Tea & Biscuits: A Quintessential British Institution

While tea has had to vie for number one position with coffee as the beverage of choice, it has been around for much longer. Legend has it that Shen Nung, the second emperor of China, discovered tea in 2737 BC when tea leaves accidentally blew into his cup of hot water. It was the marriage of King Charles II to Princess Catherine of Braganza that instigated the importation of tea into Britain.  The Portuguese princess, who had a long-standing appreciation of the brew, introduced it to the British court in the 1660s and the country fell in love. So much so, that tea has become synonymous with traditional British etiquette. Tea ceremonies have arisen in different cultures with Japan's complex, formal and serene ritual being one of the best known and but for the majority of converts, the proof is in the taste rather than ceremony. Join us for a civilized journey through the history of tea and enjoy the dunking dozen and an exploration of the best teas to drink.