United KingdomOverview
Whittard of Chelsea traces itself to 1886, when Walter Whittard opened a tea shop in London. The business later moved to Chelsea, and the family kept it until 1973. This collection gathers eight of the house's teas in separate vintage-style cartons, 20 traditional bags of each, 160 in all.
English Breakfast and Tippy Assam are pure black tea; Earl Grey and English Rose are black tea with flavouring; Afternoon blends 70 percent black with 29 percent green. Jasmine, Marrakesh Mint and Mango & Bergamot are the greens. The collection is a product of the UK and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Whittard's instructions give 98°C water for 3 to 5 minutes, and an iced method with a 15 minute steep. Nothing in the box is caffeine-free. Price $48.95 on the US store, with standard delivery in 7 to 9 working days.
Taste & variety
Eight teas, and the first four are the backbone of any British cupboard: English Breakfast, 100 percent black and described as malty; Tippy Assam, also pure black and richly robust; Earl Grey at 96 percent black tea with bergamot; and English Rose, 95 percent black with floral flavouring.
Afternoon is the odd one out, a blend of 70 percent black and 29 percent green. The other three are green: Jasmine, 100 percent green tea and described as fragrant; Marrakesh Mint, 80 percent green and 20 percent peppermint, which Whittard calls smoky; and Mango & Bergamot, 97 percent green.
Packaging & gift appeal
Each tea has its own patterned vintage-style carton. That is the real attraction for a shelf-minded gift: eight small cartons keep a kitchen counter in order, and when one is empty it is the carton you replace, not the whole set. The bags are traditional and the collection is a product of the UK, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, at a combined weight of 400g. After the tins and wooden drawers other houses use, patterned cartons feel modest, but they do the job.
What is in the box
160 traditional tea bags, 20 each of English Breakfast, Earl Grey, English Rose, Tippy Assam, Afternoon, Jasmine, Marrakesh Mint and Mango & Bergamot, in eight individual boxes.
Key features
- 160 tea bags, 20 of each of eight teas
- Each tea in its own patterned vintage-style box
- Five black or black-based teas and three green
- Product of the UK, suitable for vegetarians and vegans
Our verdict
Eight house classics, 20 bags of each, in cartons that tidy a kitchen counter. It is a present for a household, not a ritual, and it will not give anyone a December.
Whittard's name lends the set some Chelsea polish, though the sense of occasion is small beside what Fortnum or Mariage Frères manage with their boxes.
What we like
- Eight teas with 20 bags of each, enough to settle on a favourite
- Covers the British classics and a few flavoured teas
- Separate cartons make it easy to share or refill the cupboard
- Product of the UK, suitable for vegetarians and vegans
A few things to know
- No caffeine-free option at all
- Traditional bags, not pyramids or loose leaf
- Ships from Whittard's US store with a 7 to 9 working day standard delivery
Questions about Whittard Tea Discovery Collection
Is Whittard Tea Discovery Collection vegan?
The shop or the box describes it as vegan. That is what the review is going on.
