Potted history of a love for tea

Everything stops for tea - even time itself, apparently.

The Robert Adam-designed state rooms of Syon House, the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, have become the venue for a celebration of Georgian and Regency Britain's passion for the cup that cheers without intoxicating.

In a scene to stir a tea-lover's heart the exhibition, which opens today, features a table set for two as it would have been in the late 18th Century, with costumed mannequins on hand to "take tea".

Silver, china, documents and tea-drinking memorabilia from the Northumberland family archives are in the exhibition, as are a group of seven historic tea pots from the Norwich Castle Museum collection.

There is also material from the archives of Twinings, the 290-year-old tea blending company.

The exhibition is being held in association with Twinings.