TWININGS FLAGSHIP STORE 216 STRAND

If there's one thing in this life I can't live without (besides family and friends) it's my tea!! After a day is through, or even if it's just beginning, one cup always seems to be the answer. I grew up around it and loved exploring it from a teenager to an adult who's full blown tea obsessed. If I had to choose a favourite, it would hands down be any kind of chai with a flavour to it. Though a traditional Moroccan mint tea comes in a very close second. So! Naturally my next stop had to be to the first tea shop to open in London! Way back in 1706, Thomas Twining bought the 216 Strand tea store from Sir Thomas D'Aeth, 1st Baronet. Now that Thomas at the time was running it as Tom's coffee house, but Twining saw more potential in a different kind of flavour. Looking at the unquestionable success that the Twinings brand is today, it's fair to say he had the right idea.

The ambitious young Thomas Twining became a Freeman in 1701 at the age of 26. By that time he had turned his back on weaving and was learning a new trade working for a wealthy merchant and handling some of the early shipments of tea. - Twinings

On first approach, I noticed the rather expressive Royal courts of justice, I knew I needed to follow them round and I'd find the seemingly hidden treasure chest of tea I was searching for. Sure enough just opposite I'd found it! A quaint little store front with a bold arch, adorned with decoration and the smell of amazing tea wafting out the front door, calling me inside. As you walk down deeper into the store.....make sure you do so slowly...and keep your gaze shifting from side to side. The entire story of how a bag of Twinings made its way into your favourite mug, is written and visualised in beautiful ways on each wall panel.

Once I reached the heart of the store, I noticed some clear loose leaf brewing teapots upon podiums, filled with sweet and spicy smelling teas. I was happy to be told these were teas to be sampled, and it led a bag of their classic spicy chai loose leaf tea into my hands....who knows how that happened ;). I loved the range of teas on offer and it surprised me having visited the TWG store in Leicester square! If you really want the ultimate experience here, you can arrange to visit their tea masterclass, hosted in a plush blue and gold lux downstairs hideaway. You can learn the origins and enjoy a flavour trail, all the way up to creating your own iconic blend!

Richard had the ear of William Pitt, the Prime Minister. He argued persuasively that revenues would be greater from lower taxation. High levels of duty only served to encourage smuggling. Pitt listened and he acted. The Commutation Act of 1784 slashed tea taxes and at last made tea affordable to all. - Twinings

More than a beverage, tea is so special to me because it's for everyone. Yes it started as something so incredibly coveted, even being sold in 1707 for todays price of a whopping £160/100g! However that luxury and the comfort felt from a hot cup of tea is available at much better prices than most people can find in their local store today. Wherever you are I hope it's not long till your next cup of comfort!

Happy historical sipping! T x