When isn’t it time for tea? Although quintessentially British, tea originates from China in around 2737 BC and only became fashionable in Britain in 1664.
This folded map illustrates Britain’s age old obsession with the drink. Designed by MacDolald Gill in 1940 this map celebrates the culture and history of tea. With lots of interesting facts and figures marked throughout the map it also comes in a sleeve that is packed with even more interesting information including a biography of MacDonald Gill 1884-1947 and other historic facts about tea.
“During the First World War, the government took control of the importation of tea to ensure that this morale-boosting beverage remained affordable. It took over again during the Second World War, and tea was rationed from 1940 until 1952.”
“Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea.” – Sydney Smith, 1771-1845.
If you want to continue the tea and cartography theme, this mug an artist’s impression of the world political map, with countries depicted in four different colours. The position of the equator, the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the line of zero degrees longitude are marked on the mug.
If you are in London, do stop by the Stanfords Coffee House on the ground floor of our store (the Floral Street entrance).
It’s the perfect place if you like some cartography with your coffee. We also make a mean cup of tea: