Invitation to a Tea Party.
hile the drinking of tea is considered a quintessential British tradition, it only came into fashion in 1664. It was at that time that the East India Company brought a small parcel of tea to present to Charles II, transforming it into a fashionable court drink. Twenty years later, Thomas Twining left his native village in the west country to seek his fortune in London. The city was still being rebuilt after the great fire of 1666 and as new buildings sprung up, so too did a plethora of coffee houses. In 1706, Twining decided to open his own at No. 216 Strand in London, which he simply named Tom's Coffee House.
It was there that Thomas hit upon the idea of selling tea as a novelty to attract more customers. While his coffee business continued to lag, orders for his tea increased. He began supplying other London coffee houses with his own tea. By the mid 1700s while the taxation of tea was becoming a matter of principal in the American colonies, it was a matter of life and death to Twining's business in England. Richard
Twining, Grandson of Thomas, was
able to relieve the burden of taxation through an understanding with William Pitt. The tea business was once again booming by the mid 1800s, with large tea clippers like the Cutty Sark plying the waters with Twinings tea on board.
s a result of their efforts to supply some of the finest teas in the world,
Twinings received the Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria for the supply of tea. Today that Warrant continues to be extended by Queen Elizabeth 11, as well as the Prince of Wales. Should you be invited to a Royal Wedding or function, the tea you will be served will undoubtedly be Twinings. From its humble beginnings, Twinings has now grown into a business that now over 90 countries and employs nearly 1000 people, yet still maintains its heritage, along with Thomas Twining's original shop at No. 216 Strand.
English Events Collection
The English Events Collection celebrates traditionally English calendar events, matched with traditionally English loose teas in decorative 50g caddies. A match at The All England Tennis Club or the Lord's cricket ground tends to break for English breakfast as well as Traditional Afternoon teas. The Boating and racing collection offers Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas for picnics at these traditional outdoor events.
Dining teas
(125g) Decorative caddies of traditional english dining teas. The Earl Grey and English Breakfast Tea are available separately, featuring decorative dining scenes on the sides of each cannister.
Household teas
Available in 250g caddies which feature the decorative pillars as well as the family tree of Twinings in the business for 1O generations. The household teas come in Darjeeling and Earl Grey.
hile the drinking of tea is considered a quintessential British tradition, it only came into fashion in 1664. It was at that time that the East India Company brought a small parcel of tea to present to Charles II, transforming it into a fashionable court drink. Twenty years later, Thomas Twining left his native village in the west country to seek his fortune in London. The city was still being rebuilt after the great fire of 1666 and as new buildings sprung up, so too did a plethora of coffee houses. In 1706, Twining decided to open his own at No. 216 Strand in London, which he simply named Tom's Coffee House.
s a result of their efforts to supply some of the finest teas in the world,
Twinings received the Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria for the supply of tea. Today that Warrant continues to be extended by Queen Elizabeth 11, as well as the Prince of Wales. Should you be invited to a Royal Wedding or function, the tea you will be served will undoubtedly be Twinings. From its humble beginnings, Twinings has now grown into a business that now over 90 countries and employs nearly 1000 people, yet still maintains its heritage, along with Thomas Twining's original shop at No. 216 Strand.
