Tea tips

Heatwaves and floods have had a hugely detrimental impact on India’s tea production, with excessive heat in May followed by flooding in Assam hitting output level. As a result it's estimated that the average price of tea could rise by up to a fifth.

A JetBlue passenger who says she was scalded by hot tea is suing the airline for $1.5 million, according to court documents filed last Friday.

If they can grow tea in England, why not Scotland? So pondered Susie Walker-Munro after hearing about Cornwall’s Tregothnan Estate. An idea took root, but her plan wouldn’t be without challenges — not least Scotland’s short growing season and harsh winters. 

A few fashionable streets away from the stucco-fronted The Kensington Hotel, in South Kensington, culturalists have been lining up at the V&A to take in its blockbuster Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto exhibition. One of the most popular exhibits in recent years, and the first UK exhibition dedicated to the work of ‘Coco’ Chanel, it chartsthe evolution of the designer’s iconic design style and the establishment of the House of Chanel. With over 200 pieces, it charts Chanel’s meteoric rise, from the opening of her first millinery boutique in Paris in 1910 to the showing of her final collection in 1971.

Ever since I was a little girl I’d dreamed of going to Darjeeling. My imagination was captivated by this town nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Indian state of West Bengal. Surrounded by lush, terraced tea gardens that extend across rolling hills, with the majestic snow-capped mountains behind them, Darjeeling is one of India’s most stunning hill stations, known as the Queen of the Mountains.

A certain festive season lasts only a few weeks (or maybe months, these days), but it’s tea season all winter long. Hotels around the world are staying true to the afternoon tea traditions they’ve maintained for generations, while others are upping their game with partnerships with luxury beauty brands, premium caviar purveyors and famous Champagne houses. Here are 13 hotels where the afternoon ritual is worth dolling yourself up, stepping out into the chill and being rewarded with cozy (or boozy) beverages and delicate, delicious bites.

The Faroe Islands feature one of lushest, most dramatic landscapes on the planet.

Just in time for spooky season, and to celebrate Wicked’s 20th Anniversary on Broadway, The Plaza is adding a themed tea to its afternoon menu this October.

London has no shortage of amazing places for enjoying afternoon tea but the one I return to time after time is the Pret-a-Portea at the Berkeley, where Executive Pastry Chef Mourad Khiat creates gorgeous pastries based on the season’s hottest runway looks.

As much a textural marvel as a refreshing drink, bubble tea is one of Taiwan’s most renowned cultural exports. The eponymous ‘bubbles’ aren’t the result of carbonation, but a pile of chewy, sweet, balls of starch that sit at the bottom of the cup and are sucked up along with the liquid through an extra-wide straw.

This August, my four daughters, two sisters, and mom all hopped on a train from Michigan to Chicago with one special purpose in mind: to visit the American Girl store.

Having journeyed through London with my excited five-year-old by my side this summer, I've realized that the UK's bustling capital, often imagined as a playground for adults, holds numerous hidden treasures for the younger ones. If your child dreams of Peppa Pig adventures and majestic palaces like mine, London will transform those vivid fantasies into cherished memories. Beyond the iconic landmarks they recognize from beloved cartoons, the city offers unique and often overlooked experiences tailored just for children. Here are the best activities for kids in London.

Few rock musicians are better qualified to talk about the intersection of music and healing than Rick Allen, drummer of Def Leppard . The band’s album ‘ Pyromania ’ was selling millions of copies in the U.S. and their videos were all over MTV when in 1984 he lost his left arm in a car crash. His bandmates famously stood by him and he remained in the group — retraining himself with new techniques and a customized electronic drum kit. Allen’s Raven Drum Foundation now helps other survivors of trauma. I spoke with Allen about the power of drum circles, drinking tea with AC/DC’s Bon Scott and the music he is most proud of making.

Hushed voices, the scratch of a bamboo whisk, then a bow, a nod and a bowl of steaming matcha is handed around. Any delicate sounds in the room are amplified by the formality of the occasion – so quiet you can hear people holding their breath – which heightens the sense that something very important is going on. This is a tea ceremony in full swing: the ultimate in Japanese hospitality.

Famously described by Marco Polo as the finest island of its size in the world, Sri Lanka continues to enchant today. The island has some of the world's most beautiful beaches, a rich historical legacy, national parks filled with leopards and elephants, waterfalls splashing down mountain slopes and tea. A lot of tea.

It’s no secret that, for Brits, tea is not just tea – it’s a national institution, and one of the best things to do in England. All too often, though, treating yourself to an afternoon tea can mean eating tiny sandwiches and slightly dry slices of cake, then paying £50 for the privilege. Those days are over – we’ve done all the arduous research for you, so you can enjoy an altogether more appetising experience. Let us help you find the best afternoon tea in London with our favourites.