Twinings was founded by
Thomas Twining, of
Painswick,
Gloucestershire, England; who opened Britain's first known
tea room, at No. 216
Strand, London, in 1706; it still operates today. The firm's logo, created in 1787, is the world's oldest in continuous use. Holder of a
royal warrant, Twinings was acquired by
Associated British Foods in 1964. The company is associated with
Earl Grey tea, a tea infused with
bergamot, though it is unclear when this association began, and how important the company's involvement with the tea has been. Competitor
Jacksons of Piccadilly – acquired by Twinings during the 1990s – is also associated with the bergamot blend. In April 2008, Twinings announced its decision to close its
Belfast Nambarrie plant, a tea company in trade for over 140 years. Citing an "efficiency drive", Twinings moved most of its production to China and Poland in late 2011, while retaining its
Andover, Hampshire factory with a reduced workforce. In 2023, Twinings ceased production of
lapsang souchong, replacing it with a product called "Distinctively Smoky", widely considered to be inferior quality.
Lapsang souchong was one of the tea blends sold by Twinings since the 1700s and was regarded as the favourite drink of
Winston Churchill. Twinings cited difficulty sourcing the blend along with rising market prices for the substitution. ==Ethics==