Tea With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson & Giveaway

One of my favorite tea books is Tea With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson. Not only does it feed my tea addiction, it feeds my Jane Austen addiction as well.

Chocked full of tidbits about Jane Austen, tea in the Regency era, and Regency era recipes, this is one book that I am proud to have in my collection.

 

Now the answer to yesterday’s trivia question: Where did Jane Austen purchase her tea?

Answer: Twinings of London

Here is a bit more about Jane and her tea.

Tea, once considered a luxury for the rich had become a necessity in Jane Austen’s time. From Jane Austen’s letters to her sister, Cassandra, we see that the Austen family purchased their tea from Twinings.

I am sorry to hear that there has been a rise in tea. I do not mean to pay Twining till later in the day, when we may order a fresh supply. -Letter from Jane Austen to Cassandra, 6 March 1814

If Jane went to the Twinings warehouse, 216 The Strand, to order her supply, she would have crossed through a doorway that looks almost the same as it does today. Once inside she would have been able to choose from a dozen or more varieties of tea:

Black Teas:     Medium Teas:           Green Teas:

Bohea               Imperial                     Hyson

Pekoe                Bing                           Gunpowder

Congou

Souchong

Often in the Regency era tea was either called Bohea, meaning black or Hyson, meaning green. In her works, Jane Austen only refers to “tea” probably referring to black and “green tea”. Unfortunately, Twinings has no record of the type of amount Jane purchased, although she once referred to “China Tea‘” It is likely that the Austen’s would have bought several pounds at a time.

I would also like to say thank you to Heather R. for adding the link to Bingley Teas.  If you have not had the opportunity to sip a cuppa of their Austen-inspired teas, I suggest that you give them a go. 

One of my favorites is Emma’s Perfect Match.

Giveaway Time:

I have 1 copy of Tea With Jane Austen to giveaway.

Giveaway is international and ends December 17

To enter, please leave your name.

If you want to join in on the fun, leave your answer to the following trivia question:

What place does this 1827 painting by George Catlin depict?

Here are a few more clues:The triangular building in the center is located on what would be known as "Paradise Square", Anthony Street veers off on right, Cross Street on the left and Orange Street runs left to right in foreground

Best Wishes & Good Luck,

Angela