It’s no wonder the UK is so famous for being a nation of tea lovers – we drink 165 million cups of the stuff every day. Despite its Chinese origins (although there are now tea plantations in Cornwall and Scotland), the well-off gentry of seventeenth century Britain couldn’t get enough of it, and by the eighteenth century it surpassed beer and gin as the drink of choice across the country.
While your average cup of tea today is still made from a bog standard teabag, there’s been a surge of interest in higher quality and more exotic varieties from all over the world. We’re also ditching the bag in favour of loose leaf, and the associated health benefits with certain teas have lured younger generations into enjoying a good old cuppa. The number of plantations, varieties and stories surrounding this drink means there’s always something new to learn. We’ve collected all our tea-based features and recipes here so you can get started.