Cuppa tea and a biscuit

Edinburgh and tea share a long and noble history together. English Breakfast, in spite of its name, was first created in our beloved city, as well as the rare but delectable blend, Blue Lady.

Robert Fortune, a University of Edinburgh graduate named is responsible for the entire tea industry outside of China, and we have possibly the highest concentration of tea-shops in the Western world. With such a wealth of tea at our feet, it only seems right that everyone should have the knowledge to appreciate what is on offer.

As a result, the Edinburgh University Societea has created a ‘tea map’ of our tea-riffic city, and in celebration of this, The Journal and the folks at Societea joined forces to provide our readers with information on some of the best tea shops in town.

1. Based in New Town, Eteaket it is a perfect place to take a break if you’re in the area. Diverse teas from around the world combined with vibrant pink and turquoise decor send tea shops into the modern boutique age, with not a doily in sight. Can get very busy though, so perhaps not ideal for a relaxing cuppa
2. Perhaps the most mysterious of all the shops listed, Kung Fu Tea specialises in Pu-Erh as well as other classic Chinese favourites. Some of the Pu-Erh is sourced directly from the owner’s family in Yunnan, making the shop, when combined with its décor, the most authentic Chinese experience you’ll find outside the East. The only snag is that the shop is now open by appointment only.
3. The most café-esque of all the tea shops, Tea Tree Tea seems designed for students. Located near ECA, it is the ideal drop-in spot for a meal, and of course good quality tea
4. South Clark Street provides an oasis of calm in the form of Anteaques (God knows it needs one), Anteaques is a haven for anyone who loves good quality or unusual tea, antiques (geddit?) or a serene atmosphere. The scones are to die for. Seriously. Sadly it is only open from Friday to Sunday
5. Pekoe Tea is best known for its Chinese green teas, and it has quickly expanded to cover almost every tea-producing region of the world. It is one of the larger wholesalers in Edinburgh, so chances are you’ve already tried their teas elsewhere. The shop itself offers tea-tastings however, so it is worth a look for budding tea connoisseurs
6. Loopy Lorna’s in Morningside is cute and eccentric, and is a must for anyone who loves tea and huge slabs of cake. No other tea shop puts as much effort into their baked goods. As if it couldn't get any better, many of the teas appear to have been chosen to complement them

Naturally with such a high number of tea venues, not all of them are mentioned here; plenty of other worthy places are there to be discovered, so keep your eye out!