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Jane Pettigrew
An exclusive interview by Tea Time World Wide

“Jane Pettigrew’s professional interest in tea started when she opened the Tea-Time-Shop in South London in 1983. Since then she has written four books about tea. Her newest book entitled “The New Tea Companion” written with Bruce Richardson will be available in March 2005. In addition to being a book author Jane also writes on tea and tea related affairs for a variety of international magazines, is consultant to the UK Tea Club, and works closely with hotels to improve their afternoon tea service. She lives in London, England

As mentioned your first book "The Tea Companion" was an inspiration to me. What was your inspiration for writing this book?

I was asked by the publishers to write a connoisseurs’ guide to tea and we worked out together how to format it etc. I was aware that there was a growing interest in tea and a guide book was definitely needed.

I understand your professional interest in tea started when you first opened the Tea Time Tea Shop in South London in 1983. Is the shop still in business?

No, we sold it in 1989 and it eventually became a high street coffee bar.

What was your first experience with loose leaf tea?

I grew up drinking it.

Where you born and raised in London and was tea always a part of your life even in childhood?

I was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire and grew up in London. Tea was always our everyday drink. We drank tea at tea parties for birthdays and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with grandparents and parents.

Who are your mentors in the tea industry?

John Harney and Mariage Freres are two of my mentors.

What is your favorite type of tea and how do you take it?

I drink different teas fat different times of day and take them differently. For instance, I drink Assam or English Breakfast in the morning, Darjeelings, Oolongs and Greens later in the day. Sometimes with milk, sometimes (In fact usually) without.

What are some of your favorite places in the world to take tea?

I like most salons in Paris, The Elmwood Inn when it was still a tea venue and The Four Seasons in London.

Your new book will include subject matter on the tea trade. Have you had the opportunity to travel to tea producing countries and do you have a first hand knowledge of the tea trade?

I have been to Sri Lanka and plant to travel to Darjeeling next Spring and China in 2006. Yes, I have been working within the trade since the 1990’s.

What are some of the recommendations you make for improving afternoon tea service in hotels? What advice would could you give to Tea Room owners regarding their tea service.

 In a brief summary I would say the tearoom atmosphere should be like your own drawing room - gentle, calm and peaceful with helpful staff smiling etc. The tea should be good tea, well brewed and beautifully served.

Recently you wrote the "New Tea Companion" with Bruce Richardson due out in Spring 2005. How did the book come to be and what are some of the highlight we can expect to see in the new book?

We wanted to do an update as we were aware that the old edition was out of date and also out of print. It will be published in March of next year. The content will include more information on China Teas, and more information on what’s happening around the world.


Jane Pettigrew
St James's Teas Ltd
202 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8NJ
Tel: 020 7401 0631
Fax: 020 7633 0422