Smugglers Gallery - Tregothnan

Smugglers and The Tea Bar are situated at Tolverne on the Roseland (eastern) side of the River Fal on Cornwall’s south coast. The cottage itself dates back to the 15th century and is believed to have been built as a ferryman’s home, as this part of the river is an important crossing point between Truro and the Roseland peninsula. The route was also used by pilgrims travelling from London to St Michael's Mount at Marazion. The original ferry ceased operating in 1933 as car traffic increased and was accommodated by the famous King Harry chain ferry at Trelissick.

Although Smugglers Cottage has always been a part of the historic Tregothnan estate, it was tenanted by the Newman family from 1934 until 2010 when Mr & Mrs Newman retired from their roles as publicans. The family first came to Tolverne in 1934 to operate a steam ferry from Truro which would stop at the cottage providing a welcome break and refreshments for passengers. This tradition continues today, as ferry passengers make a beeline to Smugglers to enjoy its unrivalled river views and tempting afternoon teas.

During the early years of their occupancy the Newmans witnessed the most famous, and perhaps the most important, era of Smugglers’ long history. The South West region played a critical role in the build up to the D-Day landings of 1944 and this particular corner of Cornwall played host to thousands of American soldiers, sailors and airmen destined for the beaches of Normandy. Tolverne was one of a handful of disembarkation points along with Trebah garden on the Helford river. To accommodate the amphibious landing craft a long, winding road, beach and slipway were built and still define the character of Tolverne today.

Smugglers hosted perhaps its most famous guest in 1944 when General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, visited the cottage to address thousands of US troops.Today we still fly the American flag to commemorate the thousands of servicemen who left this tranquil spot in Cornwall for Omaha beach, many of whom would never return home. You can still see Eisenhower’s chair, portrait and a number of other interesting memorabilia objects at the cottage.

The cottage’s Uganda Room is testament to another fascinating period in Smugglers' history. The SS Uganda arrived on the river in 1985 and spent her final 13 months here, following a long and honourable career as a hospital ship and troop ship on active service throughout the Falklands conflict under the call sign “Mother Hen”. She later became a pleasure cruiser, transporting school children on education trips and remembered fondly by many. The Uganda room has a wealth of pictures and memorabilia.

Make your event truly special with a bespoke catering and drinks package. Call 01875 580309 or 01872 520000 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When you book a private event at Smugglers, whether it’s a special birthday, anniversary or even your wedding, we'll work with you to create the perfect menu and drinks package. So whilst we hope the following menus inspire you and whet the appetite, please discuss any special requirements and ideas you have with us.

Wedding breakfast

The following is just a small selection of starters, soups, main courses and deserts to select from. Wedding breakfasts from £16.45 per person

Starters:
Caramelized ham hock served on minted pea puree
Cornish duck liver parfait with spiced kea plum chutney & brioche
Chicken Caesar salad with crispy pancetta
Carpaccio of Cornish smoked salmon with cucumber pickle and rustic bread
Steamed St Austell Bay mussels with white wine, parsley and rosemary bread
Tian of Cornish crab with crushed new potatoes and avocado

Soups:
Leek and potato with crème fraiche and chives
Wild mushroom velouté and tarragon
Plum tomato and basil
Parsnip, apple and rosemary
Spinach and goats cheese with walnut oil

Sorbets:
Kea plum sorbet
Green tea sorbet
Mascarpone sorbet
Gin & tonic sorbet
Tomato & basil sorbet
Sauterne and pink grapefruit sorbet

Main courses:
Roasted topside of beef with duck fat potatoes and Yorkshire pudding
Rump of Cornish lamb, gratin potatoes, Roma tomato and basil jus
Breast of maize-fed Cornish chicken with a wild mushroom and tarragon sauce
Loin of organic pork with grain mustard mash and apple & thyme puree
Seared Cornish salmon with crushed potatoes and wilted greens with lemon butter sauce
Chicory tarte tatin with red wine salsify, served with a herb butter sauce
Butternut squash risotto with sage & toasted pumpkin seeds
Wild mushroom lasagne with leek and herb velouté
Sirloin of Scotch aged air-dried beef with parsnip puree, shallots & wild mushrooms
Breast of Cornish duck with honey root vegetables and Kea plum jus
Pan fried wild Cornish sea bass with crushed Charlotte potatoes, purple kale and a rosemary & anchovy dressing
Whole baked lemon sole with lemon & chervil butter and dressed leaves
Roasted Tregothnan estate venison loin, honey roasted root vegetables or braised cavolo nero with a black truffle sauce

Desserts:
Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla pod ice cream
Warm treacle tart with Cornish clotted cream ice cream
Zesty lemon tart with fresh raspberries and coulis
Poached pear and frangipane tart with Tregothnan honey ice cream
Strawberry and mint parfait with clotted cream shortbread
Dark chocolate tart with Tregothnan Earl Grey sorbet
Green tea panna cotta with seasonal fruits and shortbread
Trio of chocolate (bitter fondant, white chocolate panna cotta & milk chocolate ice cream)
Cornish cheese board with homemade chutney and walnut bread

Canapé menu

For a typical pre-dinner canapé reception we suggest allowing 3-4 items person. For a canapé and drinks reception lasting approximately 2 hours we suggest allowing 7-8 items per person. Below is a selection of our most popular canapés, but if you would like anything specific then please ask.

Bruschetta of Allet goats cheese with red onion marmalade
Bruschetta with fine tomato and mozzarella
Soft boiled quail eggs served on tea spoons
Crostini of black olive tapenade with white anchovies
Mini zucchini & mint frittatas
Purple sprouting broccoli wrapped in pancetta
Ham hock terrine with homemade piccalilli
Slow roasted tomato and Cornish cheese puff pastry tarts
Smoked salmon on mini buckwheat blinis & horseradish cream
3 canapés £5.50 per guest
5 canapés £9.50 per guest
7 canapés £12.50 per guest

Smugglers evening barbecue

Local sausages and burgers
Locally caught Mackerel
Mixed dressed salads
Cornish potato salad
Pasta salad or cous-cous
A selection of rustic breads
£16.00 per person

Hot & cold evening buffet

(6 items from the following)
Smoked salmon & cream cheese bagels
Aged Scotch beef and horseradish sandwiches
Mature Cornish Cheddar and tomato chutney sandwiches
Chorizo, basil and mozzarella blinis
Roast vegetable and Cornish cheese quiche
Chicken & vegetable Teriyaki kebabs
Goujons of Sole
Mixed dressed salads
Mini Cornish pasties & sausage rolls
Slow roasted root vegetable salad
Rocket & parmesan salad
£16.00 per person

Evening menu

Comfort food! The perfect way to round off your wedding at Smugglers

Bacon rolls £5.00 per person
Bacon rolls, salmon & cream cheese sandwiches on granary bread £9.00 per person
Smoked salmon & cream cheese sandwiches on granary bread £5.00 per person
Cornish cheese & sun blush tomato baguettes £4.00 per person
Hog roast accompanied by a selection of breads, apple sauce and stuffing £12.00 per person (minimum 100 guests)
Hot pork rolls with apple sauce & stuffing £9.00 per person
Muffins, doughnuts & chocolate brownies £5.00 per person

Drinks Packages

Falmouth package £17.00 per person
Includes arrival drink, (choose from Bucks Fizz, sparkling wine, mulled wine, sherry, fruit punch and non-alcoholic fruit punch, or orange juice) half a bottle of red or white wine per guest served with the meal, glass of sparkling wine for toasting.

Coombe package £20.00 per person
Includes arrival drink (from a selection as above), half a bottle of New World Sauvignon Blanc or Cabernet Sauvignon per guest served with the meal, glass of Champagne for toasting.

Kennack package £23.00 per person
Includes arrival drink (Champagne, Kir Royale or any of the above choices), half a bottle of New World Sauvignon Blanc or Cabernet Sauvignon per guest served with the meal, glass of Champagne for toasting.

Champagne & sparkling wines

Camel Valley Brut NV, Bodmin Cornwall
Bottle £35 Glass £6
Cornwall’s own sparkling wine that has gained international recognition.
“Fresh, lovely, bright, fruity style, good stuff!” – Oz Clarke.

Pinot Grigio Rose Spumante NV, Mirabello
Bottle £19.95 Glass £3.75
Friendly and refreshing with an attractive salmon pink hue. Soft and dry with plenty of strawberry confit flavours.

Prosecco Frizzante NV, Cipriano, Spago Bottle
£19.95 Glass £3.75
This prosecco pleases with its unassuming sweet/sour fruitiness.

Laurent Perrier Brut NV
Bottle £38
In the top rank of Champagne houses, their style is light and elegant. Real finesse tops yeasty, fresh bread undertones and taut apple and citrus fruit. Great complexity and absolute purity.

Devaux Grande Reserve NV, Bar-Sur-Seine, France
Bottle £42
Dynamic producer rated by the UK's leading writer on the region, Tom Stevenson, as one of the top 10 producers to watch. Aromas of baked apples and vanilla give way to a full, rounded palate with a lively persistent finish.

White Wines

Chardonnay-Chenin Blanc 2009/10, Martin Fierro, Bodegas Borbore, San Juan, Argentina
Bottle £13.95
A bright juicy-fruit wine with masses of tropical flavours and pineapple notes. Just a little off-dry for a richer style.

Sauvignon Blanc 2010/11, Urmeneta, Central Valley, Chile
Bottle £14.85
A blend of herbal notes and fresh tropical fruit such as grapefruit, pineapple and mango. It is fresh in style with balanced acidity that enhances the fruity palate.

Pinot Grigio 2010/11, Soprano, Italy
Bottle £14.95
A great example of Vermentino, a speciality from the island of Sardinia, all lemony and zingy, with hints of herbs and alluring white flower aromas. A smart choice with freshly-caught fish.

Domaine des Cassagnoles Gros Manseng "Selection" 2008/9 Gascony, France
Bottle £18.95
Imported direct to Cornwall, this delightful wine, produced from the little-known Gros Manseng variety, has been garnering quite a bit of attention, most recently by The Times as one of their Top 50 Summer Whites, described as bristling "with seductive, lively, faintly exotic greengage and yellow plum-packed fruit. A bold summer aperitif or simple white meat or fish, salad wine."

Sebastien Vaillant Valencay 2009, Loire, France
Bottle £28.00
The Silex (flint) found in this small region was used by Napoleon to arm his men's rifles, and now gives excellent drainage qualities to Valencay's Sauvignon vines and its better-known neighbours, Sancerre and Pouilly. All the vibrancy and freshness of top Loire Sauvignon with better length and weight due to the addition of a smidgeon of Chardonnay.

T'air D'oc Chardonnay 2010, Domaine Gayda, France
Bottle £26
Soft, round and creamy with flavours of melon, pear and herbs and a mineral character.

Red Wines

Shiraz NV, Gulara, S.E. Australia
Bottle £13.95
A juicy, youthful red with plenty of bramble fruit and a hint of pepper.

Merlot 2009/10, Urmeneta, Central Valley, Chile
Bottle £14.85
Dark ruby colour, full of red fruit aromas, perfectly mixed with sweet vanilla and coconut notes. It has a fresh mouth feel, medium body, soft tannins and a long pleasant finish.

Bai Gorri Crianza 2005
Bottle £35
Typical Tempranillo's aromas and flavours combined with elements of berryish fruit, herbaceousness and an earthy leathery minerality.

Rose Wine

Zinfandel Rose 2009/10, Invenio, California
Bottle £14.75
Light fruity rose bursting with strawberry fruits. Medium-sweet but well balanced.

Cabernet-Merlot Rose 2010/11, Urmeneta, Central Valley, Chile
Bottle £14.85
This rose is bright pink in colour, and just off-dry in style yet full of fresh fruity aromas, such as strawberries and plums.

Alpha Zeta Rosato, Veneto, Italy
Bottle £19.95
This wine is a fragrant rosato of impressive gulpability. A vibrant pink colour, with delicate aromas of cherry blossom.

Vina Chocalan, Syrah-Petit Rose 2009, Maipo Valley, Chile
Bottle £22.50
Both the region and the grapes employed in this rose are the reason for its deeper colour and richer array of flavours. A rose you can happily enjoy throughout the course of a meal.

Dessert Wines

Domaine Cassagnoles Moelleux 2005, Gascony, France
Bottle £18.00
Ideally balancing acidity and sweetness, a small glass with your dessert, especially those using seasonal fruits, will lift it to a new level of enjoyment.

Innocent Bystander Pink Moscato 2009 (37.5cl), Yarra Valley, Australia
Bottle £9.95
Delicately sparkling, alluring pink, ever-so fruity (Turkish Delight, strawberries...) light Moscato that's perfect to share as an aperitif, with a fruit-based pudding, or simply on its own in the sun. Not-so-dangerously addictive - it's only 5.5% alcohol.

Children's Menu

Two pork sausages and fries £4.95

Free range chicken breast and fries £4.95

Home cooked ham sandwich £3.95

Cheddar cheese sandwich (V) £3.50

Children's Salads

Locally-smoked mackerel, beetroot, citrus fruits and beetroot dressing £4.95

Free range chicken, streaky bacon, sun blush tomatoes, aioli, parmesan and mixed leaves £4.95

Crumbled Cornish goats cheese, roasted red peppers, mixed leaves and basil pesto (V) £4.95

Cornish crab mayonnaise, cherry tomato and spring onion salad with citrus dressing £4.95

Ploughman's - Cornish cheeses, pickles, Tregotnan chutney and crusty bread (V) £4.95

Open daily from 12:00pm. Last orders for dinner at 8:00pm. Private functions Private functions can be booked all year round by calling Joss on 01872 580309. Indoor or outdoor catering, bespoke menus, private dining. Now taking enquiries for weddings in 2011. Getting here Reach Tolverne by road or by water. Patrons are welcome to moor at our private pontoon, or take the King Harry Ferry from Trelissick by car, bike or on foot. Click here for the King Harry Ferry timetable. When you arrive by water, getting here is just the start of your adventure... Events and special offers Unique waterside location with views of the estate Serving lunch, afternoon cream teas, and dinner Arrive by car or by boat Patrons invited to moor at our extensive private pontoons Full range of Tregothnan English estate teas available Available for private functons all year round

Elevenses

Served daily from 10am - 12pm

Breakfast yoghurt & Dorset Cereals Organic Granola £4.50

Toasted hot buttered crumpets with Tregothnan clear honey £3.50

Toasted hot buttered crumpets with Tregothnan Kea plum jam £3.50

Sausage sandwich with Tregothnan Kea plum ketchup £4.95

Dry cured bacon sandwich with Tregothnan Kea plum ketchup £4.50

Afternoon Tea

Served daily from 10am - 5:30pm

THE Classic Cream Tea.
Two freshly baked scones (fruit or plain) served warm with a pot of Tregothnan Kea plum jam and Rodda's Cornish clotted cream. Choose a pot of Tregothnan tea or herbal tisane from our extensive menu.
Tea for one £5.00
Children's Mini Cream Tea £3.95 (includes one scone)

The Afternoon Tea.
Based on The Classic, but served with a selection of cucumber and smoked salmon & cream cheese sandwiches. What better way to spend a lazy afternoon?
Tea for one £9.95
Children's Mini Afternoon Tea £7.95 (One scone, with sandwiches)

The Tipsy Tea
We asked ourselves whether our Afternoon Tea could possibly be improved, and then it struck us! A cold glass of crisp bubbles to round off an indulgent afternoon well spent. We even include a box of exclusive Tregothnan tea to enjoy at home. Perfect!
Tea for one £26.99
Make an occasion of it... add a full bottle of Laurent Perrier Brut NV for £30.00

Seasonal, fresh ingredients are the cornerstone of this menu. We aim to source as much produce from the local area as possible and use only the best ingredients.

Starters & Light Bites

Mug of homemade soup with warm bread (V) £4.95

Ham hock terrine freshly made on-site and served with piccalilli and a crusty onion baguette £5.95

Half pint of shell-on prawns, chilli and lime mayonnaise, brown bread and butter £5.95

Baked Gevrik Cornish goats cheese with local apple chutney (V) £5.95

Sandwiches, Paninis & More

Served with a dressed green salad and available on white or granary bread

Smoked salmon with lemon & black pepper cream cheese £5.95

Prawns with Marie Rose sauce and crisp lettuce £5.95

Club sandwich. Three slices of bread layered with succulent chicken, crisp dry cured bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. £6.95

Medium rare roast beef with horseradish mayonnaise £5.95

6oz hamburger with mature cheddar, dry cured bacon and loaded with crisp lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Served with skinny fries £8.95

Davidstow cheddar and and tomato toasted panini £4.95

Home cooked ham, Davidstow cheddar, tomato and red onion toasted panini (V) £4.95

Salads

Locally-smoked Cornish mackerel, beetroot and citrus fruits with beetroot dressing £8.95

Free range chicken, streaky bacon, sun-blushed tomatoes, croutons, aioli, parmesan shavings and mixed leaves £9.95

Crumbled Cornish goats cheese, roasted red peppers, rocket and basil pesto (V) £8.95

Cornish crab mayonnaise, cherry tomato and spring onion salad with a citrus dressing £9.95

Ploughman's - Cornish cheeses, pickles, Tregothnan chutney and crusty bread £8.95

Evening menu

Pan-roasted breast of chicken with truffle creamed potatoes and wild mushrooms £12.95

8oz locally reared ribeye steak with bearnaise sauce and skinny fries £15.95

Pan-fried fillet of grey mullet with anchovy and herb butter and crushed new potatoes £13.95

Glazed goats cheese, sun-blushed tomatoes and basil cous cous with a pinenut crumb (V) £9.95

6oz hamburger with mature chaddar, crisp dry cured bacon and loaded with crisp lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Served with skinny fries £8.95

Sides

Skinny fries £2.50

Crusty bread & butter £2.50

Garlic bread £2.50

Dressed green salad £2.50

The above menu is just a taste of what's on offer at Smugglers and is subject to change.
Smugglers and the Tea Bar at Tolverne

OPEN NOW

“I heartily recommend a visit to Tolverne - everything that’s special about Cornwall is encapsulated here.” Cornish Guardian

Nestling on the banks of the tranquil Fal estuary lies historic Tolverne; home to Smugglers Cottage restaurant and The Tea Bar.

A waterside home for the world's favourite beverage

Situated outside Smugglers Cottage on the edge of the River Fal is Tregothnan’s Tea Bar. A contemporary (and temporary!) little spot where you can enjoy the world’s only truly English cup of tea whilst the Camellia sinensis grow happily on the opposite banks.

The Tea Bar has been born out of the idea that despite being the world’s number one beverage, tea lacks a social space in this country; a place where people can meet and mingle around the formal and informal rituals of taking tea. Unlike the ubiquitous and characterless High Street coffee shop, The Tea Bar is all about taking time. Time to think about the tea we’re enjoying, where it comes from and how it’s produced and, of course, time to enjoy its complex flavours and aromas in beautiful surroundings. The history of tea shows us that it has been enjoyed for centuries as a natural cornerstone of social activity; a reason for people to join together and discuss the business, politics, and even the gossip of the day. Come to The Tea Bar to enjoy a simple cup, or indulge in a grand afternoon tea. The Tea Bar is also the venue of our Tea Tasting Master Classes, click to discover more about this fascinating experience.

The Tea Bar you see today is a temporary structure. We have plans to re-home The Tea Bar in the International Tea Centre planned for the site. To stay updated with progress, subscribe to our newsletter online or text TEA to 64446. Discover more about the International Tea Centre here.

Explore the world of tea with a Tregothnan Tea Tasting Masterclass

Are you interested in one of the world's oldest known beverages? Gain an insight into the fascinating and complex world of tea with our Tea Tasting Masterclass, to be held in September 2012.

Tea Masterclass at Tregothnan
Have you ever wondered how the tea in your everyday cuppa gets from the plantation to your cup? Can you tell a Darjeeling from a Ceylon, an oolong from a white? Do you know why they're different? Come to the masterclass at Tregothnan Tea Estate next year and find out more! The class will be taught by Jane Pettigrew and Tim Clifton.

The Course - the day course will run approximately from 9.30am to 5.30pm and includes a wide variety of colour images, a short piece of video footage showing tea production, and covers the following topics:

The history of tea in Britain
What is tea, how and where do the plant grow
Why all teas are different
The manufacture of black, green, yellow, white, oolong, pu'erh and flavoured teas
Tasting teas from each of those categories
How the tea gets from the plantation to the cup
What's available
Loose tea & tea bags - different types, advantages & disadvantages
Perfect brewing and different ways to brew
Tea and health

Price - the cost for the day is £185 and includes:

Tea to drink throughout the day
Lunch
Afternoon tea with scones, clotted cream and jam and pastries
A copy of Jane's book TEA CLASSIFIED (Voted Best New Publication 2009 by World Tea Expo)
Various useful handouts with information about suppliers, tablewares, tea and health
A certificate of attendance

You will soon be able to sign up here: www.janepettigrew.com/masterclass. Although not mentioned on Jane's website, she is known variously as 'the First Lady of Tea', the world's finest tea teacher, and a preeminent speaker at the World Tea Expo. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet Jane away from London and the international lecture circuit.

For something lighter, hosted by our in-house tea and Camellia experts, you will spend a half day exploring every element of tea; following the tea trail from bush to cup, discovering how hundreds of unique varieties are produced, and sampling their sometimes surprising flavours. Our one day course covers the following topics:

The history of tea in Britain
What is tea, how and where does it grow
Why all teas are different
The manufacture of teas
Tasting teas from each of those categories
The production process from bush to cup
Perfect brewing and different ways to brew

We run masterclasses and tasting days from our restaurant and tea bar, Smugglers at Tolverne on the River Fal. The day is a fantastic opportunity to learn about tea outside London and attracts tea enthusiasts, food & beverage managers, retailers, waiting staff and journalists.

We also offer a bespoke tea experience for you, and this is a particularly popular option when offering the experience as a gift, perhaps for a special birthday or anniversary present. You can combine your masterclass with a stay at one of our Wild Escapes holiday cottages, an evening meal at Smugglers, or a Private Garden Visit to the Tregothnan botanical gardens.

For details of bespoke experiences, please contact a member of our team on 0044 (0)1872 520000.

“I heartily recommend a visit to Tolverne - everything that’s special about Cornwall is encapsulated here.” Cornish Guardian

As one of the most romantic waterside locations in Cornwall, Smugglers makes a beautiful location for your wedding or special event. Weddings can be an intimate affair for as few as five guests, or a large marquee event for up to 200 guests.

Once you have discovered Smugglers, a romantic 15th century thatched cottage steeped in history and heritage, hidden in 100 acres of mystical woodland where pheasants and wildlife roam freely, you know you have found a unique place for your special day.

A very warm welcome awaits you at Smugglers, one of Cornwall's famous historic locations. A relaxed informality is top of the agenda with emphasis on ensuring you feel totally at ease - attention to detail, individuality, and providing a personal service is paramount to our team.

Every member of our team gives personal attention from the early planning stages through to organising the very finest detail and to supporting you on the day.

Our Head Chef also meets with you to help create a bespoke menu and our Sommelier will be happy to advise you on the wines that would be most suitable to accompany your wedding breakfast.

Come along for an informal visit. We would be delighted to show you around and discuss what is important to you for your special day. We want your Wedding at Smugglers to be everything you wished for - and more.

Smugglers at a glance

15th century thatched cottage nestled on the shores of the Fal River
Panoramic views over the River Fal and historic Tregothnan estate
Licensed for civil wedding ceremonies
Drinks reception from £12.00 per person
Canape menu from £5.50 per person
3 Course Wedding Breakfast from £19.50 per person
Children's menu from £9.00 per person
Evening food from £5.50 per person
Room hire from £500

Foot Passengers are well served by Enterprise Boats, Great Western Boats and a range of private hire water taxis to all points From Falmouth and St Mawes to Truro.

Mon - Sat: Open from 12:00, last orders for food taken at 20:00

Sun: Open from 12:00, last orders for food taken at 15:00

Afternoon teas & cakes are served daily from 12:00 - 17:00

Whilst booking isn't always necessary, we advise you to book in advance if you wish to dine inside the cottage, particularly if you plan to join us during peak times and bank holidays, and if your party is a large one. Please call us on 01872 520000 to make a reservation or email us: smugglers@tregothnan.com

Ferry Services

Enterprise Boats

Great Western Boats

King Harry Ferry (connects foot passengers and vehicles from Trellissick)

Classic private hire with Rhos Newman for up to 12 passengers, call 07989 887816 or book through Tregothnan, 01872 520000

For latest news on Smugglers events, seasonal menus and special offers, check back here regularly.

Your own Exclusive Pub!

This winter season the Smugglers Cottage at Tolverne will be taking bookings to hire out the whole venue for groups of 15 - 25 people. Enjoying unrivalled views of the River Fal and one of Tregothnan’s most recently planted tea gardens, Smugglers Cottage is one of the most recognisable and best loved landmarks in Cornwall. The cottage normally closes down for the winter months but this year it is offering private functions to be held throughout the season.
What a venue that you could hold your Christmas Party in for work or have your own private Christmas party for friends!

If you've ever visited the cottage before you won't need to be told of the idyllic beauty that awaits you and the quintessential cottage that dates back to the 15th Century. Imagine the scene as you enjoy a warm glass of mulled wine by the cosy log burning fire, chatting and catching up on what a busy year it has been and everything that's happened.

Whatever the occasion - birthday, anniversary, family reunion if you are looking for a truly unique venue for your celebration, look no further! Why not go that step further and book us exclusively for Christmas Day?

Let us look after you with a six course lunch (sample menu to follow) – Canapes, starters, sorbet, main course, pudding, cheese, coffee and tea.
Drinks all inclusive (limit on champagne) or see offer (wine, beer, spirits and minerals).
Parties up to 25 (minimum 15)

To book please call Joss on 01872 580309 or email jbelcher@tregothnan.com.

We offer a daily specials menu which includes fresh local seafood. We haven't actually seen a fish jump straight onto a plate yet but it's been close...

You can download a PDF version of our menus here.

We will be re-opening from Mother's Day.

Special deals for Sunday 18th March will include a 2 course meal for £15.95 and a 3 course meal for £19.95 (12pm - 4pm.)

Starters

Courgette and mint soup

Pigeon breast with pancetta, sage and new potato salad

Baked goats cheese with herb and pine nut crust and dressed rocket salad

Main Courses

Crisp cider braised pork belly with mustard cabbage and apple mash

Butternut squash and sage risotto, parmesan shavings

Spinach and feta stuffed chicken with sauteed new potatoes and herb oil

Pudding

Bread and butter pudding with vanilla custard and vanilla ice cream

Chocolate nemesis tart with clotted cream

Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and honeycomb ice cream

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Cream teas - with freshly baked scones, our rare Kea plum jam, Cornish clotted cream and a range of Tregothnan teas - will be available for £7.95 per person (2pm - 5pm.)

Why not add a special treat for mum, with a beautiful posy of seasonal British flowers for £15 extra?

Getting Here

Reaching us couldn’t be easier as we’re ideally located for those exploring the river by foot, car, sail, pedal or paddle! Patrons are welcome to moor at our private pontoon, or take the King Harry Ferry from Trelissick by car, bike or on foot. When you arrive by water, getting here is just the start of your adventure...

Experience one of England's finest private botanical gardens

Whilst the Tregothnan garden is only open to visitors by appointment, we look forward to our annual charity garden open weekend. Taking place on the 14th and 15th of April 2012, this family event attracts thousands of visitors from throughout Cornwall, the UK and even further afield. Tea enthusiasts, keen gardeners and those who simply enjoy a nice long walk through the great outdoors are sure to enjoy a visit to Tregothnan, and with all proceeds benefitting a worthy charitable cause, the event really shouldn't be missed. Tickets are now on sale here.

Our 2011 charity garden opening benefitted The Cornwall Community Foundation and proved to be a fantastic success. Perhaps it was the unseasonable good weather which brought visitors out in their thousands, or perhaps it was the promise of a spectacular floral display. Our glorious collections of Camellias, Rhododendrons and Magnolias certainly didn't disappoint, and there was plenty of entertainment on offer from local dance groups as well as Atlantic FM. As always, the refreshments were an unmissable attraction, and at one point it looked as though the home-made Cornish pasties and cream teas might run out!

To stay updated with news of our 2012 annual garden opening, as well as regular special offers, subscribe to our newsletter or text TEA followed by your email address to 64446.

We offer a strictly limited number of visitors the chance to experience our gardens with a Private Garden Visit. Learn more about our exclusive garden tour online now... >

Tregothnan has been home to the Boscawen family since 1335. The Estate, in Kent and Cornwall, is internationally known for producing the only tea grown in England.

A diversity of lands allows us to produce English tea, sustainable coppiced charcoal, Manuka honey and Kea plum jam. Seasonal British flowers are sourced from the Tregothnan estate and surrounding lands for our range of hand-tied English bouquets. Explore this unique working estate online.

Stay in touch

The easiest way to stay in touch and updated with all our news, events and special offers is to sign up to our monthly online newsletter - see the bottom of this page to sign up online now. Alternatively you sign up by texting TEA followed by your email address to 64446.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or take a look at our Flickr photostream.

For all other enquiries, please email us or contact a member of the Tregothnan team on 0044 (0)1872 520000

Experience one of England's finest private botanical gardens

Although the Tregothnan estate is not open to the public you may, by prior appointment, visit this amazing garden and arboretum. Our Head Gardener Neil Bennett, or one of his team, acts as your guide, discussing the fascinating history of the garden, its impressive plant collections, and exciting plans for the future. Experience our unique tea plantation up close as you wander through the magical Himalayan Valley and discover a little piece of Darjeeling right here in Cornwall.

Your exclusive tour of the garden takes approximately two and half hours, finishing with a cream tea in the Edwardian summer house.

This is a special experience for anyone, not just garden lovers, and makes a fabulous gift for a special birthday, anniversary or wedding. Our guests are always spellbound by the scale and diversity of the visit as well as the passion of one family for this incredible living collection.

Book your Private Garden Visit to Tregothnan online now >

Coming soon...

Our new blog from Mereworth Woodland will be updated shortly and will provide you with a fascinating insight into this beautiful ancient woodland including the diverse flora and fauna that can be found there. In the meantime, take a look at our Cornwall estate blog: Blog from the Garden >

Intro

Main content

Cornwall's largest private botanical gardens

Everything we do here at Tregothnan brings us back to the magnificent botanical garden. It provides us with produce and inspiration; our range of English estate teas and herbal infusions are grown here, our Manuka and wildflower honeys are produced here, our seasonal British flowers and foliages are sourced here. The gardens, both in Cornwall and in Kent, are the beating heart of the estate and we are constantly inspired by their fecundity and resilience.

The botanical gardens in Cornwall were first described back in 1695 by intrepid traveller, Celia Fiennes, in her book 'Through England on a Side-Saddle' when visiting Hugh Boscawen, her kinsman by marriage.

A spectacular display of rhododendrons over Ladies Walk

The character of the present garden was defined by Evelyn Boscawen, the sixth Viscount Falmouth, and his brother, the Honourable and Reverend John Townshend Boscawen, the rector of nearby Lamorran. They brought rhododendrons, rare trees, shrubs and camellia plants into the garden over a hundred years ago - thought to be the earliest plantings of camellias in the open.

Canon Arthur Boscawen of Ludgvan Rectory, the son of the Rector of Lamorran, also introduced many new plants to the garden in the early years of the last century. The present Lord Falmouth's grandmother was a distinguished gardener who, for many years, was Chairman of the Swanley Horticultural College for Ladies. Lord Falmouth's mother was also a knowledgeable botanist and they added to the beautiful and rare plants at Tregothnan. The late Lady Falmouth, who started life as a horticultural student at Studley College in Warwickshire, became a working gardener and continued this long tradition and in turn the Honourable Evelyn Boscawen is now in residence and continuing the tradition with dynamism.

A specimen white rhododendron from the Tregothnan botanial garden

As a private botanic garden and arboretum Tregothnan is unequalled, offering a diversity of plants and trees, rare collections, sweeping vistas and peaceful secluded groves. Plants collected during recent expeditions to Japan and South America give the gardens truly international feel. The garden is an official 'safe site' for the keeping of rare or endangered trees from all over the world. The garden holds some 'Red Book' endangered plants and trees which are larger than any remaining in the wild. Plants from trips to Japan and South America in 2007 add excitement to the garden. The only known surviving example of a Wardian case, a travelling greenhouse first seen in the late 1800's, can be found at Tregothnan and pays testament to a long and enduring history of botanical collecting.

The garden is also home to the fascinating Willomia pine or ‘Dinosaur tree’; a prehistoric species thought to be extinct until 1994 when a handful of trees were discovered in a remote Australian valley. A prized specimen now sits proudly in the garden overlooking the Southern Hemisphere Collection and the colourful Camellia maze. We were the first place to acquire and cultivate the endangered species and now offer these incredible trees as fascinating alternatives to the standard Christmas tree.

Whilst the botanical garden remains private, we offer a strictly limited number of visitors the chance to enjoy one of England's hidden treasures with our exclusive garden tours. Head Gardener, Neil Bennet, or his assistant, will personally guide you through over 40 hectares of gardens before you complete your visit with an indulgent cream tea served in the picturesque Edwardian summer house. Click for more information about our exclusive Private Garden Visit >

Intro

Main content

Eco-friendly, food-friendly sustainable British charcoal from our Kent woodlands

Tregothnan is a leading producer of British coppiced charcoal and from our sustainably-managed woodlands in Kent we use age-old techniques to produce charcoal which is not only better for the environment, but better for your food.

We use a technique called coppicing, which is a way of cutting a tree and harvesting the wood that allows the tree to grow again. It’s a technique that’s been used for thousands of years, and actually encourages the biodiversity of the woodland. As a result, Mereworth Woodland is a haven for a diverse variety of plant, animal and insect life including nightjars, a protected species of nocturnal British bird.

Our British charcoal is a rich mix of coppiced oak, beech, birch and ash and has a much lower footprint than most charcoals which typically are produced overseas, often from endangered rainforest and mangroves.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, our charcoal is food friendly. It lights much quicker and burns faster than standard charcoals, but perhaps the most important point is that we don’t add any nasty chemicals which can be transferred to your foods. Our British coppiced charcoal is simply 100% FSC wood - nothing else - so you can be sure that your food is as natural and pure as it comes off the barbecue as when it was put on.

Sustainably sourced charcoal from Tregothnan

Planning a barbecue? Shop for Tregothnan charcoal online or take a look at our recipe page >

More images can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tregothnan

Tregothnan’s Kent estate sits in the heart of the Garden of England where the landscape and climate can be quite different from that of Cornwall, although no less awe-inspiring. The jewel in the crown of the Kent estate is the Mereworth Woodland - an expanse of ancient woodland which boasts a natural diversity of plant and animal life. The area is carefully coppice managed by experienced woodland team led by a father and son who have a combined 75 years service with the estate.

Our responsible forestry practices have generated precious biodiversity within the woodlands. Rare species of flora and fauna have been allowed to evolve in their natural habitat. Nightjars, a nocturnal species of British bird, can often be spotted here.

The wealth of hardwood trees including ash, oak, beech and birch, provide a plentiful supply of sustainable raw material all year round for our firewood and charcoal products. The beautifully seasoned hardwood provides a superior supply of firewood logs and kindling.

Our burgeoning charcoal production outfit is now the country’s leading source of English barbecue charcoal. This sustainable fuel has a time-honoured place in history with its heritage dating back to the Medieval period. Remains of iron forges where charcoal was essential for creating the intense heat necessary for smelting can still be found here at Mereworth woodlands.

The remaining area of woodland is laid to chestnut coppice providing a popular answer to sustainable fencing materials.

Mereworth is also home to the estate’s beautiful peony gardens; the largest peony cutting gardens in Britain and another source of seasonal English flowers for our range of hand-tied bouquets.

Shop online now for Tregothnan estate products >

"Tea is liquid wisdom" ~ Author Unknown

Tregothnan was the first place to grow ornamental Camellia outdoors 200 years ago and it is this expertise along with the unique Cornish microclimate that helps our tea bushes, or Camellia sinensis, to thrive here today. Hidden behind the iconic kitchen garden door, which dates back to Plantagenet times making it the oldest remaining part of the estate, you’ll find the Camellia sinensis from which we made our first tentative tea experiments back in 2000.

Today, tea can be found growing in small pockets all over the home estate whilst larger plantations are located on Tregothnan land throughout the Southern tip of the county. One of our most recently planted areas sits opposite our restaurant Smugglers and tea bar on the river Fal, so our guests can actually watch England’s only tea growing as they enjoy an afternoon tea next to the river.

Discover more about Tregothnan English tea, the tea production process, and the health benefits of tea >

More images can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tregothnan

Tregothnan has lands across both Cornwall and Kent, with the Home Estate being located in Cornwall just a few miles outside the historic Cathedral town of Truro. Cornwall is also home to Tregothnan’s extensive botanical gardens, the largest historic gardens in Cornwall. As a private botanic garden and arboretum, Tregothnan is unequalled, offering a diversity of plants and trees, rare collections, sweeping vistas and peaceful secluded groves.

Tregothnan is an official 'safe site' for the keeping of rare or endangered trees from all over the world. The garden holds some 'Red Book' endangered plants and trees which are larger than any remaining in the wild. Plants from trips to Japan and South America in 2007 add excitement to the garden. Tregothnan is home to the world’s only surviving travelling greenhouse, an original Wardian Case, testament to the family’s long botanical traditions.

The garden is home to the fascinating Wollemi pine or ‘Dinosaur tree’ - a prehistoric species thought to be extinct until 1994 when a handful of trees were discovered in a remote Australian valley. A prized specimen now sits proudly in the garden overlooking the Southern Hemisphere Collection and the colourful Camellia maze. We were the first place to acquire and cultivate the endangered species and now offer these incredible trees as fascinating alternatives to the standard Christmas tree.

Cornwall is home to the Tregothnan tea plantation and produces the only tea grown in England. Discover more about tea at Tregothnan >

Cornwall is also the home of Tregothnan’s main commercial activities. Our English tea is grown and produced here, as are our herbal infusions, Kea Plum jam, biscuits and estate honeys. Our seasonal British flowers business, which supplies stunningly beautiful English blooms and foliage to the floristry industry as well as direct to the public, also operates from Cornwall. The beautiful scenery which surrounds us in this unspoilt part of the westcountry inspires us every day. Find out why this beautiful landscape provides inspiration by taking a look at our online Gallery.

Whilst the estate is not normally open to the public, we do allow a limited number of visitors to experience the gardens at first-hand with a Private Garden Visit led by our Head Gardener, Neil Bennett. Click to find out more about this exclusive garden tour >

The garden is open to the public once a year for our annual charity garden open weekend. Held annually in April, the event attracts thousands of visitors who come to explore 40 hectares of magnificent gardens and see the collections of Magnolias, Camellias and Rhododendrons. Learn more about our annual charity garden opening here >

Explore the World of tea with a Tregothnan Tea Tasting Masterclass

Are you interested in one of the World's oldest known beverages? Gain an insight into the fascinating and complex World of tea with our Tea Tasting Masterclass (date soon to be announced for 2012.)

Tea Masterclass at Tregothnan
Have you ever wondered how the tea in your everyday cuppa gets from the plantation to your cup? Can you tell a Darjeeling from a Ceylon, an oolong from a white? Do you know why they're different? Come to a tea masterclass at Tregothnan Tea Estate and find out more! The class will be taught by Jane Pettigrew and Tim Clifton.
The Course
The day course runs from 9.30am to 5.30pm and includes a wide variety of colour images, a short piece of video footage showing tea production and covers the following topics:
 The history of tea in Britain
 What is Tea, how and where does the plant grow
 Why all teas are different, etc
 The manufacture of black, green, yellow, white, oolong, pu'erh and flavoured teas
 Tasting teas from each of those categories
 How the tea gets from the plantation to the cup
 What's available
 Loose tea & tea bags - different types, advantages & disadvantages
 Perfect brewing and different ways to brew
 Tea and health
Price
The cost for the day is £185 and includes:
 Tea to drink through the day
 Lunch
 Afternoon tea with scones, clotted cream and jam and pastries
 A copy of Jane's book TEA CLASSIFIED (VOTED BEST NEW PUBLICATION 2009 BY WORLD TEA EXPO)
 Various useful handouts with information about suppliers, table wares, tea and health
 A certificate of attendance
To recruit, go to: www.janepettigrew.com/masterclass Jane is known as 'The First Lady of Tea', a pre eminent speaker at The World Tea Expo and perhaps the best known author of modern tea literature. (but this is not mentioned on Jane's website!) Take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet Jane and Tim when they are not in London or on the International lecture circuit.

For something lighter, hosted by visiting and in-house tea and Camellia experts you will spend a half day exploring elements of tea; following the tea trail from bush to cup, covering the following topics:

The history of tea in Britain
What is tea, how and where does it grow
Why all teas are different
The manufacture of teas
The production process from bush to cup
Perfect brewing and different ways to brew

We run training from our restaurant and tea bar; Smuggler's at Tolverne on the river Fal. The day is a fantastic opportunity to learn about tea outside London and attracts tea enthusiasts, food & beverage managers, retailers, waiting staff and journalists.

We also offer a bespoke Tea-experience for you, and this is a particularly popular option when offering the experience as a gift, perhaps for a special birthday or anniversary present. You can combine your masterlcass with a stay at one of our Wild Escapes holiday cottages, an evening meal at Smuggler's, or a Private Garden Visit to the Tregothnan botanical gardens.

Click for more details about our next Tea Tasting Masterclass. For details of bespoke experiences please contact a member of our team on 0044 (0)1872 520000.

A new home for the world's favourite beverage

Since the London Tea Auctions closed in the 1990s, the world’s number one beverage has lacked a spiritual home. We believe that as the only producer growing tea in England, we can provide tea with such a home. There will be tea gardens, galleries, tastings and a World of tea and more at the International Tea Centre! The Centre, the very first of its kind, will champion the growers and diversity of the tea they produce.

Experience the heat and vibration of a tea factory in the heart of a living, breathing tea garden. Smell the unique fresh aroma of tea as it is transformed from fresh green foliage into familiar loose tea and tea bags. Taste the sensational results in hundreds of different styles from around the world. Learn about tea's significance through history and across cultures, and experience some ancient tea rituals still performed today. Discover tea’s incredible health-giving properties and keep updated with the latest scientific research into our favourite drink.

The International Tea Centre aims to represent the world’s leading tea brands, as well as the artisan small-scale producers, side by side for the first time giving our visitors a glimpse of the diverse and fascinating world of tea. Located at Tolverne, on the banks of the River Fal, the centre will provide an educational and enjoyable visitor experience like no other.

Our plans for the International Tea Centre are ambitious and exciting. To stay updated with our progress please sign up to our newsletter, or text TEA followed by your email address to 64446.

A waterside home for the World's favourite beverage

Situated outside Smugglers Cottage on the edge of the River Fal is Tregothnan’s Tea Bar. A contemporary (and temporary!) little spot where you can enjoy the World’s only truly English cup of tea whilst the Camellia sinensis grow happily on the opposite banks.

The Tea Bar has been born out of the idea that despite being the World’s number one beverage, tea lacks a social space in this country; a place where people can meet and mingle around the formal and informal rituals of taking tea. Unlike the ubiquitous and characterless High Street coffee shop, The Tea Bar is all about taking time. Time to think about the tea we’re enjoying, where it comes from and how it’s produced and, of course, time to enjoy its complex flavours and aromas in beautiful surroundings. The history of tea shows us that it has been enjoyed for centuries as a natural cornerstone of social activity; a reason for people to join together and discuss the business, politics, and even the gossip of the day. Come to The Tea Bar to enjoy a simple cup, or indulge in a grand afternoon tea. The Tea Bar is also the venue of our Tea Tasting Master Classes, click to discover more about this fascinating experience.

The Tea Bar you see today is temporary structure. We have plans to re-home The Tea Bar in the International Tea Centre planned for the site. To stay updated with progress subscribe to our newsletter online or text TEA to 64446. Discover more about the International Tea Centre >

The Trehothnan Tea Bar enjoys specatacular views of the river Fal

Tea: good for what ails you!

Perhaps one of the reasons that tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water is that it's so incredibly good for you. We'd also like to take this opportunity to dispell the myth that tea dehydrates you; it simply isn't true! Tea hydrates just as well as water and counts towards your recommended eight glasses a day. Not only is tea a fantastic way of staying hydrated (which helps our bodies and minds to function at their best), but there's an increasing body of evidence to suggest that tea has some more surprising health benefits.

"Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it's got two things going for it." Dr Ruxton
Read the full BBC article here >

Of course, tea isn't the only good thing on offer at Tregothnan. Our range of herbals features some wonderful little plants that have been used medicinally for centuries. Explore the full range and some surprising benefits below. A wealth of further information and the latest reasearch into tea and its health benefits can be found via The Tea Council website.

Take a peek at some more little-known facts about tea:

165 million cups of tea are enjoyed in the UK every day
Tea constitutes 40% of the UK's daily liquid intake
Studies suggest that tea can help reduce the risk of heart disease
Tea is a rich source of antioxidants called flavonoids
Tea counts towards your recommended eight glasses of water per day
Tea contains half the amount of caffeine found in instant coffee
All our herbal infusions are naturally caffeine free

Got a tea-related recipe of your own?

Submit it here to share it with the Tregothnan tea community! Don't forget to tell us which Tregothnan tea or herbal infusion you recommend for your recipe.

Tea isn't just for drinking...

Most of us will be familiar with iced tea, but how about a refreshing Earl Grey sorbet? Or tea-smoked duck breast? A growing band of foodies and chefs are recognising tea as a delicious ingredient which can be used both fresh and dried in a wide range of savoury and sweet dishes. All the recipes on this page feature tea or herbal infusions in some way, and we'll be adding to it as we discover more exciting ways to use and enjoy tea in your home cooking. If you have a special recipe that you'd like to share with please submit your recipe here; we'd love to hear from you!

The world's favourite beverage has inspired some of our most famous philosophers, writers and poets. Sit back with a cup of your favourite brew and enjoy our favourite tea quotes...

"Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea."
~ Henry Fielding, 'Love in Several Masques'

"Tea is drunk to forget the din of the World."
~ Tien Yiheng

"There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, 'Letters and Social Aims'

"Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company."
~ Author unknown

"Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage."
~ Catherine Douzel

"I always fear that creation will expire before teatime."
~ Sydney Smith

"Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary."
~ Chinese Proverb

"There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea."
~ Bernard-Paul Heroux

"Bread and water can so easily be toast and tea."
~ Author unknown

"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you."
~ William Gladstone

"We had a kettle; we let it leak:
Our not repairing it made it worse.
We haven't had any tea for a week...
The bottom is out of the universe."
~ Rudyard Kipling

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
~ Henry James, 'Portrait of a Lady'

"Another novelty is the tea party, an extraordinary meal in that, being offered to persons who have already dined well, it supposes neither appetite nor thirst, and has no object but distraction, no basis but delicate enjoyment."
~ Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin 'The Physiology of Taste'

"The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose."
~ George Gissing, 'The Private Papers of Henry Reycroft'

"Tea should be taken in solitude."
~ C.S. Lewis

"If man has no tea in him, he is uncapable of understanding truth and beauty."
~ Japanese Proverb

"Tea is liquid wisdom."
~ Author unknown

"Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now tell me about hundreds of things."
~ Saki

"Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors."
~ Alice Walker

"Great love affairs start with Champagne and end with tisane."
~ Honore de Balzac

"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the Earth revolves- slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future."
~ Thich Nat Hahn

"Tea's proper use is to amuse the idle, and relax the studious, and dilute the full meals of those who cannot use exercise, and will not use abstinence."
~ Samuel Johnson

"O peppermint tea -
Two delights per sip
As steamy hot as passion
Cool as a wintry lake dip."
~ Astrid Alauda

"Iced tea may not have as much wisdom as hot tea, but in the summer better a cool and refreshed dullard than a steamy sweat-drenched sage - leave sagacity to the autumn!"
~ Linda Solegato

"Iced tea is too pure and natural a creation not to have been invented as soon as tea, ice and hot weather crossed paths."
~ John Egerton

"Tea... is a religion of the art of life."
~ Okakura

"All true tea lovers not only like their tea strong, but like it a little stronger with each year that passes."
~ George Orwell, 'A Nice Cup of Tea'

"Tea does our fancy aid,
Repress those vapours which the head invade
And keeps that palace of the soul serene."
~ Edmund Waller, 'Of Tea'

"A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards."
~ A.A. Milne

"tea leaves
tea loves
loves tea
lives tea
leaves tea?
never."
~ Uniek Swain

"Stands the Church clock at ten to three? And is there still honey for tea?"
~ Rupert Brooke, 'The Old Vicarage, Grantchester'

"The perfect temperature for tea is two degress hotter than just right."
~ Terri Guillemets

"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!"
~ Author unknown

"Tea! Thou soft, thou sober, sage, and venerable liquid... thou female tongue-running, smile-soothing, heart-opening, wind-tippling coridal, to whose glorious insipidity I owe the happiest moment of my life; let me fall prostrate."
~ Colley Cibber, 'Lady's Last Stake'

"Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn't try it on."
~ Billy Connolly

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."
~ C.S. Lewis

Tea is often considered to be a quintessentially British drink; after all, we’ve been enjoying it for over 350 years. But this fascinating story begins much earlier, and much further afield...

Routed in legend

Whilst it is impossible to know exactly when the first cup was brewed, legend has it that Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sat beneath a Camellia sinensis one day in 2737BC when a few leaves were stirred by the wind. As his servant boiled drinking water in a pot, the leaves fell in and so accidentally resulted in the world’s first cup of tea. To this day, every cup of tea enjoyed around the world comes from the same plant; the Camellia sinensis.

Medicine, folklore, and ritual

From its earliest recorded use, tea was widely believed to refresh the spirit, alleviate tiredness, fight off depression and illness, and boost energy. It is for many of these reasons that we still enjoy tea today, and in fact it is the world’s number one beverage after water. Tea is a drink that penetrates all cultures and continents.

A growing phenomenon

The widespread use of tea is evident during the Chinese Han Dynasty (AD 206-220) and a wealth of elaborate tea paraphernalia and equipment survives today as testament to its growing popularity. It’s widely believed that during this time the first managed plantations began to emerge, as wild tea bushes were stripped of their leaves to keep up with demand. By the end of the third century AD, tea had become China’s number one beverage, and by the eighth century AD the Chinese were trading tea to Tibet, the Arab lands to the West, to the Turks, to the nomadic tribes of the Himalayas, and along the “silk road” into India. Tea first reached Europe in the late sixteenth century, but the delicate leaves often suffered during the long sea voyages from China to the continent. Profit-conscious tea producers were forced to adopt more sophisticated methods of manufacture, packing and transportation.

Any colour... as long as it's green

Until this point in its history all tea was green; the natural pigmentation within the leaves preserved by the careful steaming process that still takes place today. It was the European export market that first saw rise to the innovative introduction of new processes that resulted in black tea. Allowing the leaves to oxidise naturally before drying resulted in the dark colour and produced a tea which stood up better to foreign export. Whilst the Chinese continued to drink green tea, it was black tea that really took Europe by storm.

A middle class indulgence

Tea didn’t begin life in Europe as the drink of the people that we all enjoy today. The incredible distance it travelled was one of the reasons for its hefty price-tag; tea was an exclusively middle class indulgence. Whilst it enjoyed a brief period of fashionable favour in France and Germany, it was quickly usurped by coffee as the favourite Parisienne beverage, whilst it was regarded in Germany as a medicinal drink, rather than one to be enjoyed in its own right. It was Portuguese Catherine of Braganza, future wife of King Charles II, who was largely responsible for making tea a fashionable drink amongst the English when she arrived at Court in 1662, although it had been on sale at Thomas Garraway’s general store on London’s Exchange Alley since 1657.

A Georgian obsession

By the Georgian period tea had become a British obsession. Dr Samuel Johnson, one of Georgian England’s most prominent and fashionable authors, poets and “gentleman of letters” described himself as “a hardened and shameless tea drinker” whilst whole rooms in wealthy and fashionable houses were given over to the taking of tea. The poorer classes increasingly wanted to partake in this delicious indulgence and scruples tea traders began to mix Camellia sinensis leaves with all manner of additives and fillers including leaves dyed with sheep’s dung and clay. The problem became so serious that the government introduced huge fines for traders of illicit ‘smouch’ in an effort to stamp out the practice.

The people's drink

Despite Britain being a culture obsessed by class or ‘station’, tea had shaken off its exclusive label by the mid eighteenth century to become to favourite beverage of all classes. Whilst it was still enjoyed throughout the palaces and stately homes of Britain, it could be found on the breakfast and dinner tables of poorer classes and throughout places of work. It even formed part of a worker’s wages, and is used as an enticing extra when included in the ticket price of London’s visitor attractions. Tea has become the drink we know and love today; to wake us in the morning, to get us through the working day, and to calm and refresh us during the evening. To enjoy alone, or in company as part of an elegant and extravagant feast, or the simplest of suppers. Quite simply, it is the drink that fuels Britain.

Tea at Tregothnan

We have to thank the unique micro-climate that benefits the South-West corner of England for the success of our tea plantation; the same climate that makes Cornwall the garden capitol of Europe. Drawing on almost 200 years of experience in growing Camellias, we've been producing tea here at Tregothnan since 2006 when we created our best-selling Classic blend. Today, the range extends to four black teas including our exclusive Single Estate, one green tea and a growing list of home-grown herbal infusions. We are proud to be the only producer actually growing tea in the UK; putting the English into English tea. Find out more about the range of Tregothnan English tea and herbal infusions...