A Cup of Sunshine
Q&A with Tony Warr, Master Blender at Dorset Tea.
Tell us about the unique aspects of Dorset that have inspired the flavours and blends in your range of tea?
All our teas are inspired by Dorset. We like to add a ‘twist’ to each flavour, for example our Foraged Fruits include flavours you may find in hedgerows across the county! Our loose leaf tea is a premium blend from world class tea estates – we like to think of it being as luxurious as a lazy day on one of Dorset’s sandy beaches.
We describe our teas as a ‘cup of sunshine’ – they taste as good as the sunshine makes you feel which is very apt as Dorset enjoys more hours of sunshine than the UK average! You only have to look at our packaging to see how we’ve taken inspiration from our beautiful county – the sunshine, the sea, fields and foliage.
What is your personal favourite blend?
I really like the Cool Camomile from the Fruit & Herbal range, especially after a long day, but our signature Sunshine Blend is my go to favourite!
Dorset Tea has an exciting range of unique herbal and speciality teas, from 'Ginger & Sunshine Lemon' to 'Strawberries & Cream'. What is the process for creating an exciting new flavour?
Developing a new herbal tea is a process that is driven by a number of factors. We take inspiration from the flavour houses with which we work – they let us know trends and predicted trends (across food and drink as well as specifically in hot beverages). We also look at category data and analyse the overall market, assessing growth areas and of course gaps. And of course we have to look at new product development from a commercial point of view to make sure it’s viable.
The most important thing is that we create flavour profiles and products that we know our audience will love. There’s always lots of tasting involved – that’s the fun part!
This summer why not try your favourite Dorset Tea iced? Here’s an idea for a tasty twist on Strawberries & Cream Tea:
Strawberry Fields Iced Tea
Place 4 x Dorset Tea ‘Strawberries and Cream Tea’ bags in a jug or pitcher.
Cover with freshly boiled water so that it just covers the tea bags.
Allow the tea to infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Top up with fresh water and lots of ice.
Dress with fresh strawberries.
Website → dorsettea.co.uk
