From traditional favourites to exotic infusions, we share our perfect pit stops to warm up.
TWININGS WC1
Visit the oldest tea shop in London to shop your favourite Twinings blends, gifts and premium teas from around the world. Sample new flavours at their state of the art Loose Tea Bar, and sign up for a masterclass with one of the expert Tea Ambassadors.
216 Strand, WC2R 1AP twinings.co.uk
XU TEAHOUSE & RESTAURANT W1
Reminiscent of 1930’s Taipei, XU offers a unique journey into Taiwanese culture. Their tea is imported from teahouses in Taiwan and showcases the best teas the country has to offer. At the weekend you can enjoy a perfectly brewed Taiwanese tea, as part of their leisurely tea ceremony.
30 Rupert Street, W1D 6DL, xulondon.com
PAMBAN NW1
Experience the aromatic flavours of Southeast Asia with Pamban, the chai specialists based in Camden Market. As well as freshly-brewed house chai, you can mix it up with more unusual flavours including rose, fudge and mint, all served in clay cups.
Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH, pamban.co.uk
GOOD & PROPER EC1
Specialising in single-origin loose-leaf teas, Good & Proper's tea bar began as a crowdfunded start-up. Born out of a desire to bring the quality and diversity that coffee-drinkers enjoy to those who prefer tea and show you just how good tea can be.
96 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TX, goodandpropertea.com
Image above: GOOD & PROPER
CANDELLA TEA ROOM W8
Romantic and elaborate, this Kensington tea room brings a spot of whimsical glamour to taking tea. The quirky salon offers more than 50 individually-sourced types of tea, served on an eclectic array of vintage china tea sets.
34 Kensington Church Street, W8 4HA, candellatearoom.com
YUMCHAA W1
Determined to rid the world of mediocre cups of tea, Yumchaa offer the very best in loose leaf tea from their Berwick Street café - just off Oxford Street. The online shop has a wide range of products and offers tea lovers delivery worldwide.
45 Berwick Street, W1F 8SF, yumchaa.com
SCOFF & BANTER W1
Try high tea at the elegant Scoff & Banter Tea Rooms, where they serve unusual brews such as Rooibos Tiramisu and Lavender Dream supplied by tea specialist Newby Teas. Located on Oxford Street, the team invites you to match your tea with scones or a full afternoon tea, which you can compose yourself from numerous sweet and savoury options.
350 Oxford Street, W1C 1BY, scoffandbanter.com
DRURY TEA & COFFEE WC2
Drury Tea & Coffee is a family-owned business founded in 1936. Today, they supply restaurants, hotels and cafés all over the world with fine teas - including 30 customers with Michelin stars. The company also has its own premises in Covent Garden where you can choose from over 120 loose leaf teas and tea bags, all tested by Drury's professional tea tasters.
3 New Row, WC2N 4LH, shopdrury.com
TWG TEA WC2
TWG Tea, which stands for The Wellbeing Group, boasts the world’s largest collection of teas. The brand’s extensive range includes over 800 different single-estate, fine harvests and exclusive tea blends, sourced from all of the tea-producing countries.
48 Leicester Square, WC2H 7LT, twgtea.com
Image above: TWG Tea
T2 TEA SW1
From the outside, this slick tea shop could be mistaken for a trendy athleisure store. Once inside, the punchy colours and modern aesthetic showcase a sleek collection. With over 100 varieties they have the usual favourites covered, as well as the unexpected like Fruitalicious, Gorgeous Geisha and Crème Brûlée.
Victoria Street, SW1E 5JL, t2tea.com
TEATULIA WC2
Teatulia Tea Bar, in the heart of Covent Garden, is a tea shop like no other, a space for conversation and contemplation, serving hot tea, cocktails, mocktails and delicious Teatulia-infused cakes. Teatulia’s full range of teas are available to take away or buy online, so you can enjoy a cup at home.
36 Neal Street, WC2H 9PS, teatuliabar.com
POSTCARD TEAS W1
If you are looking for ethical sourcing, Postcard Teas should be your first stop. This famous little tea temple was the first tea company in the world to put the maker’s name and location on each pack. They stock some very rare leaves, from hand-picked Long Jing from Meijiawu to Wuyi oolongs from 100-year-old wild trees.
9 Dering Street, W1S 1AG, postcardteas.com
Image above: Postcard Teas
