Let’s all raise a glass, or perhaps a cup, and celebrate the world’s favourite drink on April 21 for National Tea Day.
Other than water, tea is the most consumed drink on the planet, so what better excuse for par-tea goers across the land to come together with a cuppa or two?
Every year in April the people of Britain experience the ultimate “Fes-Tea-Val,” a chance to showcase new teas while championing the hundreds of incredible tastes this one drink has to offer.
All you need is 10 minutes to enjoy some tea by yourself or with friends. So grab a cuppa and use #NationalTeaDay + #LeafTeaShop to share on social media should you wish.
The history of Tea
Tea dates back to ancient China, almost 5,000 years ago and, according to legend, in 2732 B.C. Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree blew into his pot of boiling water.
Immediately fascinated by the pleasant scent of the resulting brew, legend has it that the Emperor described a warm feeling as he drank the intriguing brew, as if the liquid was: “investigating every part of his body.”
The popularity of tea in China continued to grow rapidly and no longer just used for its medicinal properties, tea became valued for everyday pleasure and refreshment.
Tea was first brought to Britain in the early 17th century by the East India Company and was originally an expensive product that only the rich could afford and often kept under lock and key.
But now the drink has become a staple of our everyday lives and, in Britain alone, we consume more than 60 billion cups a year – that’s upwards of 165 million cups a day.
How to make the perfect cuppa
Everyone has an opinion on how to make a proper cup of tea but, of course, we believe it has to involve loose tea leaves.
So here is how we suggest making the best brew.
- Fill a kettle with fresh water and bring to the boil.
- Warm the teapot with a little of the boiled water by swirling it around in the pot before tipping it out
- Then add one teaspoon of fresh, loose leaf tea per person, plus one for the pot of course.
- Top up the teapot with the boiling water and leave to infuse for 3 to 4 minutes, but no longer or it will develop a stewed flavour.
- Finally, pour the tea through a tea-strainer directly into your cup while it’s still piping hot.
National Tea Day
On April 21st, the United Kingdom celebrates National Tea Day, the nation’s drink of choice for the past two centuries.
And with such a wide variety of teas, all serving a different purpose, from jumpstarting the day all the way down to sleepy time, needless to say that we’ll be celebrating in style.
So come and join us for a brew in our outside seating area as even social distancing won’t stop us celebrating National Tea Day in 2021!
If you can’t come and join us we’re giving are LEAF fans a special discount of 10% off any of our Loose Leaf Tea Tins from 19th April until midnight 21st April using the code:
NATIONALTEADAY
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