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The Bramah Tea and Coffee Museum in London is the world's first museum dedicated to the history of tea and coffee. As well as the informative museum displays they offer afternoon tea in their Tea Room, and have an amazing selection of tea and coffee for sale in their Shop.

Visitor Information

Bramah Museum of Tea and Coffee Visitor Information.

• Pros

• All on one level (fully accessible)

• Open seven days a week
• Excellent Tea Room in the same building

• Cons

• Museum could do with a good tidy up but it is quintessentially English in its cluttered style

Edward Bramah - The Museum's Founder

Edward Bramah is an all-round expert on everything to do with tea and coffee. He started his career in 1950 in Africa working on a tea plantation, and upon his return to London he trained as a Tea Taster. He later designed his own brand of filter coffee machines and had the idea for the museum in 1952. Incredibly he didn't give up on his dream, and forty years later the Bramah Museum of Tea and Coffee opened in 1992. He also opened his first tea museum cafe in Japan on 1998.

I'm a big admirer of Edward Bramah as he personifies the perfect Englishman with his extensive knowledge of our favorite drinks.

The Largest Teapot in the World

The Bramah Teapot, on display in the museum, is the largest teapot in the world. The teapot is a commemorative piece, intended to honor the memory of the people who brought fame to the world of tea, hence the famous people and events painted on the sides.

How it was made:
The teapot was produced in 6 stages and took 9 days to make. The clay was left to dry slowly for about 3 months and was fired in April 1985. By this time it had shrunk sufficiently to pass through the door of the kiln.

• Statistics:
• Height: 2ft 6in (762cm)
• Circumference: 6ft 4in (1.93m)
• Weight (empty): 89lbs (40kg)
• Weight (full): 339lbs (154 kg)
• 3 or 4lbs of tea would be required to make a full pot of tea that would fill 800 cups!

Review

The Museum is divided into two main areas: Tea and Coffee (funnily enough). There is a free map of the exhibits provided and you are guided through the history of our nation's favorite drinks. I leaned about the history of my favorite tea, Earl Grey. It seems George Stanton discovered the flavoring of tea with Canton Oranges while he was a botanist in China and he reported his findings to his friend, Sir Joseph Banks, a relative of the museum's founder, Edward Bramah.

The Bramah Museum of Tea and Coffee has become my favorite place to stop for a cup of tea whenever I visit the South Bank area. When you visit this small, cluttered museum you might be a bit unsure why it is so well-loved but embrace its quirky and fun side and enjoy tea and cakes in the Tea Room and you'll understand why I would definitely recommended a visit.

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