THERE is nothing that says “quintessentially British” quite like the image of a small group of people sitting around a table, sipping tea from delicate teacups. Indeed, the first tea room to open in Britain was none other than the Twinings shop located at 216 Strand, London, a mind-boggling 310 years ago. In 1906, Thomas Twining opened this shop (which is still in operation today) and throughout the years, the brand has become a holder of a royal warrant and brought to the world arguably the most famous blend of tea —Earl Grey.
The story starts with Britain’s prime minister, Charles Grey, also known as Earl Grey, who in 1831 asked Richard Twining to replicate a tea he’d been given by an ambassador upon his return from China. Twining managed to recreate this unique tea by adding in oil of bergamot and lavender flowers to rich, dark Keemun tea, and he named it after the prime minister, thus cementing Earl Grey’s fame for centuries to come.
This year, to celebrate the brand’s 310th anniversary, Stephen Twining, a 10th generation and brand ambassador of the Twining family, brought eight new flavours to Malaysia. These flavours are part of the brand’s Large-Leaf Discovery Collection — London Strand Earl Grey, Golden Tipped English Breakfast, Pure Sencha Green Tea, Two Seasons Darjeeling, Rose Garden Black Tea, Budding Meadow Camomile, Medley of Mint and Golden Caramel Rooibos. Each blend represents the collective brilliance of the Twinings’ Master Blenders, and is a nod to their proficiency in developing captivating aromas and unique flavours.
“Our master blenders turned to Twinings’ ever-growing library of more than 30,000 teas and ingredients sourced from around the world and produced this collection, which offers consumers around the world with a superior tea experience — you can see, smell and taste — that only large-leaf teas can deliver,” Twining explained during a showcase at an afternoon tea at The Majestic Hotel in KL.
Twining, who explored alternative ventures to that of his ancestral heritage — working for a London brokerage in the financial services sector and a tea brokerage — eventually realised his love for tea. Since joining the family business in 1985, he has ascended through the ranks and currently acts as director of corporate relations, travelling around the world to share his passion for tea.
A true English gentleman, Twining drinks at least eight cups of tea per day and claims that he has no favourite — only a favourite for the time of day or as a pairing with food. He explained that the company buys tea from 16 countries and all of it is sourced from Ethical Tea Partnership tea gardens. With their 300 years experience, Twinings’ new collection of unique blends combines the finest large-leaf teas and ingredients presented in premium silky pyramid bags.
Twinings’ London Strand Earl Grey is a true standout in this new range — it tastes dramatically different from Earl Grey made by other brands, a testament to their original recipe which remains a secret to this day. It is citrusy and bold, refreshing and does not require the addition of milk or sugar. The Two Seasons Darjeeling, a delightful blend of first- and second-flush Darjeeling harvests, is made from tea planted in the Himalayan foothills, giving an intensely dry, fresh flavour.
The Golden Caramel Rooibos is unique in that it is not made from traditional tea leaves, but from the leaves of the bush-like plant which grows in South Africa. The master blenders at Twinings enhanced the needle leaves’ rich flavour by sun-drying it in addition to sourcing one with a hint of caramel. Rooibos first became popular because of its caffeine-free leaves and is now enjoyed by countless tea-lovers the world over.
The Twinings’ Large-Leaf Discovery Collection is available at major supermarkets at RM50 per box.