faq RSS

Typically, though not exclusively, a black tea’s name will refer to its origin of growth.   Indian Black Teas Darjeeling The tea variety Camellia Sinensis Sinensis – the Chinese variety of the plant – took well to the soil, humidity, and altitude offered by Darjeeling hills. However, the tea produced here seemed to obtain a different taste profile to the Chinese tea that people were familiar with – its non-astringency and floweriness was preserved from the Chinese plant, but the conditions in Darjeeling gave this tea a sweetness that had not been seen before in a black tea. Darjeeling tea...

It is the beginning of the new year, a time many of us use as an opportunity to reflect on practices which we can change to improve our way of living. Switching to loose leaf tea is a small step you can take to immediately improve not only your enjoyment of the nation’s favourite beverage, but also improve your health and lessen your environmental impact. Here’s how: Environmental Impact The average tea consumption per head in the UK is currently estimated at 2-3 cups per day. This comes to the length of 31,000 football pitches every year! With many commercially available teabags...

The Christmas spirit is catching here at Char, and we have already had a few people asking about buying Christmas presents!  With that in mind, we have created a handy helper for anyone intimidated by how many types of tea we have to make sure your recipient is grinning ear-to-ear with their first brew on Christmas morning!   Quick links to the teas in our Christmas tea gift chooser You can find any of the teas in our gift chooser by using our site search, or by following the links below: Sweet, Loose Leaf and Caffeine-Free Rooibos Scent of Christmas...

We get many questions at Char about our Winchester Afternoon Tea, and how an Afternoon Tea differs from a Breakfast Tea. In order to fully answer this, we are outlining the origins of the practise of Afternoon Tea, traditional decorum for participating in an Afternoon Tea, and how to hold your own Afternoon Tea party. The History of Afternoon Tea Tea has been consumed at all times of day and night since the 3rd millennium BC in China. In England, tea only became popular in 1660 under the influence of Queen Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese wife of King Charles...