Tea

Tea display, Boscombe shop

Tea has been imported from China into Britain since at least 1660. At first it was an expensive luxury that only the very rich enjoyed. During Victorian times it was also grown in India and Sri Lanka. Tea leaves grown in different regions have a different taste. Grocers would mix tea leaves from different regions to make their own blends. They would take into account the likes and dislikes of their customers, and whether they lived in an area where the water was hard or soft.  

This picture shows a display of tea in a Sainsbury’s shop window. In late Victorian times the government reduced the taxes on tea. This made it more affordable. In 1903 Sainsbury’s started to sell their own blends of ready packaged tea. These became known by the colour of the seal on the packet: Yellow, Blue, Green, Red and Brown Label.

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