A great Radio 4 show highlighting how more people are discovering the world of fine tea. A growing number of consumers are discovering that there is more to tea than the everyday cup of ‘builders tea’; discovering that tea, like wine, is a direct expression of the tea’s unique geography, soil, weather and the skill and craftmanship of the tea grower, as well as tea specialist/buyer. It is now becoming easier, cheaper (and healthier) to learn more about tea and experience new tea varieties – the world of tea is a rich tapestry that rivals wine in its complexity and depth. Definitely worth a listen or download to your iPhone.
BBC 4 Food - Speciality teas
“Speciality teas are the biggest growth area in the fairly static tea sector, as tea drinkers go in search of more interesting flavours, and stories. Sheila Dillon asks what’s driving this growth, and finds out what is on offer both in the mass market and the speciality tea companies, including The Rare Tea Company. The British are second only to the Irish in the amount of tea they drink but Henrietta Lovell wasn’t convinced they were getting a decent cuppa, so set up the company to bring ‘the good stuff’ to the nation’s mugs, including a surprising new tea from Malawi. African tea is traditionally regarded as low quality commodity tea best used in blended teabags, and lacks the cache of China tea or Indian Darjeeling. Henrietta has been working with a third-generation Malawian tea producer to bring a single estate ‘gourmet’ tea to the market, fit to rub shoulders with traditional premium teas. Sheila is joined in the studio by Bill Gorman from the UK Tea Council, which represents all the major tea brands in the UK, and Edward Eisler, founder of internet-based Jing Teas.” Listen Now
chateaurouge.wordpress.com 