"Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!" ~ Agatha Christie

Fortnum & Mason has nearly as much experience of selling tea as Britain has of drinking it – some three centuries’ worth, in fact, since the early eighteenth century.

This fun and deeply authoritative guide whisks you through all the information you need to get the most out of your cuppa. It instructs on how to make the perfect brew or infusion and helps identify a wide range of teas to try that will suit different tastes whether for a single estate Darjeeling, a smoky or a delicate tea from China or a regular builder’s. It also explores which teas are best to kickstart the day, revive the spirits or soothe at evening’s end. And now, enough of the talk, it’s Time for Tea.

Hard cover. 240 pages. 7.5" x 8.5" x 1.15".

About Fortnum & Mason

Since 1707, Fortnum & Mason has stood proudly in London’s Piccadilly, known around the world as a symbol of British tradition, good taste, and impeccable service.

Founded by William Fortnum, a footman in Queen Anne’s royal household, and his enterprising landlord Hugh Mason, the shop began with a brilliant bit of recycling: Fortnum repurposed the half-used candles from the royal palace, selling them to London’s elite. With the Queen’s cast-offs and a sharp eye for opportunity, a legend was born.

Over the centuries, Fortnum’s became known not only for its high-quality provisions but also for its inventive spirit — from creating the first Scotch egg to perfecting the art of the picnic hamper. Their goods have accompanied explorers, soldiers, suffragettes, and even astronauts, and they’ve held a royal warrant for every monarch since George III.

An astounding blend of the traditional, indulgent, and inventive, Fortnum & Mason is a quintessentially British institution - a wonder for the senses on every visit!