Atkinsons Spiced Imperial
Atkinsons Spiced Imperial Tea is a real fireside comforter. Curl up in your favourite armchair and enjoy it with a slice of our Spiced Imperial Tea Bread, in which the fruit has been plumped up to perfection by soaking it in this fiery infusion.
A Spice of History
Atkinsons relationship with spices goes right back to the beginning of our story. Indeed their importance in the portfolio was significant enough in the 19th Century to warrant its appearance on the sign and have their own set of drawers. When the Grasshopper Tea Warehouse was opened in 1837 Thomas Atkinsons declared that it was for the sale of Tea, Coffee, Chocolate, Refined Sugar and Spices. When they moved in 1854 to a much larger warehouse on Castle Hill the sign read J. Atkinson & Co. Wholesale Dealers in Tea & Spice. By the time they moved to our present location in 1901 the shop fittings contained shelves for 20 Tea Canisters and 20 Coffee, with a set of drawers underneath known as a ‘Spice Run’.
This Spiced Imperial black tea with orange pieces and spices is a nice reminder of that link with the spice trade that saw ships landing on St. George’s Quay, just down from the shop on China Street, with tea and spices that had  come all the way from China.
