Tea News

First thing, what is a clipper?   A clipper was a type of mid 19th century merchant sailing vessel, designed purely for speed. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, and could carry a limited bulk freight, but the sail area was large for the size of the vessel. The name "Clipper" does not refer to a specific sail plan or vessel; clippers may be schooners, brigs, brigantines, etc., as well as full rigged ships. Clippers were mostly constructed in British and American shipyards. Clippers sailed all over the world, primarily on the trade routes between the United Kingdom and...

How did Afternoon Tea start?   That most quintessential of English customs is a relatively new tradition.   While we can trace tea drinking back around 2000BC in China it did not arrive in the UK until around the 1660s brought in by King Charles II and more importantly his wife the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza, the price of tea was so expensive that only the very rich could afford to drink it.     It was much later in the mid 19th century that the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ first appeared in newspapers, the mention of Afternoon tea...

The Perfect Dessert Pairings For Different Types of Tea Here at the UK Loose Leaf Tea Company we often get asked the question, “which tea goes best with which dessert?”. So we have done our best to come up with some ideas which work, but please do not hesitate to let us know your favourites too! Tea and desert options are numerous so there is no right or wrong way to produce this list but we feel this is a good place to start, and act as a guide for you to experiment and see which tea and desert pairings...

The Ultimate Guide to Lapsang Souchong Tea   With its unique, smoky flavour and unusual history, Lapsang Souchong is a tea for the bold at heart. Evoking memories of campfires and whiskey, this one of a kind tea is a must try for every adventurous tea drinker. So here is a guide to everything you need to know about Lapsang Souchong tea:   What is Lapsang Souchong Tea? Lapsang Souchong is a striking tea with a smoked smell that dates back to the 17th century. The history of how this tea was founded is as unique as its taste, and...