TWG Tea recently opened in IFC and yes, I thought those letters stood for Twinings, another tea company. TWG stands for The Wellness Group, and this tea company "is a luxury concept that incorporates an international distribution network to professionals, unique and original retail outlets and exquisite tea rooms". Now, Twinings is everywhere. They're the Walmart of teas, so I truly thought Twinings was trying to go for a high end look. My face is so red right now.
This new shop is a time transporter. As soon as you step in, you feel incredibly English, and that tea is the most important thing in the world. Loose leaf tea is sold in tins of various shapes, and there are hand sewn cotton tea bags if you prefer a single serving. A box of tea is a nice gift on its own, but there are beautiful samplers, and it's quite difficult to look away from a set of 5-6 mini tea tins. Some full-sized sets come with a metal scoop to add to that old world feel. There are also chocolate bars with original style wrapping and modern tin designs, such as White Christmas or White House Tea for white tea. The other side of the shop is a restaurant and the pastry counter is quite impressive as well.
My visit today was my first and last, because their prices really reflect what one of the co-founders describes as "couture" tea.
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