Taking tea with Twinings

Thais enjoy little more than a strong coffee made the traditional way and are happy to sip their java juice at coffee shops, at home and in the office. Today though, many in Thai society are turning to English tea as their preferred tipple. Tea is nothing new in this country, but lounging around a tea garden for a balmy afternoon tea over Earl Grey and cucumber sandwiches has never been a much-cultivated practice in Thailand unless you come from an aristocratic clan with a proper English education.
But Twinings of London, with its 300 years of expertise, believes the concept of English afternoon tea along the lines of its creator Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, will go down well with Thais. So last week the leading English tea brand launched its first Twinings Tea Garden at The Nine Centre, Bangkok’s newest semi-outdoor lifestyle mall on Rama IX Road. The tea garden will be open for the winter and runs until the end of February.
The tea garden is quintessentially British – with vintage decor, a white octagonal garden pavilion, classic furniture, top-quality tea and table accessories, plus such British icons as a classic red telephone box and big teddy bears dressed in the Great British Guardsman costumes.
Tea lovers have plenty of English tea blends from which to choose. There’s the 1706 blend in the original flavour and aroma created 300 years ago. Then, there’s Mulled Spice tea, which is blended especially for this year’s Winter Edition by scenting black tea with special aromas of cinnamon and cloves. Then, of course, there’s Earl Grey, which is light, fragrant and with a distinctive bergamot flavour. Tea lovers should also not miss the English Breakfast tea, which is full-bodied and full of flavour due to the robust blend of the finest Assam and Kenyan leaves.
Twinings will serve baked delicacies by chefs from Le Cordon Bleu, including soft scones with mango jam and macaroons, almond cookies with a touch of Britain.
The tea garden is the brainchild of Piyapong Chitchumnong, Twinings’ business unit manager at the AB Food & Beverages (Thailand).
“The widespread popularity of Twinings teas across England dates to 1666. To commemorate Twinings as part of English tea heritage, we have created the “1706 blend” of finest teas from various sources.
“In Thailand, tea drinking is regarded as a very interesting social culture. Twinings has therefore created this tea garden to give tea lovers a lovely place where they can take full pleasure in a cup of fine tea in a London ambience. Besides, profits from the Tea Garden will go to the Chaipattana Foundation to celebrate HM the King’s 84th birthday.

 
A glance at Twining tea heritage.


1662
Tea was officially introduced to England by the young Portuguese wife of Charles II, Catherine of Braganza. She served it to her aristocratic friends at the Royal Court and soon tea became the fashionable drink of the day.

1701
Thomas Twinings takes a job working for a wealthy merchant handling the first shipments of tea to English shores from around the world.

1706
Thomas Twinings opens the first Twining shop on London’s Strand.

1784
By the time of his death, Thomas Twining was serving customers with royal connections. Hs son, Daniel, was the first Twinings to export tea.

1837
Queen Victoria granted Twinings its first Royal Warrant for tea - she appointed Twinings as supplier of teas to her household.

1901
Twinings develops the recipe for its English breakfast blend.

1904
Twinings opens its first Paris shop