If you're as chronically online as we are you may have spotted that Britain's Tea Time Alarm is getting a lot of coverage. Seems that lots of tourists (particularly the Americans) had no idea that we had a regular alarm every day to remind us all to sit down and brew a cuppa.
Now that the news is out (you can see that the UK government has confirmed the story here - and that Beamish Museum has helpfully gone over the history of the alarm here) we thought it might be worthwhile flagging up some of London's best places to buy tea. That way you'll never get caught short with no supplies in when the alarm goes off.
Postcard Teas
Soho - 9 Dering St, London W1S 1AG
Just gearing up to celebrate its 20th anniversary, Postcard Teas is responsible for much of the great tea you drink in London's restaurants with everyone from The River Cafe to Endo at The Rotunda serving their teas. Run by husband and wife team Tim and Asako D'Offay it sells only tea from micro farms as part of its sustainable and ethical sourcing ethos. Fun fact - Vittles founder Jonathan Nunn has worked with them for over a decade. They run a weekly (and bookable) one-hour tasting session to help customers to discover new teas.
Fortnum & Mason
Piccadilly, St Pancras and Royal Exchange
Well into its third century, Fortnums has been selling tea since its early days. Chinese tea was the first on its books and it was apparently the first company to buy tea from India when the country held its first Indian tea auction in 1836. The store has enjoyed a royal clientele since 1902 when they created a special blend for Edward VII, their royal blend which is still on sale today - the recipe unchanged. There are more than 60 loose-leaf teas on sale from Irish Breakfast and Moroccan Mint to Rwanda Orange Pekoe. They also offer an in-store bespoke tea blending service.
Twinings
Temple - 216 Strand, London WC2R 1AP
They're one of the UK's best-known tea brands but Twinings' history goes way back. They opened their tea store on the Strand in 1706 making the store not only the oldest tea shop in London but also one of the oldest shops in London full stop. Try out new teas at their loose-leaf sampling bar, take masterclasses, get samples or go all out in the tea pick'n'mix section.
Algerian Coffee Stores
Soho - 52 Old Compton St, London W1D 4QE
A Soho stalwart since the late 1880s when it first opened its doors the name is slightly misleading because this shop also sells as much tea as it does coffee. It's been in the hands of the same family since 1946. On offer, you'll find an impressive selection of loose-leaf teas including the wonderful (and suitably expensive) Yunnan Black Toppest to their own Soho Breakfast blend.
Mariage Frères
Covent Garden - 38 King St, London WC2E 8JS
A relative newcomer to London's tea scene (although its French roots go back 150 years) Mariage Frères opened in 2019 taking over all five stories of a Georgian townhouse in Covent Garden for their London tea emporium. On sale, you'll find 1,000 aromatic varieties from 36 tea-producing countries. There's a museum of tea-related items upstairs and it's a particularly good spot to go for all manner of tea paraphernalia from teapots to strainers.
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