The black tea of English tradition is Darjeeling black tea. It arrived in England in the 17th century, the result of a happy accident, and the British have been enjoying it ever since.

Darjeeling black tea: the British favourite

In the 17th century, the British sourced their tea from China. Variety was limited, so they purchased first-quality green teas through the East India Company. Legend has it that one shipment fell victim to poor storage conditions.

The tea leaves, stored below the waterline, fermented in the heat of the sun. By the time the cargo reached London, the character of the tea had changed entirely. Yet the British found they preferred this new, dark brew to the green teas they had known before, and began adding milk to soften its taste.

The "cup of tea": a symbol of British life

Gradually, the milky cup of tea became the national drink of the United Kingdom. The humble Darjeeling tea bag became an image the country projects to the world. Over the years, the British "cup of tea" also took root in India.