See our blog articles which define tea. This category covers several articles which help explain various types of tea.
Orange Pekoe tea defined Orange Pekoe tea is a grade of black tea and is a term commonly used in the sale of traditionally made Ceylon, Indian and Kenyan orthodox teas. The term is not used for China teas with the exception of some black teas from Yunnan Province. The term Orange does not refer […]
English Tea: some definitions. English tea is an ambiguous term. It has gained many quite different meanings over England\’s long association with tea. Here we try to provide you with some definitions. Only a few acres are under cultivation in England for growing tea and this is largely for novelty value as the climate in terms […]
Is English Breakfast tea the best breakfast tea in the world? Breakfast blend is such an important tea that every tea merchant offers it. However, many offer specifically an English Breakfast Tea. What makes this blend so special and how does it differ from Irish Breakfast, Scottish Breakfast, and indeed, what other single-origin teas could […]
Why we only sell loose leaf tea We focus on the large leaf grades (OP and above) for these give a more all-round and balanced cup. These grades do not apply to China. Tea grades, especially from India and Sri Lanka are mainly determined by leaf size Large leaf teas have a smaller surface area […]
The UK’s most popular tea blend. Earl Grey tea defined: it is a scented tea, a blend of black tea and oil of bergamot, extracted from the thick, oil-rich peel of an Italian citrus fruit, grown mainly in Calabria. It is thought to be to be a 17th century cross between sweet lemon and bitter, […]
Geographical Indication for Tea: aiming to protect consumers and producers of unique teas Geographical Indication (GI) is recognised by various bodies and applies to products and their processes of production uniquely associated with a designated area such as Champagne, Roquefort, Cornish Pasties and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies. Geographic Indication for tea is established and becoming […]
What is black tea – the tea that we drink most of the time? In the 17 century in England, tea was imported from China by sea. As the leaves were stored below the water line, the atmosphere was humid, black and warm. After several months of travel, the tea leaves had fermented and became […]
Yellow teas can be compared with green teas and white teas. Yellow tea is little known because little is now made as its production is expensive. It is worth the trouble and expense however as ‘spring tea’ as it is known, is indeed fresh and aromatic. The name is taken from the appearance of the […]
Oolong or Wu-long means Black Dragon tea in Mandarin It has been said that it refers to the shape of oolong teas which resemble the silhouette of the mystical Chinese Dragon. They are mainly manufactured in China and Taiwan. The latter is known as Formosa in tea terminology. Those teas are generally referred to as […]
English Tea Blends: Explore their diversity English tea blends make up the majority of teas we consume in the United Kingdom. Even with all the speciality loose teas that are now increasingly popular. However, not all English blended teas are blended in England. English Tea blends each have notable characteristics derived from their constituent teas. […]
