Keepsakes of Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson: more than just tea

Valentine's Day is approaching once again – we are taking this as an opportunity to honor a special couple at Schönbichler. Our Lord Nelson and his beloved Lady Hamilton celebrate Valentine's Day, but they are also inseparable on all other days, as they spend every day side-by-side on our tea shelf.

As is surely clear by now, these are two types of tea – but there is more to it: the namesakes behind them are no invention. Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton actually existed, and the affair between 1799 and 1805 was real as well. In real life, the relationship between the two was significantly shorter than their time together on our tea shelf. Due to their long tradition at Schönbichler, we are dedicating a brief historical look back and a tasty insight into the respective black teas to them.

The Life of Amy Lyon/Emma Hamilton

Emma Hamilton was a well-known model at the end of the 18th century. Born in 1761 as the daughter of a blacksmith under the name Amy Lyon, she preferred the name Emma. Charles Greville, the nephew of her future husband Sir William Hamilton, had high hopes of earning good money with her as an artist's model. When he no longer needed her, he wrote to his uncle asking him to take care of Emma; his uncle found her very desirable and eventually married her. It was not until 1791 that she met Horatio Nelson. She organized a celebration and a ball in honor of Lord Nelson, who soon fell for her.

Admiral Horatio Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar

Nelson's character was known for his high sense of duty and his strategic talent, both of which were of great advantage in the famous Battle of Trafalgar.

Napoleon's planned invasion of England was detected and blocked by the British early on. At Cape Trafalgar in Spain, warships under Nelson's command arrived and broke through the Spanish-French line. The date was October 21, 1805; on this day, a fateful naval battle occurred that had major consequences for England.

With his flagship, which bore the name "Victory," he engaged in a battle with a French battleship. A musket shot from the opposing side hit Admiral Nelson directly in the spine. October 21, 1805, was the day of Nelson's death, but England was ultimately victorious.

Only 10 years later, Lady Hamilton, who had become heavily indebted, also passed away. While history had a tragic end for Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, they have been immortalized at the tea merchant Schönbichler.

Our Fruity Flavored Black Teas Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton

The bittersweet course of their lives is also reflected in their taste. For fruit lovers and black tea fans, our historical pair is a tasty blend of tart freshness and bittersweet fruit notes.

Lord Nelson wins hearts with the aroma of ripe apples, mixed with the tart note of a black tea with a deep dark leaf that finely rounds off the fruit. It is suitable as a hot tea to sweeten cold winter days, but also as an ingredient for iced tea.

With the somewhat tart and intense taste of blackcurrant, Lady Hamilton also complements the slightly tart black tea base perfectly, enchanting not only Lord Nelson.

Not fruity enough yet? As a little nudge to experiment, here is a small mixing tip:

Add 12g Lady Hamilton or Lord Nelson to 12g Kaminfeuer (Fireside) or alternatively 12g House Blend fruit tea – a promising recommendation.