Your Cart is Empty
BEAUTIFUL ORGANIC TEA | ETHICALLY SOURCED
The journey from England's first introduction to tea in the mid 17th century to the delight we know as Devonshire Tea today was history in the making and now a pillar of 21st century British tea-drinking culture that is enjoyed all over the world.
Princess Catherine of Braganza of Portugal was the picture of quiet, faithful, and enduring strength.
Her hand in marriage to Charles II in 1662 was given to secure mutually beneficial trade agreements between Portugal and England.
She had little experience of the world, having been brought up almost solely in the confines of a convent close by the royal Portuguese palace.
In spite of Charles II's little interest in Princess Catherine and his many dalliances, Princess Catherine held herself by his side in perfect esteem, even after being forced to live in close quarters with his many mistresses.
With time, her disinterested husband grew to honour her with such intensity, that he defended her against his mistresses when they did now show her the respect she was due.
Even when he was widely pressured to divorce her after she was unable to bear children, he defended her position in the palace.
They remained together for the duration of their lives, growing in mutual fondness, sharing heartfelt last words as Charles II passed away in 1685.
In spite of Princess Catherine's extremely sheltered upbringing, the princess had become accustomed to tea-drinking, which was widespread among the Portuguese nobility.
At the time of her marriage to Charles II in 1962, little was known about tea in England.
The moment the princess arrived in Portsmouth on 13 May 1662, after a long and stormy crossing, she asked for a cup of tea. She was offered ale instead, which did not agree with the princess.
Over time, Princess Catherine established herself in the English court and became something of a trendsetter.
Although she embraced English fashions, her taste for food remained in her origins, including her love for tea. Soon her taste for tea had caused a fad at the royal court. This then spread to aristocratic circles and then to the wealthier classes.
Not surprisingly, the reign of Charles II then established the foundations for the tea-trade though east of Africa and west of South America to Britain.
In 1706, London's first tea room, initially a coffee-house, was established by Thomas Twining.
At the time, Twining's original coffee-house was a place for men to gather and do business.
The preferred drinks were gin, ale, and coffee, which were widespread in coffee-houses throughout London.
The competition was tough and Twining recognised the potential of tea as a point of difference. Due to high taxes, tea was only accessible to the wealthy and so became increasingly fashionable.
Soon Twining was selling more dry tea than serving it with ladies queuing up for tea as their footmen would enter Twining's establishment to purchase on their behalf.
Soon after, many other tearooms were opened throughout London.
Some 140 years later, in the 1840's we see the emergence of the now-famous Afternoon Tea through the life of a rather influential duchess who couldn't quite keep the hunger pangs at bay.
During the 18th century dinner came to be served increasingly later until, by the early 19th century, it was served between 7:00 and 8:30 pm. The meal called luncheon was served to fill the midday gap but was so light, people were left feeling too hungry to wait until dinner.
Whilst visiting the 5th Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle in the mid-1840s, Anna Russell, 7th Duchess of Bedford found a meal of tea, cakes, and sandwiches to be the perfect balance.
It was such a delightful refreshment that she started inviting her friends to join her.
Afternoon tea quickly became established as an enjoyable meal for the many upper-middle and upper-class households.
The idea of Devonshire Tea grew somewhat out of the ritual of Afternoon Tea in the 19th century, but the origins actually go much further back. Indeed, records date back to the 11th century when the tradition of eating bread with cream and jam first began in Tavistock Abbey, Devon.
As time went on, the combination of Afternoon Tea and past traditions gained momentum through the mid 20th century and has become what it is commonly known as today.
If you are considering a light afternoon meal with a serving of scones, jam, and clotted cream and a nice cup of tea, then Cream Tea, Devon Cream Tea, Cornish Cream Tea, or Devonshire Tea, will be everything your heart (or mouth) desires.
The difference in these terms is that Cream Tea is the overarching name that refers to this delectable delight, whether it be served in the style of Cornwall or Devon.
The Devonian (or Devonshire) tea method is to first split a scone in two, cover each half with clotted cream and then add strawberry jam on top.
The Cornish method, which originated in Cornwall, begins in the same way by splitting a scone in two. The variation occurs by next spreading the scone with strawberry jam first before adding a spoonful of clotted cream.
Whether you call it Cream Tea, Cornish Tea, or Devonshire Tea, there are four important elements required. For the sake of consistency, we will hereon refer to this concoction of deliciousness as Devonshire Tea.
First, you need freshly baked scones. Secondly, clotted cream. Thirdly, strawberry jam. And finally, a pot of beautiful tea.
Other necessities are fine china teapots, teacups, saucers, a sugar bowl, and a milk jug.
Real clotted cream is a half-day exercise that takes time and preparation. For those of us who love life on the go, filled with spontaneity, here is a much better solution that makes whipped cream something extra special.
There is no doubt that a fine black tea is the most suitable for balancing the rich, sweet flavours of scones, jam, and cream.
We recommend pairing these three beautiful teas to create the perfect Devonshire Tea:
Tielka's signature black tea. A mild breakfast blend with a gentle sweetness.
This award-winning blend showcases a wide range of complexity that would otherwise be lost in a typical heavy black tea. Deliciously creamy with hints of nuttiness.
Surprisingly loved by non-Earl-Grey-drinkers. Lightly citrus, this blend also showcases the complex and creamy flavour profile of Tielka's signature black tea base.
Blended with natural Italian bergamot oil and absolutely zero synthetic flavours.
Tielka's best-kept secret and a unique take on a French Earl Grey.
Featuring natural Italian bergamot oil. Luxuriously smooth and rich. Blended with handcrafted black tea, sweet orange peel and cornflower petals.
If you like to provide your guests with a herbal option with your Devonshire Tea, we recommend:
One of Tielka's best sellers. This original showcases the beauty of Australian lemon myrtle and the playful interaction between rose and hibiscus.
Tielka's Limonada Rose is proof unnatural additives are not required to achieve an intense and beautiful flavour profile in a herbal tea.
