Twinings
Also known as: Twinings, Twinings tea, Twinings of London, R. Twining and Company, Twinings 216 Strand
British tea brand dating from 1706, when Thomas Twining began selling tea at Tom's Coffee House on the Strand in London; it has held a Royal Warrant since 1837.
Twinings is a British tea brand that traces its history to 1706, when Thomas Twining opened Tom's Coffee House on the Strand in London and began selling dry tea to take away. Today the company calls its flagship shop simply 216 Strand.
Queen Victoria granted its first Royal Warrant in 1837. The family is represented in the business by the tenth and eleventh generations, Stephen and Matthew Twining. According to the 2025 annual report of Associated British Foods, Twinings sits in its Grocery segment; its main tea-bag factories are in Andover (UK) and Swarzędz (Poland).
The brand is sold in more than 120 countries, and 14 Master Blenders compose its blends. The range covers black tea (English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Assam), green tea, fruit and herbal infusions, and several versions of Darjeeling tea.
Facts
| Year founded | 1706, Tom's Coffee House on the Strand, London; flagship shop: 216 Strand |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom; tea-bag factories in Andover (UK) and Swarzędz (Poland) |
| Status | Royal Warrant since 1837 (Queen Victoria); in ABF's Grocery segment (2025 report) |
| House range | Black tea (English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Assam), green, fruit and herbal, Discovery Collection, Darjeeling |
How it connects to Tea & herbal infusions
Links
- Part of
- 🍵 Tea
- Similar and different
- 🍵 Darjeeling tea
Frequently asked questions
Who carries on the Twinings family business today?
The family is represented by the tenth and eleventh generations, Stephen and Matthew Twining.
What did the first Twinings shop sell?
Dry tea to take away: Thomas Twining opened Tom's Coffee House on the Strand in London in 1706. The flagship shop is now called 216 Strand.
Does Twinings sell anything besides black tea?
Yes: green tea, fruit and herbal infusions, and several versions of the brand's Darjeeling.
Sources
- Twinings — 100 years of monarchy and democracy: a history of leadership
- Associated British Foods — Annual Report 2025
- ABF — Waste and packaging, Grocery
- Twinings UK — Collections
- Twinings UK — Darjeeling 40 tea bags