Tea Time

It is a truth universally acknowledged that as a nation, we love nothing more than a nice cup of tea and a sit down. Whether it’s from a china cup and saucer with a lovely scone; or in the biggest mug you can find with a rich tea biscuit and newspaper, it’s an institution entirely our own. Problem is it’s just not the same when you leave good old Blighty.

Travelling tea is disappointing from the outset. From the metallic-tasting variety you get on the plane (caused I was once told, by a lower boiling point at altitude...answers on a postcard please) to the sugary sappy stuff you find on street stalls in Asia. Needless to say, it doesn’t have to be this way: there are in fact a couple of destinations outside rainy – but lovely – England where you can get a great cuppa (unbelievable I know, but bear with me here) and a great experience to boot. And are we going to tell you where they are? Not for all the tea in China. Oh go on then...

1.Yunnan Province, China.
A long way away it may be, but for true connoisseurs, China is as good as it gets. Taking part in a traditional tea ceremony at a home-stay in the breathtaking Yunnan Province is the real deal. Learn the intricacies of tea ceremony etiquette – which direction to stir, where to tap on the table to show your appreciation to the server, and how to tell what your host thinks of you by their serving style – before continuing your journey through the cavernous Yangzte River Basin. Our advice? Book into the exclusive Banyan Tree Lijiang for a couple of days pampering before returning home.

2.Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling.
If China is the birthplace of tea, then Darjeeling is where it grew up. Of all the plantations perched beneath the towering Kachenjunga mountain range, in the foothills of the Himalayas, Glenburn is the people’s favourite – and rightly so. After a helicopter transfer, the regal colonial decor in the Burra Bungalow will transport you to the golden age of tea planting. Take a tour, taste your tea and watch the sun go down on the veranda with the most authentic brew of your life.