“Twinings” and “tea” are nearly synonymous in England, so famous is this brand name. The company dates back to the early 18th century, and the list of its accomplishments is stunning. Its shop first opened in London in 1706 and can be found in the same location today. Its logo has been in use since 1787, making it the longest continuously used company logo in the world. Twinings was first granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1837, and, according to the searchable database on the Royal Warrant Holders Association website (http://www.royalwarrant.org/rwha-search), today it holds warrants from both the Queen and Prince Charles as “Tea and Coffee Merchants.”
Americans do not share the British obsession with tea—let’s just get that out into the open now. When I was a kid we had two kinds of tea in our house—a big glass jar full of Lipton instant tea powder (stir one heaping teaspoon into a glass of cold water and watch out for the globs of powder that don’t fully dissolve) and a box of Luzianne tea bags that was approximately 12 years old and that was only dragged out from the back of the cupboard if someone had a cold or the stomach flu. If Americans drink tea it’s most likely in a sweetened, ready-made version, e.g. bottles of raspberry Snapple…or maybe hot tea from Starbucks, where we overpay someone to simply pour some hot water over a tea bag into a disposable paper cup. It’s true that drinking green tea has become popular in recent years, and Argo Tea cafes are beginning to dot streets in major cities. But even those of us who are regular tea drinkers seem to miss the point. It’s not just about the tea; it’s about the ritual.
Tea is not only a beverage but also an event in England. It happens at fancy hotels where tea service is £30 per person and includes French pastries and scones with clotted cream and finger sandwiches, at offices in lieu of an American-style coffee break, and in private homes. It’s a time to rest and relax a bit before getting on with one’s day.
When I first considered implementing a tea time into my own daily routine, it seemed pretty feasible. I could fit it in sometime in the afternoon, between washing up dishes from lunch and taking a quick nap with the baby before picking up my other son from his daycare. Then it hit me: I only have time for afternoon tea because I’m on maternity leave right now. When I go back to work next week, my life is going to become worlds more difficult and stressful.
In thinking about out how to imitate a royal lifestyle with young children at home, it is tempting to suspect that someone like Queen Elizabeth wouldn’t know the first thing about the balancing act required to be a working mother. She has never been responsible for taking care of a home or cooking meals, and I’m sure she had extensive help with her four children anytime she wanted it. That said, a mother is a mother, and I can’t imagine it’s easily possible to escape those duties and emotional responsibilities no matter who you are. In 1951 Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, began having health problems, and she began making public appearances for him and traveling extensively on his behalf. At the time she had two small children—Prince Charles was three years old, Princess Anne was one. The next year her father died and she became the ruling Queen of England at the age of 25. Talk about a high pressure job. I suppose she also sometimes had days where she was too busy to remember to brush her teeth or where she showed up for work wearing two different shoes (like I did a few months ago when I was pregnant).
If tea can’t always be a lovely, relaxing ritual spaced perfectly in mid-afternoon, at least it can be a caffeinated friend in your corner. I bet Queen Elizabeth gets that. I brewed a large mug of Twinings Earl Grey, stirred in a teaspoon of sugar, and poured the whole thing over ice one day when I was carrying around an especially cranky baby in a Baby Bjorn. It was delicious. The difference between iced tea made with Twinings loose tea and iced tea made with a Lipton tea bag is like the difference between a cup of Swiss Miss hot chocolate you make in your microwave and the French drinking chocolate they serve at Angelina in Paris. There’s really no comparison.
Although I haven’t quite managed to have a fully British experience since I iced the tea and drank it on the go (surely that’s cheating somehow), I can still see the benefit of adding Twinings into my everyday routine. The project is off to a great start.
Where to buy: Most American grocery stores carry Twinings teas. For a complete list of retailers, visit http://www.twiningsusa.com/where-to-buy.php?id=24.
Another winner, as I drink a glass of sun tea sweetened with lemonade. It is not as romantic as a cup of Twinnings in the mid-afternoon, but it is soothing. Your story makes me remember the great taste of tea with milk enjoyed in a small cafe in Soho or Leicester Square. I wonder why I don't drink it here in the states. We will need to find some time to do it right, perhaps some weekend when you come to the country house and it isapproaching 4 p.m. Mmmmmmmmmm
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