Twinings
Encyclopedia
Twinings (ˈtwaɪnɪŋz) is a marketer of tea
based in Andover
, Hampshire
, England
.
, opened the first known tea room, at 216 Strand, London
, in 1706, which is still operating today. The firm's logo, created in 1787, is one of the world's oldest in continuous use. Holder of a Royal Warrant
, Twinings has been owned by Associated British Foods
since 1964. Twinings sells a variety of regional and flavoured teas such as Lapsang Souchong
, Lady Grey and Darjeeling
, as well as infusions
, coffee, and hot chocolate. It is generally accepted that the company was the first to blend Earl Grey
in Britain during the premiership of Charles, 2nd Earl Grey
, although this is disputed by rival tea merchants Jacksons of Piccadilly
, which is owned by Twinings.
The company is a founding member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, a group of tea-packing companies that work for a fair trade
policy and monitor the ethical conditions on tea estates.
Twinings owns Nambarrie
, a tea company based in Belfast
, Northern Ireland, in trade for 140 years. In April 2008 Twinings announced their decision to close the Nambarrie plant. Twinings said it needed to consolidate its UK manufacturing operations in the face of increasing global competition, and is moving production to China
and Poland
in late 2011.
, lobbying for unfair EU sugar rules and for owning subsidiaries in tax havens. In the Ethical Consumer
magazine on a scale of 0 to 20 where 0–4 is ranked as Very Poor, Twinings receives a score of 2 as of October 2009.
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
based in Andover
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The founder of Twinings, Thomas TwiningThomas Twining (merchant)
Thomas Twining was an English merchant, and the founder of Twinings....
, opened the first known tea room, at 216 Strand, London
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
, in 1706, which is still operating today. The firm's logo, created in 1787, is one of the world's oldest in continuous use. Holder of a Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
, Twinings has been owned by Associated British Foods
Associated British Foods
Associated British Foods plc is a global food, ingredients and retail company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its ingredients division is the world's second largest producer of both sugar and baker's yeast and a major producer of other ingredients including emulsifiers, enzymes and lactose...
since 1964. Twinings sells a variety of regional and flavoured teas such as Lapsang Souchong
Lapsang souchong
Lapsang souchong is a black tea originally from the Wuyi region of the Chinese province of Fujian. It is sometimes referred to as smoked tea...
, Lady Grey and Darjeeling
Darjeeling tea
Darjeeling tea is a black tea from the Darjeeling region in West Bengal, India. When properly brewed, it yields a thin-bodied, light-colored infusion with a floral aroma...
, as well as infusions
Infusion
An infusion is the outcome of steeping plants with desired chemical compounds or flavors in water or oil.-History:The first recorded use of essential oils was in the 10th or 11th century by the Persian polymath Avicenna, possibly in The Canon of Medicine.-Preparation techniques:An infusion is very...
, coffee, and hot chocolate. It is generally accepted that the company was the first to blend Earl Grey
Earl Grey tea
Earl Grey tea is a tea blend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit....
in Britain during the premiership of Charles, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
, although this is disputed by rival tea merchants Jacksons of Piccadilly
Jacksons of Piccadilly
Jacksons of Piccadilly is a London tea house, begun by Robert Jackson in 1815. It has earned several Royal Warrants, from Queen Victoria, King George V and numerous other royals through the 19th and 20th centuries. The company also claims to have invented the “original” recipe for Earl Grey tea,...
, which is owned by Twinings.
Twinings Today
During 2005, Twinings introduced its first generic, non-speciality tea, under the brand 'Everyday Tea'. In 2006 they started producing a tinned chocolate drink, and in 2007 they also launched a selection of tinned coffees onto the market.The company is a founding member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, a group of tea-packing companies that work for a fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
policy and monitor the ethical conditions on tea estates.
Twinings owns Nambarrie
Nambarrie
Nambarrie is the brand name of a tea company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, owned by Twinings. On 10 April 2008 Nambarrie announced its plans to close its factory in Belfast. The factory is now closed and production currently takes place in England....
, a tea company based in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland, in trade for 140 years. In April 2008 Twinings announced their decision to close the Nambarrie plant. Twinings said it needed to consolidate its UK manufacturing operations in the face of increasing global competition, and is moving production to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in late 2011.
Criticism
Despite being a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, Twinings is linked to a number of ethical and environmental issues. The criticism includes the worst ECRA rating for environmental reporting, palm oil useEnvironmental impact of palm oil
Palm oil, produced from the oil palm, is a basic source of income for many farmers in South East Asia, Central and West Africa, and Central America. It is locally used as a cooking oil, exported for use in many commercial food and personal care products and is converted into biofuel. It produces up...
, lobbying for unfair EU sugar rules and for owning subsidiaries in tax havens. In the Ethical Consumer
Ethical Consumer
Ethical Consumer is a not-for-profit UK magazine and , founded in 1989, which publishes information on the social, ethical and environmental behaviour of companies and issues around trade justice and ethical consumerism. It defines its mission as to "promote universal human rights, environmental...
magazine on a scale of 0 to 20 where 0–4 is ranked as Very Poor, Twinings receives a score of 2 as of October 2009.
Notable members of the Twining family
- Elizabeth TwiningElizabeth TwiningElizabeth Twining was an English botanical illustrator.-Biography and drawing:Elizabeth was born in 1805 into the Twinings tea merchant family, one of the nine children of Richard Twining and his wife Elizabeth Mary Smythies. Raised in a privileged area of London, she learned art and drawing as...
(1805–1889), botanical illustratorBotanical illustratorA botanical illustrator is a person who paints, sketches or otherwise illustrates botanical subjects such as trees and flowers. The job requires great artistic skill, attention to fine detail, and technical botanical knowledge...
. - Edward Twining, Baron TwiningEdward Twining, Baron TwiningEdward Francis Twining, Baron Twining, GCMG, MBE, KStJ, , known as Sir Edward Twining from 1949 to 1958, was a British diplomat, formerly Governor of North Borneo and Governor of Tanganyika. He was a member of the Twining tea family...
(1899–1967), British colonial governor. - Thomas TwiningThomas TwiningThomas Twining may refer to:*Thomas Twining , English merchant and founder of the Twinings tea company*Thomas Twining , English scholar and classicist, grandson of the above...
(1735-1804), classical scholar.