Category: Loose leaf tea

Marvellous Moroccan Mint Tea Mint leaves are full of health benefits, and they make a wonderfully refreshing drink. In this article, we share the traditions of Moroccan mint tea and why it makes sense to enjoy a daily infusion. What’s so Special About Mint leaves? If you touch a mint leaf, it immediately releases its strong, clean aroma. Then, the taste leaves a cooling tingle in the mouth. For this reason, mint is the flavour of products used to freshen the breath, such as toothpaste and chewing gum. However, because mint leaves also have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, they don’t simply freshen the breath. They also fight bacteria, which can cause oral infections that can cause bad breath. Mint leaves are high in Vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient for eye health and immunity. In addition, they have been used for centuries to relieve digestive problems. The menthol relaxes muscles in the digestive tract, which eases bloating, colic and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The strong aroma is also good for enlivening the senses, decongesting the nasal tract, clearing headaches, and enhancing mental performance. As such, mint tea has preventative and healing properties, while tasting great. Have I captured your interest? Let me tell you more! Drinking Mint Tea in Morocco There is a long tradition of drinking mint tea in Morocco, and if you ever visit, an offer of this beverage is a sign of welcome, friendship, and hospitality. Known locally as Touareg tea, it is poured from a height into tall glasses, which aerates the drink and is part of the ceremony. Guests are typically served first, and in a second round of pouring, the intensity of flavour increases. Moroccan mint tea is a blend of gunpowder green tea, mint leaves and sugar. It’s refreshing on a hot African day and warming in the evening. The antioxidants in the green tea further enhance the health benefits, while the caffeine adds an extra boost to mental alertness. Sharing a drink of mint tea is a social occasion, a time to pause the day, reflect and enjoy a shared experience. Food Pairings with Mint Tea I’ve recently been hosting a variety of food and tea pairing workshops. With that in mind, let’s look at what works well with mint tea. Mint is widely used in condiments that accompany rich, spicy or fatty foods. For example, you might add mint sauce to your Lamb roast dinner, or enjoy mint raita with a curry. In Morocco, mint tea is often served with meat or cheese-filled filo pastries. It also makes the perfect accompaniment to delightful treats, including Fekkas twice-baked honey biscuits, Baghrir honey-drenched pancakes, and stuffed dates. As the strength of mint tea lingers on the palate, it can alter the flavour of other foods. For this reason, you may choose to sip it after the meal. Then, it can play its part in aiding digestion. Our Moroccan Mint Tea Our Mystic Moroccan mint tea has always proved a popular choice in tea tastings. Inspired by tradition, we blend subtly smoky Chinese Pinhead Gunpowder Green Tea with Peppermint, Red Peppercorns & Sunflower Petals. The aroma and flavour are released as soon as the tea is immersed in hot water. However, we recommend letting it infuse for 3 minutes before tasting. Our tea is unsweetened, so we leave it up to you to decide whether or not to add sugar. For a twist, we asked a mixologist to create a cocktail with it. He blended our mint tea withwhisky, bourbon and sugar to create a fragrant Mint Julep, which is wonderful for spring and summer parties. Maybe you’d prefer a mojito, mixing our mint tea with lime juice, white rum, sugar and ice. A Glass a Day Enjoying a daily glass or mug of Moroccan mint tea is an effective way to beat the mid-afternoon slump, cut through rich foods and gain the health benefits. What’s more, it has a marvellous and enduring taste. Isn’t it time to give it a try?

Discover Single Origin Tea In addition to our bespoke blends, Holy Cow Tea has an extensive range of premium single origin loose leaf tea. We call them straight teas because they come straight from the regional plantations in a pure form, ready for us to package. Like fine wine, coffee or chocolate, there is a reason why many people value single origin tea. Single Origin Versus Tea Blends Tea Blends Blending different ingredients opens up the opportunity to develop complex flavour combinations. It’s a sensory process, where taste profiles and aromas are carefully balanced to create new and exciting teas. I love the process and how subtle changes to the recipe can be transformative. The nation’s favourite, English Breakfast tea, is a blend. Our blend comprises Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan teas, which produce a full-bodied, malty and caffeinated beverage. Ideal with milk and optional sugar, it is a great way to kickstart the day. Straight Teas However, there is a purity to single origin tea. The soil conditions, altitude and climate are unique to every plantation. Equally, each tea is picked and processed in different ways. As a result, every single origin tea has a defining flavour. The flavour profiles in an Indian Darjeeling or Chinese Yunnan simply can’t be replicated in other locations. What’s more, the timing of picking leads to seasonal specialities. This is where you notice terms like ‘first flush’, which indicate the early spring harvest for the freshest flavour. For tea connoisseurs, these are the joy of single origin tea. It’s why they value the leaves, straight from the plantation, with no added ingredients. 8 of the World’s Most Renowned Single Origin Teas The most renowned straight teas typically originate from long-established plantations. Chinese Tea In the case of Chinese Yunnan Dian Hong, it is believed that some of the ancient tea bushes date back several hundred years. Even the new bushes are 50 – 60 years old. However, records suggest that this region has been producing tea for over 1,000 years. That’s a lot of brews of this rich and sweet black tea! Proving that even from the same region, tea growing, harvesting, and processing can result in completely different flavours, Shou Pu-erh is also grown in Yunnan. However, this black tea is aged and fermented for a mature, earthy flavour. Drinking this tea is reputed to aid digestion and gut health. From aged tea leaves to the young buds. Baihao Yinzhen, also known as Silver Needle tea, is only harvested from newly emerging buds. These are left whole and rolled, so they slowly unfurl during infusion, to release the delicate flavour. If you added any other ingredient, it would overpower this refined white tea. Indian Tea Darjeeling is described as the champagne of tea. It grows in the misty, high altitudes of the Himalayan mountains, where conditions are cool and moist, with a high UV exposure. These conditions produce tea with a unique fruity flavour that is described as muscatel. The tea is graded by first and second flushes, depending on when the leaves are harvested. Another renowned Indian tea is Assam. Assam Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (TGFOP) is the premium-grade from India's Brahmaputra Valley. It’s a full-bodied, malty black tea that is delicious with milk. This straight tea can hold its own when blended with other ingredients, so it is widely used as the base tea for spiced masala chai. Japanese Tea Now to Japanese Gyokuro, known as the whisky of tea. To achieve this widely prized green tea, there’s a meticulous cultivation process, which includes shading the leaves to minimise natural oxidation. This results in a refreshing aroma, pale yellow infusion and umami, vegetal flavour. Sencha is Japan’s most popular green tea, with a fresh, herbaceous and subtle salty flavour. The flat green leaves are steamed after harvesting to lock in antioxidants, colour and flavour. The leaves resemble the needles of a pine tree. While most tea is created by infusing leaves in water, Matcha is a fine powdered form of quality green tea. Traditionally, this is whisked into water to form a vivid green, frothy drink with a grassy flavour. Its popularity as a rich antioxidant has peaked in recent years, and the powder is now added to a full range of other foods and drinks. 3 Other Notable Tea Growing Regions Ceylon tea is grown in Sri Lanka and is noted for its refreshing citrus flavour. Taiwan is known for its Oolong teas, grown in the high mountains, including Ali Shan. Kenya is a major tea producer, and Purple tea is unique to this country. Benefits of Buying Single Origin Tea These are just a sample of the fantastic range of single origin teas. Each has a distinct flavour, which you can learn to appreciate in the same way as a fine wine. In doing so, you learn about the growing conditions and harvesting techniques which bring such variety to this beverage. Another benefit of straight tea is traceability. When we know where the tea was grown, tea specialists, like us, can check the credentials and ensure ethical sourcing. This is important for the independent plantation owners, the workers and the long-term sustainability of the industry. For me, there is the added interest in discovering the regional traditions and cultural rituals that tie into tea growing, harvesting and drinking. Tea remains part of many traditional ceremonies, and I never tire of learning more about these. I’m always keen to share my knowledge if you have any questions about the Holy Cow straight tea range.

A red rose is the universally recognised flower of love. As such, Valentine's Day sees peak sales of these crimson blooms. With bouquets on sale in every florist, supermarket and convenience store, it’s easy to pick up a bunch to gift. However, it can be more thoughtful to consider a twist on this tradition. If the one you adore is a tea lover, a rose tisane could offer a more meaningful Valentine’s Gift. Where Did The Tradition of Giving Roses on Valentine’s Day Originate From?  Historical references suggest that roses were desirable in Ancient Greece and Rome, due to their beautiful scent and rich colour. However, the connection with red blooms for Valentine’s Day was certainly cemented in the Victorian era, when floriography was all the rage.  Floriography offered a way to express feelings and intentions in a formal society using flowers. It operated as a subtle code when people were often restricted in conversation. The species of flower and the colour were all assigned a meaning, so gifting a bouquet was a complicated business. In floriography, red roses indicated desire, while red tulips stood for true love. Meanwhile, a bunch of yellow roses expressed friendship, and pink petals represented gratitude, so they were more likely to be given as a thank you. They may not have been what someone was hoping to receive on Valentine’s Day. However, they are preferable to a combination of red and white flowers, which was seen as a foreteller of death. Why Rose Tisane is the Perfect Gift for Tea Lovers Flowers are beautiful, yet these days it takes little thought to give a bunch of red roses. What’s more, in little more than a week, they will have wilted. So, we’d like to suggest a great alternative. If the love of your life enjoys relaxing with a cup of tea, you can express your affections with a rose tisane. Tisanes are often called herbal teas, yet they contain no tea. Instead, they are a blend of plants that provide a warm, caffeine-free drink that aids well-being. The properties that scented rose petals bring to a tisane include an appealing appearance, delicate sweetness and subtle floral aromas. Rose petals are naturally rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which are beneficial for skin health and digestion. In addition, rose is soothing and mood-enhancing. Rose tea has a rich history in Persia, where the gardens, such as the exquisite Bāq e Eram in Iran, were often abundant with roses. The petals were handpicked and used to produce rose water for cooking and bathing, as well as being made into tisanes. Drinking rose infusions was a sign of refined luxury. Our English Garden & Something Sweet Tisanes We use quality rose petals in our English Garden tisane. The fragrant petals are blended with chamomile buds and mallow flowers for a drink that transports you to a peaceful English garden on a summer’s day.  Another option is Something Sweet, which blends premium South African rooibos leaves, rose petals, hibiscus and rosehip with pieces of strawberry and apple for a rich red tisane with a deliciously fruity flavour. Simply infuse a teaspoon of either loose leaf tea in water that is just off the boil for 3 minutes for a delightful brew. Our tisanes are sold in plastic-free, compostable bags, or you may be interested in a gift set. There is a large caddy gift set, which includes a measuring spoon, strainer and gold container to keep the tisane fresh. Alternatively, we offer a caffeine-free gift set with three small caddies containing South African Summer and two tisanes of your choice, with a strainer. These are meaningful gifts that last longer than a bunch of flowers and offer a more original angle on gifting roses for Valentine’s Day. Don’t leave it until the last minute! You can place your order online or visit us at the Woburn Sands or Woburn Village market this weekend.

Celebrity endorsement and social media posts about the health benefits have seen a rapid rise in matcha tea. It’s been a popular choice for customers when we’re selling at food markets. What’s more, the vivid green powder is making its way into all manner of recipes. So, let’s explore this special tea and why matcha is so popular. Is Matcha a New Tea? Matcha may have taken the world by storm in recent years, yet it is not a new tea. Its rich heritage originated in China around 1,000 years ago. Two decades later, the tencha tea plants were introduced to Japan.  It soon became embedded in spiritualism, as Buddhist monks would drink matcha as part of their enlightening meditations. Equally, it was said that drinking matcha was an important ritual for Samurai, helping them mentally and physically prepare to defend land and property. However, the health benefits made it popular across the Japanese population. How is Matcha Different to Green Tea? On picked, all green tea is kept out of sunlight to prevent oxidation; that’s what differentiates it from black tea. This helps to retain higher levels of polyphenols, which results in an antioxidant-rich drink. This helps to boost immunity and reduce the impact of stress on the body. In addition, the caffeine and L-theanine support mental clarity and focus. For matcha, the tencha leaves are shaded for three weeks before harvesting. This increases the retention of the beneficial compounds. Then, only the finest buds are picked, and these are hand-ground into a fine powder using stone mills. As a result, the process is labour-intensive and time-consuming. However, this is how matcha achieves the delicate, verdant, grassy, umami flavour. For green tea, the leaves are infused in water to release their flavour and aroma, then removed. Yet, with matcha, the powder is whisked into hot water, so you consume the whole leaf. How do you Make Matcha? The traditional method of making matcha requires a bamboo whisk, called a chasen, and a small bowl. Over time, the bowl and whisk gradually take on the flavour of the matcha. Start by soaking the whisk in the bowl, filled with warm water for 30 seconds. This softens the bamboo in preparation for whisking. Tip the water away before adding half a teaspoon of matcha to the bowl. Pour 80°c water on the side of the bowl, to filter into the powder. Then it is time to blend.  The technique used in Japan is to pass the whisk from right to left and top to bottom, rather than in a circular movement. This method is said to produce a fine foam and evenly release the compounds. Around 50 strokes are recommended to create a good foam, so this isn’t a process to be rushed. The result is a thick, green liquid of dissolved tea. Traditionally, drinking matcha is a calm experience. You respectfully nod to the tea and sip it slowly. It’s a mindful process, so notice the aroma, flavour, temperature and smooth texture. Remember to store matcha powder in an airtight and non-transparent container. This prevents oxidation, which causes bitterness and deterioration of the beneficial compounds. Can You Use Matcha in Cooking? As we’ve mentioned, matcha is a high-grade tea over which considerable care is taken. In Japanese culture, it is believed that the delicate flavours and aromas are only fully savoured when drinking in the pure tea form. Equally, the slow and considered preparation and sipping helps to calm the body and mind, which elevates the health benefits. It has become popular to use matcha in cooking. As a result, there are many matcha recipes, from creamy lattes and green smoothies, to biscuits, pancakes and muffins. These mix the matcha with other ingredients, often disguising the flavour, while promoting the health benefits.  However, mixing this specialist tea with sugar, cream, butter and more is not best for your health. What’s more, cooking with matcha can diminish the beneficial compounds. Also, downing a matcha cookie or latte as you dash to catch your train is far from embracing the calming ritual that helps the body and mind. What is Ceremonial Grade Matcha? The premium matcha is referred to as ceremonial grade. This typically uses the first and finest tencha buds from the Kyoto region of Japan, which are prepared according to traditional practices. We sell this premium Ceremonial Grade Matcha online, or at our regular artisan and seasonal markets. If you want to cook with matcha, ceremonial grade is an expensive choice. Instead, we’d recommend culinary-grade matcha, which is ground from leaves, rather than buds. The result is a stronger and more bitter flavour, which works well with other ingredients. As an alternative, you may wish to grind other lower-cost and lower-grade green tea into powder form. This will still deliver the desired earthy flavour and antioxidants to a dish. If you’d like to know more about matcha, speak to Poonam or Chaya at an upcoming event!

Are you ready to delight the tea lovers in your family? We’ve compiled a tea gift guide to help you discover the perfect pressie for those who can always be found with a cuppa in their hand.  Let’s be honest, it is hard to beat a hot brew on a cold winter’s day. So, our premium loose leaf blends, tea accessories and experiences are a super way to bring a warm smile to the face of your family and friends. They also offer a stylish corporate offering. So, let us help you find the ideal tea gift for everyone! A Selection of Festive Tea Gift Boxes We’re a nation of tea lovers, yet most of us stick to black tea. However, you’d be surprised by the number of different varieties, aromas and flavours that are enjoyed across the world. With our gift boxes, you can transport your friends and family to other parts of the world with our ethically sourced, bespoke blends. Festive Gift Box - a small caddy of Emporium Breakfast tea, which combines malty Indian Assam with earthy black teas from Kenya and golden Sri Lankan leaves to give a rich dark amber liquor. Plus, your choice of two other Holy Cow tea blends presented in caddies, and an infuser for easy brewing for £35. Caffeine-Free Gift Box for those who favour a tisane infusion, we offer a small caddy of South African Summer. Sweet honey-like South African rooibos bronze shards with bright yellow petals. Incredibly smooth, full-bodied, a rich caffeine-free warming drink. Plus, your choice of two other Holy Cow tea blends presented in caddies, and an infuser for easy brewing for £35. Sample Jar Selection – your choice of three tea Holy Cow tea blends presented in small, wooden lid glass jars with an infuser for easy brewing for £32. Large Caddie Gift Box containing a gold storage tea caddy, your chosen Holy Cow tea blend, an infuser and measuring spoon. £37 Tea Accessory Gift Boxes It was once commonplace to make a pot of tea, and we’d love to see the return of this tradition. Teabags are convenient, yet the quality of the brew is inferior to the flavours and aromas that you get from premium loose leaves. With this in mind, you may wish to gift tea accessories to equip your recipient with everything they need for a perfect infusion.  Glass Teapot Gift Box – A glass teapot is the perfect way to appreciate the colour of our bespoke blends. This set features a wooden serving tray, sand timer, measuring spoon and a small, gold caddie containing your choice of Holy Cow tea blend for £45. Porcelain Tea Set Gift Box – A traditional blue & white teapot with two matching cups, presented with a wooden serving tray, sand timer, measuring spoon and a small gold caddie containing your choice of Holy Cow tea blend for £51. We can deliver tea gift sets to you for wrapping or direct to your lucky recipient to place under their tree. Please note: to ensure your gifts are delivered in time, the deadline for Christmas orders is Monday 15 December. Tea-themed Stocking Fillers & Secret Santa Gifts Are you seeking out a token gift for Secret Santa or a stocking filler? There may be a price limit, but that doesn’t mean that you have to buy a cheap gimmick! Why not give something meaningful to your tea-loving colleague or friend? Specialist tea gifts under £10 Small sample jar of loose leaf tea - £8  Small gold caddy of loose leaf tea - £9 (3 for £25.50 if you include one Emporium Breakfast) Tea measuring Spoon - £7.50 Infuser to fit most mugs or cups - £10 Specialist tea gifts under £25 Large gold caddy filled with your choice of loose leaf tea - £22  Glass infuser cup, ideal for one -  £18.50  Gift a Tea Subscription or Experience The easy way to extend the excitement of receiving a specialist tea beyond Christmas morning! You can gift your favourite tea lover with a monthly tea subscription, delivered direct to their door. Our tea subscriptions are priced at £10 per 100g + £5 delivery per month. So, a monthly gift of 200g of their favourite tea would cost £25 a month. It’s over to you to select the number of months that you wish to gift. If you decide on a 12-month subscription, we’ll provide two months of tea for free! Annual Subscription (including 2 Months Free and P&P charges): 100g: £160  150g: £210 200g: £260 Follow this link to sign up for a tea subscription! Alternatively, we can provide vouchers for an exclusive tea experience with tea sommelier Poonam Gupta in 2026. Guests are invited to join Poonam in her Buckinghamshire garden room to learn more about the culture, heritage, and traditions of tea, while sampling a selection of blends. Choose from black tea, green tea, chai masala or tisanes for just £50 per person. The maximum group size is 4. Tea Lover Gift Ideas From stocking fillers to annual tea subscriptions, we offer a wide range of options to help you find the ideal gift for the tea lovers in your life. What’s more, there is no need to battle with the crowds to find an original present, so enjoy browsing and shopping!

Bali: Rice terraces, Waterfalls & Tea! November and December were a whirlwind of Christmas markets and online tea sales. The whole family pulled out all the stops to entice buyers to taste Holy Cow Tea. It was fun and festive, yet also cold and exhausting, so we deserved a treat. A family trip to the beautiful, relaxing and warm island of Bali was just the ticket! Bali Coffee & Tea One of the facts I learnt about Bali was it’s where the world’s most expensive coffee is roasted. Luwak coffee has a distinctive flavour, yet the process to achieve it is unique to the island. Are you ready for this? It has been discovered that the Asian Palm Civet, a native, nocturnal mammal has a taste for coffee cherries. When they eat them, the coffee beans are fermented during digestion. Locals collect the fermented beans from the civets’ droppings and remove the outer layer. The beans are then cleaned and roasted. The process is slow, dependent on the diet of these mammals and labour-intensive. As a result, it is rare and expensive. What I discovered when I was there is that Bali also has a tea garden. D’Wan Mountain Tea is in its infancy and was the island’s first experiment in tea growing. The owner has Chinese and Taiwanese ancestry and was interested to see if he could produce tea on his land in the Batukaru mountain range. The volcanic soil, high humidity and reliable rainfall offered the potential to support the plan. The first tea plants were introduced in 2011 and the plot has been extended using traditional crafting methods. Conditions are favourable and the garden now produces white, green, black and oolong teas. Seeing this success, a second tea plantation was established on the island, producing Brew Me Tea. It’s a story of small growers, fresh opportunities and distinctive flavours. Discovering Bali Balinese rice, otherwise known as red (barak) rice or Padi Bali, is prized for its aroma and quality, taking longer to mature. This one grows slower compared to other varieties; harvested twice a year and only consumed domestically. Other varieties grown on the island include: white rice, which is mostly exported and harvested 3 times a year; and black rice, used in puddings. Of course, there is far more to Bali than tea, coffee and rice! This island is famed for stunning white beaches, impressive waterfalls, tropical scenery, wildlife encounters and lush rice terraces. Everywhere we visited was simply amazing. As a Hindu island, I wasn’t surprised to learn that there is a rich heritage of festivals. It was a joy to see a performance of the Kecak dance, which is a feature of most celebrations. In addition, ancient temples dot the island, and each one seems to be built in the most idyllic location, with views across the ocean. Bali forms part of the Coral Triangle, a marine area known for its rich diversity. I enjoyed seeing the skills involved in traditional crafts and I think the Wayang Kulit shadow puppets were the most impressive. For these, paper is cut into intricate designs to form people, animals and scenery. Set against a light box, behind fabric, these characters are brought to life by the puppeteer or Dalang. The storytelling is captivating, as each movement draws you in. Back to Business Having relished this family holiday and created more wonderful memories, it’s now back to business. Fully recharged, I’ll be back at the regular markets and our online shop is open for business. What’s more, I can offer 2025 dates for Tea Experiences, where you can learn the heritage and culture of a selection of our tea range.

Tea is Key in Kenya With the beat of the Festival of Light’s dhol drums still ringing in my ears, I started packaging for my next big adventure. Between Diwali celebrations and the intensity of Christmas markets, I’m squeezing in a trip to Kenya. The prime motivation is joining a friend for her birthday, but I want to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about this marvellous country. What Do You Know of Kenya? A friend’s birthday is a fantastic reason to make a trip, but how else does Kenya attract tourists? Is it the year-round warm temperatures; that is something I am looking forward to! I’m sure that appeals to others too, but the most popular reason is the rich abundance of wildlife. This African country has over 40 national parks, which are home to beautiful and iconic species. I’m sure that you’ve heard of the Maasai Mara. It’s a destination where you could encounter Lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and cape buffalo. I’m hoping to see one of the Big 5! Another great attraction is the vast lakes and coastal waters. Lake Bogoria and Lake Nakuru are home to flocks of flamingos, along with many other birds and beasts. Kenya also has around 500 miles of stunning beaches, leading out into thriving waters and coral reefs. Heading Into the Mountains Have you dreamed of climbing Mount Kenya, Elgon or Kipipiri? Ascending these geological giants promises magnificent views, which makes it a must for many visitors. I’m not desperate to scale the heights, however, the mountainous regions do hold an appeal to me. That is because the high altitudes, mineral-rich soils and stable weather conditions provide an ideal environment for growing tea. Did you know that Kenya is a major producer of black tea? Two of Kenya’s major export markets are coffee and tea. They are only second to Columbia as a supplier of coffee and equal to Sri Lanka in tea production. Over 550 small tea growers contribute to an industry that supports around 5 million people. I’m not sure how many people are aware that Kenya produces around 450 million kgs of tea a year. What’s more, the tea is known for its distinctive, full-bodied taste and quality. Before I studied tea, I connected Africa with Rooibos. This decaffeinated beverage is dried similarly to tea, however, the leaves are picked from Red Bush, rather than Camellia sinensis. Rooibos is popular in South Africa, however, black tea is preferred in many other regions. To keep everyone stocked up, tea isn’t only grown in Kenya. You can find plantations in other African countries including Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Tea History in Kenya It is said that the first tea saplings were planted in Kenya in the early twentieth century. Initially, this was simply ornamental planting by Europeans. Under colonialism, the first commercial tea plantations were established in the 1920s. However, it wasn't until the 1950s that African growers had the rights to land needed to produce tea. I’ve learnt that the Mabroukie Tea Estate includes some of the earliest tea trees. Although early plantations were a bit of an experiment, the nutrients in the red volcanic soils around the Rift Valley province proved ideal. What’s more, the equatorial location provides a stable climate in which tea can grow and be harvested throughout the year. Kenya is also known for good social and environmental governance, so growers are paid fairly and no pesticides are ever used on crops. These are key to Kenya’s tea market and a priority for me as a buyer and blender of bespoke teas. Have you Heard of Kenya’s Purple Tea? A rare variety of Camellia sinensis grows in Kenya, which contains high levels of Anthocyanin. This anti-oxidant gives the leaves an unusual pigmentation. Once rolled and dried it creates a purple tone when infused in hot water. It delivers an herbaceous flavour and is good for the body.  I’d say that purple tea is one of the hidden delights of Kenya! My Workers Wake Up blend also contains Kenyan tea. In this case, it is the deep flavours of black tea, combined with Sri Lankan and Indian black tea. If you enjoy a stronger brew, with rich malty flavours, this will help you get through the day! Returning to the UK On my return to the UK, I’ll be heading straight to Waddesdon Manor. Holy Cow Tea will be there every Wednesday to Sunday afternoon for the Christmas Market. So, come and taste a selection of my teas and tisanes, which might include Kenyan Purple Tea on some days! I hear the aviary at Waddesdon has a few Brown Breasted Barbets in its collection. These red-headed birds are native to woodlands in Kenya and surrounding countries. If I don’t spot one out there, I might see if I can catch a glance when I’m up at the Manor!  

Mountain Tea & Matcha in Montenegro Last month, my husband and I headed off for a holiday to Montenegro. This Balkan state is an unspoilt wonder and was the first ecological state in the world. If you love natural scenery, you’ll be awestruck when visiting the national parks. In addition, there is a rich historic culture which is showcased in some impressive buildings and cultural ceremonies. If you’d like to find out more, read on! Visiting Montenegro Visiting Montenegro is like stepping back in time. Modern conveniences aren’t commonplace, but that makes it a hidden gem and the perfect escape. Just switch off and enjoy all that the country has to offer. The name translates as ‘black mountain’ and if you love mountains, canyons and lakes, you will not be disappointed. Festivals Throughout the Year One fact that instantly appealed to me about Montenegro is that the people love to get dressed up in costume to dance and sing. As in many cultures, music and dance are the traditional means of storytelling. It’s how the younger generations learn about their heritage. I was particularly taken by the intricately stitched folk costumes. The design work on jackets is finished with gold thread and they add a regal feel to every celebration. These costumes are family heirlooms and you can only imagine the hours that have gone into their creation. Camellia Festival If you’ve read my other tea posts, you’ll know that all teas originate from Camellia sinensis. So, I was intrigued to discover that Stoliv in Montenegro holds a Camellia festival every April. However, it turns out that this celebration has nothing to do with tea, it’s the pinky-red blooms that steal the show. Legend has it that a local sailor returned to Stoliv from Japan and brought the gift of a beautiful plant for his wife. This exotic bloom thrived in the Mediterranean climate and spread. Camellia plants now adorn this coastal region, bringing joy and colour to residents and visitors. There is a real appreciation for nature in this state and that is reflected in the celebration days. Montenegro also holds festivals for the Olive, Blueberry, Mushroom, Mimosa and Vine. These plants have helped sustain and provide an income for years, so it makes sense. What is Mountain Tea? Coffee is the beverage of choice in Montenegro, but I heard people mentioning mountain tea. Curiosity got the better of me, so I had to find out more! It turns out that it is common for people to forage for wild herbs as they walk through the mountainous regions of the state. These are widely used to make herbal infusions for the family. The varieties of plants that grow wild include menta (mint), kamilica (chamomile), pelim (sage), hajducica (yarrow) and kantarion (St John’s Wort). As you can see, these are ingredients commonly found in herbal infusions. So, not technically a tea, but a natural beverage with plenty of health benefits. However, if you visited the home of a Montenegrin, you probably wouldn’t be offered a cup of mountain tea. More likely, it would be Rakija or Sljivovica, both are brandy-based drinks that are a national speciality. Matcha Tea for Breakfast One of my favourite breakfasts at the hotel was Matcha Tea Yogurt with Fresh Fruits & Granola. As with the Camellia plant, matcha tea originates from Japan, not Montenegro, but has made its way into the chef’s ingredients. Being served this delicious meal at the start of the day reminded me that Matcha Tea will be added to our range of Holy Cow Teas this summer. What is Matcha Tea? Matcha is a unique tea for several reasons: Firstly, the tea leaves are shade-grown to increase the quantity of chlorophyl in the leaves. This gives it the most vibrant colour, fewer bitter polyphenols and more sweet L-theanine amino acids. Then, the hand-picked leaves are steamed to preserve and prevent oxidisation and then dried. Then the stalks, stems and veins are removed from the fleshy leaf with the assistance of fans. The leaves are then ground with stone mills into a fine powder very slowly to avoid heat building up from the grinding. This process produces merely 40g per hour.  Unlike other teas which are infused in water, the Matcha powder is added to water and whisked in a large bowls for drinking during the Japanese Tea Ceremony. As you are consuming the tea leaves, rather than an infusion, the flavour is more intense and the consistency is thicker and frothy. Matcha is also considerably higher in antioxidants, nutrients and caffeine than infused tea. Although it’s a popular drink in Japan, it’s not to everyone’s taste. However, the powder can be added to a wide range of recipes to give you the nutritional benefits. This brings me back to my holiday breakfast, where Matcha was mixed into yogurt. You might add the powder to your favourite cookie dough mix or sponge cake recipe. It could be mixed into soup or used to enhance the flavour of sauces. Or, on a hot day, coconut yogurt & matcha ice lollies could hit the spot! My Next Adventure So, now it’s back to business, with a diary full of events and farmer’s markets to keep me busy through the summer months. However, I do have another exciting adventure planned for later in the year. It’s a destination where I know there are tea plantations…more on that in a future article!

For the Love of Tea Did you know…on becoming the highest scorer for Premier League team Liverpool, Mohamed Salah commented that he would celebrate at home with a cup of Chamomile Tea? He is not the only person to enjoy a brew. According to Statista* data, 8,872,280 of the UK population enjoy 2-3 cups of tea a day, whilst 7,333,430 have 4 or more. This includes black teas, green teas and herbal infusions. I know I’m in the second category! Putting the kettle on and offering a cup of tea is a widespread welcome for visitors to your home or workplace. It is also a great way to warm up on cold British days. This might be a reason why Egyptian-born Salah wants a cuppa after a match! National Tea Day® On Friday 21 April, the nation is invited to unite in solidariTEA for National Tea Day®, an annual event organised by The Tea Group. This offers a great excuse to bring family and friends together for a tea tasting, afternoon tea or simply a catch up with a cuppa. For 2023, National Tea Day® is dedicated to the memory of Queen Elizabeth II. Cake bakers, cafes and restaurants around the country are being invited to bake and decorate cakes inspired by the Queen’s collection of hats. These regal creations could offer the perfect accompaniment to your chosen brew. I invite you to use the occasion to sample a different tea to your usual brew. In the UK, we favour black tea, known globally as English Breakfast Tea. However, there are many other teas, all originating from the Camellia sinensis tea bushes. The difference is how they are processed after hand-picking. One of the most popular blends in our tea range is Festival Vanilla Chai, a blend of Assam and Ceylon black tea with warm and sweet spices. Have you tried our award-winning Chic Lady Grey; a delicate tea which is the ideal option for a traditional afternoon tea? Maybe I can tempt you to try something completely different, such as Chinese Milk Oolong, Pai Mu Dan white peony tea or Japanese Sencha green tea. Each has a rich history and is prized as a quality drink in countries across the globe. Let me know your thoughts if you decide to sample them! First Flush Darjeeling Tea producers and traders have had concerns about supplies of Darjeeling Tea this year. A prolonged dry spell, lasting 4 months, had the potential to affect the growth of the tender new leaves that provide the much coveted First Flush. Fortunately, rain fell in the region at the start of March, bringing hope of more downpours and a favourable crop. Let me share 3 facts about Darjeeling tea: Darjeeling Tea was the first product to receive India’s Geographical Identification (GI) tag. Like Champagne in France and Cheddar Cheese in England, this means that only tea grown in the region can use the name. Reducing the cost of transporting tea, ready for export, led to the building of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. This feat of engineering still offers a breath-taking ride up into the hills and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First Flush Darjeeling accounts for 20-25% of the region’s annual tea production and is renowned for its quality. The majority is exported to Europe and Japan, two tea drinking nations. Some of it makes its way to Holy Cow Tea, as we proudly stock premium Darjeeling First Flush! Whilst Darjeeling is a world-renowned premium tea, a new rival is on the horizon. The Rise of Nepalese Tea I’ve yet to try it, however, there is a growing interest in Nepalese-grown tea, even in India. Nepal has hilly, fertile land that is ideal for tea plantations and produces orthodox and Cut, Tear, Curl (CTC) varieties. Currently, most tea plantations are small, making export in large quantities an issue. They also lack a coordinated system for certifying the origin of the tea. However, Nepalese tea has proved popular at international tea events. At present, it is also sold at a lower price than teas from India. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to give it a try and when I do, I’ll share my verdict. Time for Tea In my book, it’s always time for tea. However, make a point of coming together to share a brew on National Tea Day®. Will you also buy, or bake, a cake disguised as the late Queen’s hat? I love to see it if you do!   * https://www.statista.com/statistics/302046/tea-usage-frequency-in-the-uk/    

Britain is a tea-drinking nation, with 96% of the population opting for tea bags, but is it time to switch to loose leaf tea? Tea Bags: Convenience and Price There is no doubt that tea bags are low cost. In the supermarket, you can buy a pack of 80 own-brand tea bags for around £1.00. They are also quick to brew and convenient to use. It is no wonder that they are a popular choice. In contrast, it can be difficult to find a loose leaf tea stockist and you pay considerably more for a packet. In addition, the process of brewing the tea is more complex; you need tea accessories, such as infusers or strainers to make your cuppa. So, why do we choose to be a loose leaf tea supplier? Loose Leaf tea; Quality and Sustainability For us, nothing beats the aromas and flavours that are delivered by premium loose leaf tea. To understand the difference, it is important to know how tea is produced. Tea Production All tea originates from the fresh, new leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant, which are picked at optimum times in the season. For black tea, these leaves are dried, oxidised and rolled in carefully controlled processes, designed to enhance the flavour. Premium tea comes from the whole or broken leaves. These hold the flavour until they are infused in boiling water, creating a fresh and delicious drink with a distinctive taste. Our loose leaf tea range is made with whole or broken leaves. In the process, some particles are too small to be classed as broken leaves; they are classified as fannings. Fannings are lower cost to buy and are sold as loose tea or are used in more expensive tea bags. With a large surface area, these particles brew more quickly than full leaves. When the fannings are collected, the residue is tea dust. This is not wasted. Tea dust is swept up and sold – this is what you find when you open up any mass-produced teabag. Yes, it is the taste that we are familiar with, but we know that our tastebuds deserve better than that. The Traceability of Tea At Holy Cow Tea, we value traceability. We only want to buy from producers that provide fair working conditions and pay and are mindful of the local environment. Whilst enjoying a cuppa, we want to know that it isn’t at the expense of workers or habitats in tea-producing countries. Traceability is possible when sourcing whole leaf and broken leaf tea. It is more difficult with fannings and dust. The reason is, they are bought in bulk from multiple producers and mixed together. This approach also means missing out on the unique flavours that come from single-origin teas. Brewing the Perfect Cup of Tea We all prefer our tea to be served in a certain way. In Britain, it is usual to add milk, but in Europe, a squeeze of lemon is preferred. In much of Asia just the tea, steeped in water is enjoyed. Some herbal infusions and green teas are sweetened with sugar; Moroccan Mint being a prime example. Whether you like a weak tea or a strong ‘builders’ brew the leaves need time to steep in the boiling water to bring out the flavour. With dust, the process is quick; it is one of the reasons that make tea bags convenient. With leaf tea, it takes several minutes for the colour and flavour to steep in the water and transform it into a perfect cuppa. Although a little more time-consuming, we relish this process. It allows a few moments to switch off from the usual routine, unwind and gather your thoughts. In Japanese, Chinese and Russian tea ceremonies, the time it takes to prepare and share tea is as important as the drink. Even the British tradition of Afternoon Tea, we never skipped on the preparation of the teapot, the brewing time and the pouring from height to aerate the drink. In a world where everything seems to be a rush, why not favour the time taken to prepare a proper cup of tea over the convenience of a teabag? Tea in Plastic-free Packaging The final point in favour of loose leaf tea is that the vast majority of teabags contain plastic. They are not biodegradable and when you think about how much tea we drink that is a problem. Our loose leaf tea packaging is 100% compostable or recyclable. Our tea accessories include caddies, which are ideal for storing your favourite blend. Loose Leaf or Tea Bags in Summary Hopefully, this article has enlightened you as to why mass-produced tea bags are cheaper and more convenient. We also hope you understand why we favour the quality, flavour, longer brewing time, traceability and sustainability of premium loose leaf teas.