The family background

The Twining family came from Painswick in Gloucestershire where they were weavers and millers. Hard times drove the family to London in 1684 and with them went nine-year-old Thomas Twining, founder of the tea business.

Thomas’s early training

In his early 20s, Thomas learned about international business while working for an East India Company merchant. The company was importing many exotic new products from overseas, including tea.

In 1717, Thomas bought Tom’s Coffee House in Devereux court in London, just off the London Strand. Thomas opened the world's first dry tea and coffee shop.

Tea for everyone

In 1784, at a time when tea smuggling was rife, Richard Twining was Chairman of the London Tea Dealers. He played a key role in lowering the tax on tea by persuading Richard Pitt, the Prime Minister, to bring in The Commutation Act of 1784. This slashed tea taxes, deterred the smugglers and, at last, made tea affordable for all. It marked the beginning of tea-drinking as part of everyday life.

10 generations later

So far, 10 generations of the Twining family have overseen the business across the years. We still have members of the Twining family working for us today, making sure all of our products meet the same high standards set by Thomas in the early 18th Century.

the Royal Warrant

Twinings has a Royal Warrant from H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, which means we supply tea for the Royal Household to drink, something we’ve done proudly since 1837. We are equally proud to also have a Royal Warrant for H.R.H. The Prince of Wales.

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