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Brand · Williamson
Williamson Tea
Single-estate African tea since 1869, own-grown in Kenya and Malawi.
Williamson Tea traces its business to 1869 and grows tea on its own estates in Kenya, including Changoi, Kaimosi, Kapchorua and Tinderet.
Africa
Single-estate
Sustainable
In stock at teas.co.uk · 1 product
Founded1869
OriginKenya / UK heritage
SpecialitySingle-estate Kenyan & Malawian black tea
In stock at teas.co.uk
1 product
Chosen before it earns its place
Curator says · Lee on Williamson
4.6
Curator rating
Williamson is the brand most British tea drinkers have never heard of, and that's a shame. They own their own estates in Kenya and Malawi, which means single-estate tea at supermarket-tier prices. The Earl Grey is one of the best-balanced commercial Earl Greys around, the Premium Breakfast has the African brightness without the harshness of cheap Kenyan blends. If you've only had supermarket tea, try this brand once.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator, teas.co.uk
Start with
Williamson English Breakfast, 50 Tea Bags 125g
£5.50
£4.40
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Founded 1869 · Kenya / UK heritage
About Williamson
Williamson Tea is one of the oldest names in tea, and its story is rooted in one place. The business traces to 1869, when Captain J. H. Williamson and R. B. Magor started a tea business in Calcutta, and today Williamson grows its tea on its own highland estates in Kenya. It does not simply buy Kenyan tea on the open market; it grows, plucks and processes its own across estates such as Changoi, Kaimosi, Kapchorua and Tinderet, which is why it can speak about provenance with a specificity most tea companies cannot. The elephant on the packaging marks land the company actively protects.
The range is built on bright, clean East African black tea, English Breakfast and Earl Grey above all, with a consistency that comes from controlling the crop from bush to box. For our shelf Williamson is the single-origin Kenyan cup done by people who own the gardens. The breakfast blend is brisk and full without the coarse edge of cheap East African tea, the Earl Grey is properly balanced, and the provenance is real rather than marketing language. Founded in 1869, it states its claims as plain fact, and the cup is grown on the land the elephant marks.
Key facts
Founded 1869 Captain J. H. Williamson and R. B. Magor start the tea business in Calcutta in 1869 that becomes Williamson Tea.
Its Own Kenyan Estates Williamson grows tea on its own Kenyan estates, including Changoi, Kaimosi, Kapchorua and Tinderet.
Elephant Friendly Certified Williamson holds Elephant Friendly certification for Kenyan estates that protect elephant migration corridors.
1869 → 2026
Brand timeline
1869
01
Williamson and Magor
Captain J. H. Williamson and R. B. Magor start the tea business in Calcutta that becomes Williamson Tea.
Kenya
02
Its own estates
Williamson grows tea on its own Kenyan estates, including Changoi, Kaimosi, Kapchorua and Tinderet.
2026
03
Stocked at Teas.co.uk
Chosen by hand for the shelf; every line we stock is listed on this page.
Certified, not implied
Sustainability
Williamson grows its tea on its own Kenyan estates and holds Elephant Friendly certification for estates that protect elephant migration corridors. Check the pack for tea bag and carton disposal.
Elephant Friendly
The Kaimosi farm is managed to allow the free movement of wildlife, ensuring tea farming coexists with natural heritage.
Plant-Based Bags
Check the pack for disposal advice.
Single-Origin Kenyan Sourcing
Williamson grows its tea on its own Kenyan estates rather than buying it on the open market.
Curator picks
Top picks
The two Williamson products we recommend most often.
Williamson English Breakfast, 50 Tea Bags 125g
£5.50
£4.40
Add +
Williamson English Breakfast is the breakfast tier from Williamson, the family-owned tea estate company that has grown tea in Kenya since 1923 and bottled it under the British Williamson brand since 1869,…
Williamson Earl Grey, 50 Tea Bags 125g
£5.50
£4.40
Out of stock
Williamson Earl Grey is the Earl Grey tier from Williamson, the family-owned tea estate company that has grown tea in Kenya since 1923, the same single-origin Kenyan black tea as the English…
1 product · in stock
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Williamson
Williamson English Breakfast, 50 Tea Bags 125g
£0.09/cup · 50 cups
£5.50
£4.40
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Before you buy
Williamson: Frequently Asked Questions
Teas.co.uk stocks 2 Williamson products, with live prices and stock shown on this page. UK delivery is free over £35.
Williamson Tea is one of the oldest names in tea, and its story is rooted in one place. The business traces to 1869, when Captain J. H. Williamson and R. B. Magor started a tea business in Calcutta, and today Williamson grows its tea on its own highland estates in Kenya. It does not simply buy Kenyan tea on the open market; it grows, plucks and processes its own across estates such as Changoi, Kaimosi, Kapchorua and Tinderet, which is why it can speak about provenance with a specificity most tea companies cannot. The elephant on the packaging marks land the company actively protects.
Captain J. H. Williamson and R. B. Magor start the tea business in Calcutta in 1869 that becomes Williamson Tea.
Williamson grows its tea on its own Kenyan estates and holds Elephant Friendly certification for estates that protect elephant migration corridors. Check the pack for tea bag and carton disposal.
Use fresh, just-boiled water for black teas (around 100°C) and slightly cooler water (75 to 85°C) for green and white teas, steeping 2 to 4 minutes to taste. See the teas.co.uk brewing calculator for the ideal temperature and time for each tea.
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