Thomas Ridgway facts for kids
Thomas Ridgway was an English trader who became famous for selling tea in the early 1800s. He built a successful tea business that even supplied the Queen!
The Story of Ridgways Tea
Thomas Ridgway started his first shop in a place called the Bull Ring in Birmingham. But this business didn't do well, and he had to close it because he ran out of money.
After that, he moved to London and started a new company called The Tea Establishment (Ridgway and Company) on King William Street. This new business brought in tea, coffee, and spices from other countries. Soon, they decided to focus mostly on tea. This time, his business was a big success! It did so well that Thomas Ridgway was able to pay back all the money he owed from his first shop.
Making Tea Better for Everyone
In March 1851, a group of tea importers, including a representative from Ridgways, met in London. They were worried because coffee was very expensive and often mixed with other things, especially for people who didn't have much money.
Ridgways became one of the first companies to sell tea in special, clean packages. This helped make sure the tea was pure and safe to drink, stopping people from mixing it with other things to cheat customers.
Tea for the Queen
In 1876, something very special happened: Queen Victoria herself asked Ridgways to create a unique tea blend just for her!
A few years later, in 1886, the Ridgway company received a "Royal Warrant." This is a special award given by the British Royal Family to businesses that supply goods or services to them. It showed that the Queen really liked their tea!
The tea blend made for Queen Victoria was called Her Majesty's Tea Blend. Today, it's known as Her Majesty's Blend and you can still buy it from a company called Typhoo Tea.
Ridgways Today
In 1998, a company called Premier Brands brought the Ridgways tea brand back into the spotlight. They made sure to highlight that Ridgways still had its Royal Warrant, showing its long history with the Royal Family. They also emphasized Ridgways' commitment to Fairtrade standards. Fairtrade means that the tea is grown and sold in a way that is fair to the farmers and good for the environment.
