To truly have an affinity for the cherished pastime that we know and love, it is helpful to understand and appreciate the history behind the tradition. Our retreat may have been thoroughly filled with afternoon tea, but it was also packed with educational lectures and tours to deepen our knowledge of fine china, tea tasting, tea companies, and more. Jane Pettigrew, our award-winning, London-based contributing editor, joined us for fascinating presentations on British tea history and a tasting of five rare teas that was enjoyed by all and said to be “totally fabulous in every way.” And Steven Twining, the 10th generation of his family to work in the Twinings tea company, shared an overview of the venerable business’s 300 years. Private tours of The Chitra Collection (an exclusive museum of historic tea wares) and the Victoria & Albert Museum were exceptionally captivating as the group “oohed and aahed” over stunning teacups, antique accoutrements, and a one-of-a-kind diamond-adorned teapot worth an astonishing $3,000,000.
After a few wonderful and busy days in London, we were ready to escape to the slower pace of the English countryside to see the picturesque sights of Stoke-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, and Chesterfield—where we would reside for a few nights at the lovely Hotel Van Dyk. While we traded city scenes for glorious rolling hills, we were able to visit Burleigh Middleport Pottery, Royal Crown Derby, Emma Bridgewater, and World of Wedgwood for tours of several of the facilities and factories, history of the famous brands, and, of course, a bit of shopping for those who wanted to add a souvenir, or two or 10, to their china cabinets.
One of the most memorable highlights of our excursion was the hands-on baking class led by lauded chef Ross Sneddon, Executive Pastry Chef at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland. Participants of our group gathered at the School of Artisan Food in Welbeck to partake in an informative, interesting, and fun-filled day full of learning how to make macarons, lemon curd, and scones from scratch. “Since I’m not much of a baker (or a cook), I was surprised by how much fun this was,” one participant admits. Though the scrumptious treats that we made that day are now far in our past, the amusement we had and the new culinary tricks we inherited were carried back with us to America.
Twenty readers of the magazine signed up for a week immersed in everything tea-related, not knowing that they would return home with much more than simply a floral teacup and some great tea blends tucked away in their suitcases. Friendships were formed, a community with similar interests was generated, and phenomenal memories were created that will last a lifetime. Beyond the photos of the amazing sights that will live on our camera rolls forever and the sumptuous afternoon teas that we now long for, is a desire to once again raise our teacups high with our new friends in toast to another amazing adventure together, along with crossing off another destination on our teacup lists.
Stay tuned for details coming soon about dates for our upcoming retreats! For more information, visit teatimemagazine.com/retreats/.
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TeaTime Travels Abroad offers great tips on exploring new places and enjoying local culture while traveling. When planning accommodations, checking hotelbeds reviews can help make better choices and avoid surprises at check-in. Real guest feedback often gives a clearer picture of what to expect than promotional photos alone.