100 Years of Monarchy and Democracy: A History of Leadership

100 Years of Monarchy and Democracy: A History of Leadership

Twinings is proud to be featured in Monarchy and Democracy: A History of Leadership, a new commemorative publication produced as part of an official History of Parliament project, in partnership with publisher, St James’s House.

The book reflects 100 years of modern monarchy and Commonwealth democracy, exploring a period of profound political, social and cultural change. Alongside contributions from leading historians and commentators, it also highlights organisations whose heritage, values and contribution continue to shape the future.

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The mastery of blending

In the book, royal correspondent Russell Myers speaks to Stephen and Matthew Twining about one of the defining parts of the Twinings story our business: the art and science of blending tea.

“To understand Twinings’ philosophy of sourcing and blending tea to a high quality, you have to understand tea,” says Stephen Twining, tenth generation of the Twinings family. “Tea is like wine. Every time you pick it, if the weather conditions change, the tea has a different profile. However, your cup of English Breakfast or Earl Grey never changes - that is the art of blending tea.”

That expertise dates back to 1706, when Thomas Twining opened Tom’s Coffee House on the Strand and began selling dry tea for customers to enjoy at home. Delivering consistent taste and quality was as important then as it is today. That commitment was recognised when Queen Victoria granted Twinings its first Royal Warrant in 1837, and Twinings has supplied every reigning monarch since.

“Our commitment to quality and blending really sets us apart,” says Matthew Twining, the eleventh generation of the family and
currently training to become a Twinings Master Blender. It takes at least nine years to achieve this title, and today our team of 14 Master Blenders has more than 250 years of combined experience. “We drink 100 million cups of tea a day in Britain, and a lot of effort goes into making each teabag. We taste every blend at least six times before it reaches the consumer - and we’ve been doing that for hundreds of years. Today, that same dedication underpins Twinings’ global footprint, with the brand enjoyed by consumers in more than 120 countries.”

Quality, innovation and responsibility

Twinings’ dedication to quality has endured throughout its history. In the 18th century, when high tea taxes led to widespread adulteration and smuggling, Mary Twining insisted on blending and selling only the finest teas while others compromised on standards.

Innovation has been just as important. From selling dry tea in a
coffee-house era, to introducing herbal and fruit infusions, to expanding into botanical blends, the core skill has remained the same: understanding natural ingredients and blending them to create a consistent taste people can rely on.

Twinings also continues to support the communities behind every cup. As a founding member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, and through our Sourced with Care programme, the business works to improve social and environmental conditions across tea-growing regions. That includes sourcing from Rainforest Alliance Certified estates, carrying out Twinings Community Needs Assessments, an initiative that monitors living and working conditions in the tea gardens it sources from, and helping reduce the environmental impact across the supply chain.

Grounded in agriculture, shaped by heritage and driven by innovation, Twinings continues to use centuries of expertise to make wellbeing enjoyable and accessible for all.

Sharing the Twinings story on a global stage

The publication will be distributed to parliaments, universities and institutions across the UK, Europe and the Commonwealth, reaching more than one million readers. It offers an opportunity to share the Twinings story with an international civic and educational audience, reflective of the brand’s global reach.

Twinings is honoured to be included in a publication reflecting on a century of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary leadership, and proud to see its story featured in this significant moment in parliamentary and royal
history.