Scottish Country Dance of the Day

While most secret tea clubs of the 18th century were informal and hidden to avoid detection, a few notable examples of tea-centric societies and gatherings became famous, often because they blurred the lines between legality and social influence. Here are some notable mentions:

1. The Kit-Cat Club (1696–early 1700s)

Though primarily a political and literary club, the Kit-Cat Club in London was known to serve tea at its gatherings, making it an early example of tea's association with intellectual and social circles. The club hosted influential Whig politicians and writers, including Sir Robert Walpole and Joseph Addison. While not secretive in the way smuggling tea clubs were, it symbolized the emerging social significance of tea.

2. The Bluestocking Society (mid-18th century)

The Bluestocking Society was an intellectual movement led by women, including notable figures like Elizabeth Montagu and Hannah More. Tea played a central role in their gatherings, which focused on literature, education, and women's intellectual empowerment. Although not secret, the Bluestocking Society challenged social norms by creating spaces for educated women to discuss ideas over tea, which was still a luxurious commodity.

3. Smuggling Networks in Kent and Sussex

Rather than formal clubs, smuggling tea rings in areas like Kent and Sussex operated almost as underground societies. Groups like the infamous Hawkhurst Gang were well-organized networks involved in smuggling untaxed tea, often supplying secret tea clubs and private households. Their activities were so notorious that they became the subject of legends and even confrontations with government forces.

4. The Tea Gardens of London

While tea gardens such as Vauxhall Gardens and Ranelagh Gardens were not secret, they played a significant role in tea culture, especially for the burgeoning middle class. These gardens offered a public space to enjoy tea alongside music, performances, and socializing. In contrast to clandestine clubs, these were legal and symbolic of tea's shift from exclusivity to accessibility.

5. Jacobite Tea Gatherings

During periods of political tension, such as the Jacobite uprisings, tea gatherings were sometimes used as covers for plotting or discussing political dissent. While not specifically "tea clubs," these gatherings relied on tea as a social lubricant to disguise the true purpose of the meeting.

Feeling the need for some tea?  Browse through a history of tea drinking through art by clicking the painting of The Village Gossips, c. 1828 by Rolinda Sharples (1793–1838).