PG Tips was first launched by Brooke Bond in 1930; at that time it was known as Digestive. After the Second World War, labelling regulations ruled out describing tea as aiding digestion--a property that tea was previously attributed--and Brooke Bond changed the brand name to PRE-GEST-TEE (Taking the main elements of PRE-diGESTive TEA). This was shortened by the van salesmen to PG, and the name stuck, eventually being changed on the cartons sold to shops, and by 1950/1 the name PG Tips was officially adopted. "Tips" refers to the fact that only the tips (the top two leaves and bud) of the tea plants are used in the blend. These are known as the "PG" or "Premier Growth" Tips.

England's No1 Tea

Since 1956, in the longest running advertising campaign for any brand, PG Tips often advertised using chimpanzees dressed as humans and drinking tea: the "Tipps family".One of these adverts, called "Mr. Shifter" holds the world record, for the advert shown most times on British Television.

A whole range of figurine chimps were made as collector's editions for PG Tips, and some are very rare. All the chimps in the adverts were featured (including Kevin Tipps and Mr. Shifter).

This campaign was replaced in 2002, with a house sharing group of claymation birds called the T-Birds, animated by Aardman, the company behind Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run. In Ireland these commercials were still airing in late 2006, though advertising Lyons Tea (the local name for the same tea products). This led to PG Tips becoming a major partner with Wallace and Gromit's first film The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, launched in October 2005. PG offered "Gromit" mugs on pack in the supermarket. According to The Grocer magazine, Unilever reported that during this "Gromit" mug promotion, PG Tips sales flew through the roof, increasing 600%. Wallace and Gromit also appeared in an advert with Lady Tottingham (another character from the film) around the same time.

PG TIPS also produced a long running series of trade cards as give-aways. These cards ceased production in 1999 after a survey of customers showed that they were not contributing to developing the business.

In 2005, PG Tips celebrated its 75th anniversary, with special packs, including a limited edition Golden pack.

In 2007, PG Tips have reunited Johnny Vegas and the popular ITV Digital Monkey character puppeteered by Nigel Plaskitt and Susan Beattie and voiced by Ben Miller, following a holiday TV special about famously bad decisions (ITV Digital's launch) where they featured briefly. Johnny's notably cleaner and soberer than he often plays, and the Monkey character pointedly explains he's not a chimpanzee, he's a monkey, a nod to PG Tips' chimpanzee family. In the first advert shown during Coronation Street on 8th January 2007, Monkey returns drenched and dishevelled after 5 years away because of the demise of ITV Digital and drops by unannounced at the house of Johnny Vegas' character "Al". After a short catch-up conversation, a boil wash and a cup of PG Tips, Al says Monkey can stay with him again even though he's rented the big room to Carol Decker from the popular British 1980s band T'Pau (band). On the official website, Monkey is wearing a T-shirt saying "Mr Shifter?", a reference to the "Tipps family" advert.

The second Monkey advert was first seen before Coronation Street on 15th January 2007 at around 8.30pm. It shows Monkey explaining to Al that PG tips is a natural blend of tea leaves, water and nothing else. But Al keeps discovering more things in his cup (milk, 5 sugars, the remains of a macaroon and a red plastic seahorse) leading Monkey to frustratingly declare, 'Oh why do I bother?!'

The third Monkey advert was first aired on 22nd January 2007 during GMTV. It shows Monkey and Al dressed in Home Guard uniforms reminiscent of the classic British TV comedy Dad's Army. Monkey explains that at 15.00 hours they will drink a cup of PG Tips with naturally occurring theanine to help Al build a flat packed chest of drawers. Al completes the task but Monkey ends up with his head in the bottom drawer and his legs upside down in the middle drawer leading Monkey to quote "Stupid boy", a reference to Private Pike.

The fourth Monkey advert was first aired on 29th January 2007 during GMTV. It shows Monkey and Al dressed as carnival folk. Monkey is wearing a ballerina's tutu and is tied to a rotating wheel while Al throws teaspoons, instead of the expected knives, at the rotating Monkey who pleads with Al to "stop this madness". Al tells Monkey not to fear because he's in the zone because of the naturally occurring theanine in PG Tips. Once Al runs out of spoons, he reaches for other kitchen tools (egg whisk, spatula, etc.) and asks Monkey if he'd prefer a blindfold. Monkey agrees but then Al wears the blindfold instead leading Monkey to cry "No idiot, for me. Put the blindfold on me!" The now blindfolded Al says "Who says that?" and walks into the kitchen table.