Stephen Twinings

Published On:Wednesday, February 24, 2010

By REUBEN SHEARER

Tribune Features Reporter

rshearer@tribunemedia.net

IN this chilly weather, tea is a great way to start the day, or end a chilly February night. Just wrap up in some flannels and socks, and sip a cup of warmth.

Tea has that tempting invigoration that gets your blood turning warm. It is an incredible friendly warming drink perfect to strike up a conversation with friends or family, says Stephen Twining, corporate relations manager at Twinings of London Teas.

"What excites me is showing people just what a wonderful gift of nature is this thing we call tea," he said.

Tribune Taste spoke with Mr Twining, the tenth generation member of the famed Twining tea legacy. He is also the Corporate Relations manager of Twinings of London Twinings is a venerable three hundred year global enterprise and the originator of the classic Earl Grey Tea.

Tea is now produced in over 30 countries in the world. Early on, Mr Twining insisted on setting the context of his family's London-based tea brand, which was started in 1706 by Thomas Twinings.

"In the city of London, and the financial district today, there were 2000 coffee houses," said Mr Twinings. "Men didn't have offices in those days, so they did business over a cup of coffee."

Their only other option was to drink strong spirits like rum and brandy until the reinvention of tea which brought about a healthy alternative filled with antioxidants to stop the free radicals that damage the cells in our bodies.

"If you prevent them from getting damaged, you stay well," he said. Tea is not a cure for anything, but Mr Twinings swears it can help prevent you from getting sick. (See Tribune Health next week for tea's benefit on the heart)

"In the olden days, tea was taxed very high in London. Persons would buy a cup of tea once or twice a week at no particular time of day, just not at several times a day," Mr Twinings explained. Ladies would not go into a coffeehouse, because it was socially unacceptable to do so.

Thomas Twinings realised the demand for tea so he was able to open to world's first dry tea and coffee shop in London on 216 Strand, London, WC2R 1AP.

The best selling tea in the United Kingdom is the Earl Grey Tea. It was named after a British Prime Minister who held office in the 1830s. Mr Twinings explained that the company used to mix a particular brand of tea for the Earl.

"We would write up the ingredients, mix them together, and put your name on it," he said.

Twinings' biggest gripe is never trademarking their 'Earl Grey' product line as other tea companies have adopted the name.

"If I had a time machine I would go back to the early 1800's and copyright it. But it's fine, because we still have the current Earl Grey sign on our boxes as the authentic original," he said.

Some teas taste better with certain foods then some wines, he added.

For example, in the days of the great British breakfast, there was a quite strong robust tasting food, and you need a strong brand to stand up to that. Therefore the English Breakfast was created in the 1930s

"If I don't have a cup of coffee I'll have a cup of English Breakfast Tea," said Mr Twining. "It gets my blood turning, as I do tend to drink it at different times of the day."

"I can't explain the joys of tea to me," he said. "I drink around 15 cups of it a day," said Mr Twining who says he is addicted to its flavor.

"Twinings makes over 200 tea blends. You have a good section of about 25 to 30 different flavors sold here locally."

According to him besides the regular Earl Grey (a Bahamian favourite), Twinings produces Lady Grey, Green Tea and Mint, Green Tea and Lemon and Ginger teas and Prince of Wales teas.

"Tea to me is just like wine." He explained that if you have a Shiraz from one country, it will not taste the same as a Shiraz from another country. "You won't get exactly the same flavours, because it's grown in different places."