TWG Tea Debuts in the UK with Two Salons in London
TWG Tea entered the European market with the launch of two stand-alone tea salons and boutiques in the heart of London, in Knightsbridge and Leicester Square.
Opened in early July, the three-story tea salon and boutique at Knightsbridge, Brompton Road, features a sky-high tea wall filled with over 800 varieties of fine harvests and exclusive tea blends from every tea producing region, tea accessories, hand-painted tea tins and tea accoutrements. Furnishings of hard wood, bright reverse painted mirrors, burnished brass, imperial yellow Italian marble floor, an open skylight and picturesque scenes reminiscent of an Indian summer on the one-of-a-kind intricate silk wallpaper adorn the walls of the first-floor tea salon. The first floor houses another intimate tea salon with its own tea bar where TWG Tea’s harvests are prepared.
The two-story tea salon and boutique located in the heart of Leicester Square marks TWG Tea’s 70th tea salon and boutique in the world. Coming in the second half of the year, this location will house the inaugural TWG Tea Museum, showcasing vintage artifacts and antique tea wares such as Russian Samovars and enamel teapots. A chinoiserie balustrade is a key focal point from the ground floor as customers enter the boutique. The décor in the Leicester Square salon features hard wood floors with gold trimmings, burnished brass, hand-painted mirrors, antique furnishing, rattan-backed velvet chairs, imperial yellow Italian marble floors and pillars wrapped in tea tins. The ceiling lighting feature is shaped in the form of a tea leaf. And, a first of its kind outside of the Singapore salons, one of the main highlights in this venue is the chocolate bon bon and ice cream counter, which also features a wide selection of sweet treats all infused with the myriad flavours of TWG Tea’s teas.
Founded by Taha Bouqdib and Maranda Barnes in Singapore, TWG Tea offers single estate, fine harvest and exclusive teas from 46 tea-producing regions, including direct-sourced teas from tea gardens and estates worldwide including Persia, Turkey and South America and new varieties are introduced seasonally. TWG Tea Salons & Boutique mainly offer loose leaf teas, however, there are a range of over 40 different varieties of tea bag blends available in the salons, including some London exclusive teas, such as Earl Grey Gentleman, London-Singapore Tea, Darjeeling Britannia, London High Tea and Bond Street Tea.
“We are thrilled to announce London as the first European city to offer not one but two boutique and salons,” says TWG Tea president, CEO and co-founder Taha Bouqdib. “As a nation that drinks millions of cups of tea each day, it was a natural next step for Maranda and me to create a contemporary haven of tea time glamour in London.”
He says that [TWG Tea] has noticed a considerable demand for high-quality tea in the UK and seen a shift in consumers wanting a greater offering in fine teas. “The opening on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge and in London’s Leicester Square is our biggest and most exciting yet and with fine gastronomy offering in both salons we’re looking forward to being able to offer new and existing customers a new level of tea offering,” says Bouqdib.
TWG Tea, was established in Singapore and celebrates the year 1837 when the island became a trading post for teas, spices and fine epicurean products. TWG Tea, which stands for The Wellbeing Group, was founded by Taha Bouqdib, Maranda Barnes and Rith Aum-Stievenard in 2008 as a luxury concept that incorporates unique and original retail outlets, exquisite tea rooms and an international distribution network to professionals. Committed to offering teas directly sourced from gardens, TWG Tea’s collection includes fine harvests from every tea producing country and exclusive hand-crafted tea blends. TWG Tea also offers signature modern tea accessories and tea-infused sweets and savouries.
Over the last ten years, TWG Tea has launched 70 salons and boutiques in 19 countries and is distributed across 42 countries, including Vancouver, New Delhi, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Seoul. Most recent launches have included TWG Tea’s debut in New Delhi, India and a TWG Tea Bar in Beijing.
European online orders can be made at www.Harrods.com; online orders within the USA can be made at www.DeanDeluca.com; Canadian orders may be made online at www.VansingDG.com; worldwide online orders can be made directly from the TWG Tea e-Boutique and m-Boutique at www.TWGTea.com.
