We are incredibly proud to announce the launch of Cutty Sark Tea – a collaboration between Drury Tea & Coffee and Royal Museums Greenwich that celebrates the world’s sole surviving tea clipper.

Blended from the finest large leaf teas, Cutty Sark Tea is inspired by the cargo that made this beautiful ship so famous, yet is refined for the modern palate. We’ve selected Yunnan F.O.P. (Flowery Orange Pekoe) from the eponymous province in South-West China, which is a traditionally rich, red brew with a hint of smokiness. Alongside this is another Chinese tea, Keemun from the Anhui province, which is smooth, delicate and fragrant. Lastly, we’ve introduced an Indian tea in a nod to contemporary tastes. Assam F.O.P. (Flowery Orange Pekoe) is full-bodied with a distinctive malty flavour that adds a powerful dimension to our tea. The result is a blend that makes the perfect breakfast tea, served with or without milk, that is also refined and delicate enough to be enjoyed in the afternoon or evening, perhaps with a slice of lemon or orange to temper the richness.

Cutty Sark was once one of the fastest ships in the world. Built in 1869 in Dumbarton, Scotland, it was one of a generation of sleek, elegant and rapid sailing vessels tasked with bringing China tea back to Britain. Speed was of the essence: the fashion of the day was to try and buy the first shipments of tea delivered so it paid to be fast. In total, Cutty Sark transported over 10 million lbs / 4.5 million kilograms of tea to Britain.

Tea had been enjoyed in Asia for centuries but did not reach Britain until the 1650s. Initially hailed for its medicinal qualities, it was soon a beverage only the wealthy could enjoy. Delicate porcelain, expensive silverware and elaborate rituals developed to demonstrate its exclusivity. By Cutty Sark’s time, the exotic leaf had become a national staple, in high demand as a daily drink for all.

The opening of the Suez Canal and advancement of steamships meant that Cutty Sark was forced from the tea trade after just seven years. It would carry tea on one last voyage in 1881, this time from India. By the end of the century, tea from India and Sri Lanka had become more popular than Chinese tea in Britain. Cutty Sark went on to enjoy a successful career in the Australian wool trade and, today, it is the sole surviving tea clipper in the world.

  BUY ON-LINE

Based at our dedicated coffee training centre in our headquarters on the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, the courses include a tour of our roastery to kick things off. Delivered by our four-strong barista training team, both courses offer a fabulous experience for the coffee lover, backed up by Drury’s eighty plus years of experience.

Our Home Barista Workshop then takes you into the world of the professional coffee maker, where you will learn all the techniques we teach on our official SCA (Speciality Coffee Association) courses. At four hours long and with a maximum of four participants you really will come away with an in-depth knowledge of the craft and learn exciting new skills.

The Learn to Taste and Brew Coffee course offers a two-hour insight into the craft of cupping coffee, tasting six single origins and learning how to identify the flavours that Q graders use to ascertain coffee quality. There’ll also be plenty of brewing tips along the way to ensure you get the very most from your coffee.

Learn to taste and brew coffee

Learn to taste and brew coffee in one of London's original roasterys

• 2 hours in the roastery
• Learn about coffee
• Enjoy a coffee tasting

Price : £35.00 per person

View More Info

Home Barista Course

Learn to make barista coffee and create latte art at home, with the Drury coffee team.

• 4 hours in the roastery
• Learn barista techniques
• Take home your favourite coffee

Price : £149.00 per person

View More Info

It is with a very heavy heart that we have taken the difficult decision to permanently close our retail shop in Covent Garden.

Since our business was founded by my grandfather and his two brothers in 1936, Drury have always had a retail presence in central London and so we do not take this decision lightly at all.

However, it is a fact of life that with the changing shopping habits of UK consumers and the devastating impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the retail industry, the future of specialist shops like ours is uncertain and difficult.

Many of you will know that Drury are a key supplier of tea and coffee to the UK hospitality industry, and we must now focus our efforts and resources on this part of our business together with our online shop, in order to continue providing the very best products to both our retail and commercial customers.

We have already moved our retail division across to our head office in the Royal Arsenal, and we are continuing to make every effort to improve and enhance our online shop to make ordering easier and more efficient. However, we do not intend to be an internet-only business. Drury always has, and will continue to be, a family business and this is reflected in the attitude and integrity of all my colleagues, particularly in the retail division. I know that many of you have spoken to Karen, our shop manager, on the telephone over the past few months and it has been particularly gratifying for me to hear the warmth and engagement in her voice (we occupy adjacent offices) as she greets old customers on the phone.

We are working hard on savings in other areas of the business with the hope that all of Karen’s colleagues will have a place with us as we grow our retail business online. With the fantastic support we’ve had from customers both old and new since March 2020 this is looking more like a probable outcome, rather than a vain wish.

I know from the messages of support and concern we’ve received during this terrible pandemic that many of you will be very upset to read these words, but please believe me when I say that it is by far the hardest decision that I’ve had to make in my 32 year career with Drury Tea & Coffee. However, above everything else it is my duty to ensure that our 84 year old family business carries on, and continues to supply Britain with the very best tea and coffee it can. In order to do that we must take this next step, however difficult it is.

Should any of you wish to contact me regarding this please do not hesitate to email me on marco@drurycoffee.com or write to me at:

The Drury Tea & Coffee Company Ltd,
46/47, iO Centre, Armstrong Road,
Royal Arsenal Riverside,
London, SE18 6AT.

With many thanks for your continued support,

Marco Olmi

Managing Director

Drury have launched our catering cartons of 100 bags to retail customers. Made with real leaf tea and infusions our biodegradable pyramids really are completely delicious and with all 35 varieties now available in boxes of 100 (saving you a minimum of 4 pence per bag) there’s no excuse not to get stocked up.

Brewing Bundles – spreading the joy of tea and coffee.

Introducing our great value tea and coffee bundles – a fantastic way to enjoy (or share) the joy of our delicious teas and coffees while you’re stuck in the house. We’ve put together some of our most popular products and bundled them up with some hardware and treats, and then applied a fabulous discount to make them more accessible than ever.

You can order one for yourself, or if you know a friend or relative that’s missing out on a splendid cup of tea and coffee during this difficult time why not gift it to them, simply select a different delivery address during checkout.

Please browse our selection below and happy brewing!

Have you tried our delicious new one cup coffee bags yet? They’re just like a tea bag, except with coffee! Available as a Rainforest Alliance certified Arabica and a Swiss Water Process decaf, we’re supplying them to top quality hotels and luxury B & Bs across the country.

• Rainforest Alliance Certified Arabica Coffee
• Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee

Available in:-

• 15's Acetate Boxes ( Both Blends )
• 50's Bulk Pack ( Rainforest Alliance Arabica Only )

Click here to see all products

With Christmas drawing nearer, our tea department has once again started to blend our fantastic Christmas Tea pyramid tea bags. Apple, orange and Christmas spices enhance the finest black tea to create a warming, festive tea perfect for cold days this holiday, with scents of cinnamon and cloves to get all into a merry mood.

This year we have created a brand new Drury Christmas Tea cocktail: Christmas in Manhattan. Infuse American bourbon with our Christmas Tea and mix with sweet vermouth and orange bitters for your own fairytale of New York. Impress family and friends with this sweet and spicy festive cocktail.

Christmas in Manhattan

45ml Bourbon infused with Drury Christmas Tea

45ml Sweet Vermouth

dash orange bitters

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Serve in a cocktail glass with a cocktail cherry.

To make Christmas tea infused bourbon: Infuse two pyramid tea bags in 250ml bourbon for 60 minutes. Squeeze tea bag well and discard.

Drury Blend 33 is a delicious hot chocolate drink that’s made with 33% cocoa solids for a truly luxurious treat.It’s designed to be prepared with hot milk for a really rich flavour and texture, and it’s suitable for vegans (using soy or almond milk) and coeliacs.

It’s that time of year when we start blending our delicious Christmas Tea pyramid tea bags. A mix of the finest black tea blended with apple, orange and Christmas spices, it is warmly aromatic and spicy, with the rich scent of cinnamon and cloves.

Our Christmas Tea pyramid tea bags don’t just make a great cup of tea, they also help make the perfect Christmas cocktail. All you need to do is infuse one Drury Christmas pyramid teabag in your chosen spirit for at least 60 minutes, then squeeze the teabag well and discard.

This year we have once again teamed up with our friends at Artis to create two festive cocktails. Served in their gorgeous Libbey vintage 1924 glassware, we think either of these would make the perfect tipple to serve at any Christmas party.

SAINT NICK’S SIDECAR

This is a take on the famous Sidecar cocktail

2 measures Christmas tea-infused brandy

1 measure Triple sec

1 measure Lemon juice

Method: Shake all the ingredients with ice and serve in an ice-filled vintage 1924 cocktail glass. Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice.

WINTER WONDERLAND

A decadent nod to the Brandy Alexander

1 measure Christmas tea-infused brandy

1 measure Crème de cacao

1 measure Single cream

Freshly ground nutmeg

Method: Shake all the ingredients over ice and serve in a vintage 1924 cocktail glass. Top with a dusting of nutmeg.

Our Christmas Tea pyramid tea bags cost £3.95 per 15 and are available now at www.shopdrury.com

Our Christmas Tea Pyramids don’t just make a great cup of tea, they also help make the perfect festive tipple! We’ve teamed up with specialist glass and barware supplier Artis to showcase two seasonal cocktails that will put the sparkle into your Christmas celebrations.

The Yuletide Bramble is made with Christmas Tea infused gin and crème de mûre, whilst A Highland Christmas is a heady mixture of Christmas Tea infused Scotch, Dundee orange marmalade and bitters. Both are truly delicious and have the distinctive taste of the Christmas spices and fruits that feature in our Christmas Tea.

The Yuletide Bramble

1 Drury Christmas Tea Pyramid Bag

2oz Gin

1/2oz Lime Juice

1/2oz Crème de Mûre

1/2oz Simple Syrup

6 Blackberries

Lime Wedge

Infuse 1 Drury Christmas Tea pyramid bag in gin for 30 to 60 minutes, squeeze well and discard tea bag. Muddle 3 blackberries with gin, add other ingredients and shake well with ice. Strain into an ice filled glass and garnish with 3 remaining blackberries and lime wedge.

To purchase our Drury Chrsitmas Pyramid Tea Bags please click link.

A Highland Christmas

1 Drury Christmas Tea pyramid bag

2oz good quality Scotch Whisky

1 tsp Dundee Orange Marmalade

3 dashes Angostura Bitters

3-4oz Club Soda

Orange Slice

Infuse 1 Drury Christmas Tea pyramid bag in whisky for 30 to 60 minutes, squeeze well and discard tea bag. Muddle marmalade with scotch, add bitters and shake well with ice. Strain into an ice filled glass, top with soda and garnish with orange slice.

To purchase our Drury Chrsitmas Pyramid Tea Bags please click link.

For more details of the wonderful range of cocktails glasses available from Artis, please visit www.artis-uk.com