Twinings story started in 1706, when the most popular drinks in Englands were coffee, gin and ale. Although tea had been drunk in China for thousands of years it had only just begun to be imported to England. Thomas Twining had a passion for tea and began selling it from his coffee house on London's Strand, with a promise to sell only the finest qualities and varieties of Tea. By the 1750's Tea was the most popular drink of choice amongst the English working classes.

300 years later Twinings passion for tea is still present and a large part of their business. They still sell tea from Thomas's original shop - The Golden Lyon; and his promise to sell only the finest qualities and varieties of teas remains a promise unbroken by Twinings to this day.