America has a soft spot for the Royal Family. True, the whole "Boston Tea Party" episode (and the subsequent War of Independence) in the 18th century disrupted our affection for a time. But just as Americans never stopped drinking tea, they never stopped being fascinated by all things royal – as evidenced by the enduring popularity of our Historic Royal Palaces tea collection.
But how did a New England tea company start making teas for good old England? That's a story in itself. Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back, and listen to how our Historic Royal Palaces collection came to be.
HRP: Keeping the Palaces in their Beauty
The independent charity Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) is tasked with protecting, maintaining, and managing six unoccupied royal palaces in the United Kingdom (the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens), while also making these sites accessible to the public and sharing their stories.
Caring for six historic sites (including over 60,000 objects and over 1,000 acres of green space) is not easy – nor cheap.
HRP receives no funding from the government or the Crown. Instead, this non-profit organization generates revenue in various ways. Most revenue comes from admissions, but retail sales are also an important source… and that's where we come in.
The Reverse British Invasion
About 20 years ago, an organization representing Historic Royal Palaces approached our founder, John Harney, asking if he would be interested in creating a tea collection to support these palaces. Although the Harney family originates from Ireland, not England, my grandfather proudly signed the licensing agreement – and today we are HRP's largest licensing partner.
In addition to selling teas in palace shops, HRP also offers our products online, using the royalties earned to support its mission.
(This collaboration, by the way, helped our company expand its exports to England. Since then, we have continued the "reverse British invasion," establishing partnerships with hotels and prestigious department stores.)
Our Historic Royal Palaces collection started with five teas; today it includes nine. We have also gradually created special blends for occasions such as royal weddings, Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond and Platinum Jubilees, and the coronation of King Charles III.
A New Look for Old Favorites
From the very beginning, the collection has been distinguished by unique packaging. Our distinctive octagonal tins have a regal appearance, and their colors are inspired by the crown jewels housed in the Tower of London.
Recently, at the request of HRP, we have started modernizing the packaging to match the organization's current design. Inside, however, you will still find the same tea blends you love.
The HRP Collection in All Its Glory
Delicate, honey-sweet notes of Kenilworth Ceylon tea combine with the citrusy and spicy character of Milima Kenyan tea. The result is a smooth, medium-bodied tea that tastes great with milk or sugar.
One of our most popular blends – a black tea with a distinctive bergamot flavor. Fuller-bodied than Earl Grey Supreme, created to reflect the British preference for stronger teas.
A blend of Chinese black teas enhanced with dried fruit, bergamot, and a honey flavor. It offers a medium body, fruity aroma, and notes of vanilla and honey.
Our version of the classic London Fog – a full-bodied, aromatic blend with notes of vanilla, bergamot, and lavender.
A black tea blend with citrus notes of lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot. Created for HRP as a tribute to the teas sipped in royal palaces.
Caffeine-free, a light herbal tea with a distinct mint flavor and fresh aroma.
A green tea inspired by Thai flavors with notes of coconut, ginger, vanilla, and lemongrass.
A powerful blend of black tea, orange peel, cloves, and three types of cinnamon. One of our best-selling flavored blends.
Decaf Hot Cinnamon Spice
A decaffeinated version with an identical flavor – rich, spicy, and no added sugar.
Supporting History and Nature
We are proud to contribute to the preservation of historical monuments. At the same time, we support Thames21, an organization dedicated to restoring the River Thames.
Thanks to the 1% for the Planet initiative, we have already donated over six million dollars to environmental projects.
We hope you will soon enjoy a tea from the Historic Royal Palaces collection – and that you will be pleased to know that with every cup, you are helping to preserve British heritage for future generations.
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