Tea News

Afternoon Tea: where did it all start and what is it?   Afternoon tea has become a national institution, but where did the tradition start and what constitutes a traditional afternoon tea?   For many years, tea was considered a luxury product in Britain, but this changed during the first half of the 19th century when consumption boomed. It was during this period that the nobility began enjoying a cup of tea and a snack — afternoon tea was born.   Who invented afternoon tea? Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, is widely regarded as creating afternoon tea during a...

Rooibos Tea: what are the health benefits?   Rooibos has long been regarded as a popular caffeine-free tea, but did you know it possesses other health benefits?   Where does Rooibos tea come from? The herbal tea, pronounced “roy-boss” in Afrikaans, originates from the Cederberg mountains of South Africa, the only place in the world you will find a shrub called Aspalathus Linearis.   The seeds are planted in late summer (February and March in the UK) and are only ready for harvesting some 18 months later. The leaves are then cut, aired and watered, before being dried in piles...

Chai tea: where did it all start and what is it?   Chai tea is one of the most famous blends in the world and is known for its health benefits, but what are its origins and how is it made?   Chai has a long history, its name comes from the Hindi word for “tea”, a word which can trace its own roots back to “cha”, the Chinese word for “tea”. The Hindi version of Chai tea is a mix of spices which are infused in water to produce a tea-like beverage.   What is Chai tea? Recipes for...

The Perfect Christmas Gifts for Tea Lovers   Searching for gifts for the tea lover in your life? Don’t worry, The UK Loose Leaf Tea Company has everything you need to make it a Christmas to remember.   There is such a wide range of teas available, that you are sure to find something new and exciting, as well as the classic blends you know and love. Our basket collections contain the finest quality teas and look great.   For the Black Tea Basket, we have put together three popular black teas (Enjoy Ceylon Orange Pekoe, Darjeeling Selection Autumn and...

Quality Coffee Beans Delivered Direct to Your Door   When you order your favourite teas from The UK Loose Leaf Tea Company, you can now buy top quality coffee beans too. You may not realise it, but today’s skinny latte can trace its origin back to the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau in Africa. The story goes that a shepherd realised that his goats became energetic and did not sleep at night after eating coffee berries. The goat herder told the abbot of the local monastery, who made the first coffee drink which allowed him to keep awake...