The first book about tea was written over a thousand years ago by "Lu Yu"

Tea Fact File 2

Although tea has been drank in the UK since 17th century, and is considered as being quintessentially British.
The real story of Tea began in China, nearly five thousand years ago.

It has been recorded that the Portuguese where among the first Europeans to discover tea.

In 1600 Queen Elizabeth I gave a royal charter to a new trading company, the "East India Company", it was given the monopoly over all British trade with the Indies 

Tea Fact File 5

The first recorded commercial import of tea is attributed to the Dutch. Shipped 1606  from China to Holland

Tea Fact File 6

The "East India Company" took their first order for 100lb's of China tea in 1664 

The film "Pirates of the Caribbean" lay reference to the "East India Company", it became in reality the most powerful commercial organisation the world has ever seen.

NEW
FREE
to enter
COMPETITION
Approximately how many cups of tea are drank by midday every day in the United Kingdom?
All correct answers will be placed in the Mad Hatters Hat.

Simply fill in the 'contact us' form leaving your Name, Address, Contact No. and E-mail Address, and the Answer.

Competition closes Sept 30th 2008, 4pm GMT
a winner will then be drawn from the Hat.
Please quote: 081002
Terms & Conditions apply

Win a months supply of
Mad Hatter TEA
(2X160's) Good Luck

The teabag was first introduced in the UK in 1953 by Tetley Tea. However the first tea bag recorded was in around 1908 introduced by a gentleman called Thomas Sullivan, from the USA.

Milk or Water first?
Milk in tea in Victorian times was often added first in order to cool the fine bone-china cup to prevent it from being cracked by the boiling water. 

The London Tea Auction lasted for over 300 years and was sold by the candle.

Selling by the candle meant that rather than allow bidding to go an unlimited length of time, a candle was lit at the beginning of each lot, and when an inch of the candle had burnt away, the hammer fell and the sale ended.

Tea fact File 13
With over a thousand entrants we are pleased to announce the winner.
The winner of our first ever competition dated 7th April 2008
Name: Brian Jeffreys
Address: Birchgrove
Address: Swansea
Message: 081001
Jonathon Wild,
Taylors of Harrogate
Yorkshire Tea
paid the highest price ever recorded for a single chest of tea: £18,315's.
The proceeds were donated to charity.

Tea Fact File 12

The last tea to be auctioned at the "London Tea Auction", took place on the 29th June 1998, the proceeds of the final auction where donated to charity