Jane Austen’s Bath & The Perfect Regency Cup of Tea | Gillards of Bath

Everyone made a grand fuss over Jane Austen turning 250 last year. But if you follow us at Gillards of Bath, you know we have a gentle habit of arriving at the party precisely when we mean to—and really, with everyone turning 250 these days, why should it get all the glory? Turning 251 is just as splendid, far less crowded, and frankly, Jane herself would likely appreciate the quieter celebration.

“But indeed, I would rather have nothing but Tea,” Jane famously declared in a letter to her sister Cassandra. For Austen, tea was not merely a beverage; it was the quiet social anchor of Georgian life. It framed domestic gossip, smoothed over awkward parlour introductions, and provided a moment of sanctuary amidst the subtle social combat of Regency Bath.

Across her six completed novels, tea appears constantly as a central plot device—serving as the backdrop for key conversations, awkward reunions, and social scrutiny. In Emma alone, the ritual recurs throughout as the ultimate benchmark of hospitality, social status, and refinement (we would like to give an exact number, but unfortunately, blending tea by hand is a time-consuming activity which sadly, leaves us precious little time for literary tally-keeping—we leave the meticulous counting to Mr. Darcy).

To understand tea in Jane’s era, one must forget the heavy, milk-laden brews of today. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, tea was a precious, highly taxed luxury—literally kept under lock and key in wooden tea caddies, with the mistress of the house keeping the key firmly on her chatelaine. The teas favoured in Georgian drawing rooms were predominantly delicate China black teas (like Keemun and Lapsang) often blended with a touch of green tea (such as Gunpowder or Young Hyson). Green tea was prized for its freshness, vibrant aroma, and visual elegance in porcelain cups.

This historic profile inspired our own Jane Austen Blend. Crafted to replicate the exact style of afternoon tea served in Regency drawing rooms, it combines smooth China black teas with a crisp whisper of green tea to lift the profile. It is a light, fragrant, and deeply civilised cup—designed explicitly to be taken black, entirely bypassing the age-old debate of whether milk goes in first or last.

As you stroll the Royal Crescent and explore Jane Austen’s Bath during the festival, do make a detour to see us on New Bond Street. We weren’t quite here when Jane was promenading through town, but we’ve been blending on these streets for over 130 years. And while our Jane Austen Blend is a slightly newer addition—turning a sprightly 50 herself before long—she carries the exact spirit of the era.

Before you step back out into the Bath stone streets, we leave you with one final thought from Northanger Abbey: “Where an enquiry set in upon with faint hopes of tea, was happily answered by its immediate appearance.” May your visit to Bath be answered just as happily.