OUR PASSION FOR TEA
22 HOUSE OF TEA WAS BORN FROM A LOVE OF CARIBBEAN HOSPITALITY, FAMILY STORIES, OLD RECIPES, STRONG TEA, SWEET THINGS, AND THE POWERFUL MEMORIES THAT GATHER AROUND A TABLE.
FOR MANY CARIBBEAN FAMILIES, TEA IS NEVER JUST TEA. IT IS WHAT IS OFFERED WHEN SOMEONE VISITS. IT IS WHAT IS POURED WHEN STORIES BEGIN. IT IS WHAT AUNTIES, MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS AND NEIGHBOURS SERVE WITH BUN, CAKE, PATTIES, PLANTAIN, BISCUITS, LAUGHTER, ADVICE AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT OF GOSSIP. TEA CARRIES WARMTH, CARE, COMFORT AND CONNECTION.
THE INSPIRATION FOR 22 HOUSE OF TEA CAME FROM A DESIRE TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE CARIBBEAN CULTURE COULD BE CELEBRATED THROUGH TASTE, SCENT, MEMORY AND STORYTELLING. IT GREW OUT OF THE WIDER VISION OF 22 HOUSE OF BOOKS AND THE WINDRUSH CHRONICLES — PROJECTS ROOTED IN PRESERVING CARIBBEAN HERITAGE, HONOURING THE WINDRUSH GENERATION, AND CREATING SPACES WHERE OUR STORIES ARE SEEN, HEARD AND VALUED.
22 HOUSE OF TEA BRINGS THOSE STORIES TO THE TABLE.
EACH EVENT IS DESIGNED AS MORE THAN AN AFTERNOON TEA. IT IS A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE. GUESTS ARE INVITED TO ENJOY CARIBBEAN-INSPIRED SAVOURY BITES, SWEET TREATS, ISLAND TEAS, SPICE BLENDS, MUSIC, CONVERSATION AND THEMED CELEBRATIONS. FROM WINDRUSH DAY AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO MOTHER’S DAY, CARNIVAL, CHRISTMAS AND FAMILY STORYTELLING EVENTS, EVERY GATHERING IS BUILT AROUND MEMORY, HERITAGE AND BELONGING.
THE BUSINESS WAS ALSO INSPIRED BY THE IDEA THAT HERITAGE DOES NOT ONLY LIVE IN MUSEUMS OR HISTORY BOOKS. IT LIVES IN KITCHENS, TEACUPS, FRONT ROOMS, RECIPES, FAMILY SAYINGS, SUNDAY VISITS, MIGRATION STORIES AND THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO FED AND RAISED US.
22 HOUSE OF TEA IS A WAY OF HONOURING THAT LIVING ARCHIVE.
IT IS FOR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, ELDERS, CHILDREN, BOOK LOVERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO EXPERIENCE CARIBBEAN CULTURE IN A WARM AND WELCOMING WAY.
OUR MOTTO IS SIMPLE:
STORIES. SPICE. SWEETNESS.
BECAUSE EVERY CUP HAS A STORY, EVERY SPICE HOLDS A MEMORY, AND EVERY GATHERING SHOULD LEAVE PEOPLE FEELING NOURISHED, CONNECTED AND CELEBRATED.
