Moja ya mambo mimi hasa upendo kuhusu blog yangu ni bendera yangu. I’m not really sure how many people click on that little ‘About’ tab at the top of the page and take the time to read the About Me, About This Blog, na About My Banner pages, so I thought I’d be a bit cheeky and splash them out to you over the next few days.
The Chai nchini Uingereza banner was a collaborative effort between myself and London illustrator Emma Block. (Okay, sawa, yes, she did the hard part.) I knew what I wanted in the banner, and the very talented Emma made it happen.
Dotted across the illustrated landscape of the Tea in England banner are representations of what I believe to be the more important contributions to England’s tea history:
Tregothnan, Cornwall – Tea Plant · Home to the first tea grown in England.
Devon Tearoom · See that cute little sign in the window? There’s nothing like a Cream Tea in Devon, birthplace of the Cream Chai.
Stoke-on-Trent – Teacup · Teacups, teapots, teawares – and more. England’s ceramics industry base for over 300 years.
Woburn Abbey · Anna, 7th Duchess of Bedford, lived here and in 1840 she ‘invented’ the ritual of Alasiri Chai.
Village Féte · I love fete’s, fairs, na county shows. Look for me in the tea tent.
Big Ben · Represents London, a city I love and one with a rich tea history. Appropriately, it’s three o’clock – teatime!
Locket engraved with Rex CII & Regina C · In 1662, Charles II’s new bride arrived in Portsmouth from Portugal. Her name was Catherine wa Braganza and she brought with her an impressive dowry: money (lots of it); a city (little place called Bombay); and tea. Catherine had tea trending in England long before the Twitter hash tag.
Teapot Balloon · In the 17th and 18th centuries, hot air balloon rides were given at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, London’s famous tea gardens. So that’s me up there, teacup in hand, travelling across England visiting fantastic places and tea-centred spaces.
Cutty Sark · The great tea clipper. Newly refurbished and now a living history museum in Greenwich, just east of London. If tea clippers could talk . . . . .
I hope this post has been an enjoyable insight into the people, maeneo, and things that I consider to be important factors in the story and history of Tea in England.
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Asante!