A cup of tea with Orange Pekoe founder, Marianna

Established in 2006, Orange Pekoe was inspired by one person’s love and passion for tea. Since then, it has grown in to one of London’s top tea destinations, but where did it all begin?

Having grown up with parents in the catering industry, Marianna followed in their footsteps and studied Hospitality Management at university. From there she went on to work for small business start-ups and took an MA in HR and Business Management, but it was whilst working as a consultant in the city that her plans for Orange Pekoe first began. Often, meetings would take place in some of London’s top coffee shops, and although the flat whites were always good, the tea was somewhat lacking… 

“I have always been a tea lover, and I would go to these meetings, order a cup of tea and it would be PG Tips! I was frustrated that there were so many good coffee shops but none of them served a proper cup of tea!” she laughs.

“I quickly realised that there were no proper tearooms in London, which was crazy considering we are a nation of tea drinkers! This, coupled with my frustration at not being able to easily find good quality loose leaf tea back then, was the driving force behind Orange Pekoe.”

And so, from this small seed a mighty tea plant grew, but aside from the practical opportunity, tea and its wonderful rituals had also played a more emotional role in Marianna’s formative years.

“I was born in the UK, but my parents came over from Cyprus, so we always had people visiting and the living room was basically a continual pot of tea! I remember the smell of it, and the smell of cakes that my mum and my nan had made. It was my safe place.” she fondly recalls.  

“At Pekoe, I wanted to create a place that felt homely, cosy and comforting, and I wanted it to be affordable and accessible. The best conversations happen over a pot of tea!”

Marianna spent two years learning all there is to know about tea grading and tea history before launching her business and, much like many new projects, the first step was to choose a name. 

“We often get asked about our name and where it comes from - it has nothing to do with oranges nor is it a specific blend of tea!” Marianna laughs.

“Orange Pekoe is actually a grade of tea and a very good one too. The story goes that many years ago when Dutch traders first brought tea to Europe, they presented the finest pickings to Dutch Royalty – The House of Orange, as they were known. Ever since then, tea of such refined quality has been called Orange Pekoe and we only sell the highest-grade loose-leaf teas, which is why we chose it as our name.”

Since launching, Marianna has spent over 14 years sourcing the highest grade of hand-picked large-leaf tea varieties from around the world and bringing them back to her online shop and much celebrated London tearoom, where there are over 50 different varieties on offer. It may sound like a daunting choice but fear not - Marianna and her well-trained tea sommeliers are always on hand to guide you on your tea journey.

“It’s wonderful to watch customers explore and experiment and discover new flavours in tea, to open the large tea caddies in our tearoom and delight in looking at the leaves and smelling the aromas” she explains.  

Alongside its wonderful tea offering, Orange Pekoe’s tearoom is also home to its highly acclaimed Afternoon Tea; a delicious, quintessentially British affair, served without a hint of stuffiness.

“Sweet cake washed down with warm, perfectly brewed tea is quite simply perfect! But there is no fuss and no dress code - it’s a really homely experience.” Marianna smiles.

“But I really do feel that Orange Pekoe is more than a tearoom. The ambience inside encompasses the very spirit of tea and creates a sense of inclusion for every visitor who steps through our doors. It is a gathering place where everyone knows they will be welcomed and cared for. Our aim is to make a difference to our customer’s day, if only for a moment – and this is in keeping with the true spirit of tea.”

Written by Sophie Farrah, food and drink writer and friend of Orange Pekoe sophiefarrah.com