the tea's natural florality, while the buttery biscuit softens its grassy freshness. Neither overpowers the other, which is exactly why it works so well."

Shop Green Tea

Shop Jasmine Green Tea Biscuits

Spiced Matcha and Dark Chocolate Brazil Nut Biscuits

Has the matcha movement finally piqued your curiosity? Blending ceremonial matcha from Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture with warming cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and clove, our Spiced Matcha offers a chai-like twist on the green-tea favourite. Pair it with our Dark Chocolate Brazil Nut Biscuits and the combination really comes into its own.

"Matcha has an unmistakable grassy depth that's beautifully complemented by dark chocolate. The warming spices soften its edges, while the Brazil nuts bring a buttery richness that makes this pairing feel particularly indulgent."

Shop Spiced Matcha