The Tea Group launch The Ladies Tea Collection
Image: The Tea Group
In celebration of UK National Tea Day 2024, The Tea Group has launched a new collection of women-inspired teas designed especially for luxury hospitality brands, leading with a British-grown blend from the island of Jersey.
In partnership with eight female tea entrepreneurs from across the globe, The Tea Group is launching The Ladies Tea Collection this National Tea Day (21 April) which has been curated to give back to the women working in the tea industry around the world.
This collection of brand-new teas will be showcased to represent some of the most prestigious hotel brands at the Jersey Fine Tea plantation. Hoteliers and luxury hospitality operators such as the Four Seasons, One&Only, Le Dam De Pic, The Landmark and Searcys will have the opportunity to put the spotlight on their establishments by harvesting the tea themselves and indulging in sampling it first before they introduce it to their guests.
Proud to have created the world’s first network dedicated and committed to helping women working in the tea industry, Managing Director of The Tea Group Díaz Ayub said: “We are delighted to be announcing the launch of our simply beautiful Ladies Tea Collection to mark this year’s National Tea Day on 21 April. The collection is a true labour of love, bringing together a selection of the most delicious and delicate blends of tea from across the world – all imagined and brought to our tea cups by astoundingly talented women in the tea industry.
“The event on the island of Jersey, kindly hosted by Visit Jersey and one of our featured Ladies Tea Collection brands, Jersey Fine Tea, is an opportunity for the luxury hospitality sector to be the first to enjoy and experience this stunning collection.
“We want to put the spotlight on tea in a way that brings the versatility, playfulness and experiential nature of the drink to life for those who enjoy it most – and that is female drinkers. Our research shows that the majority of tea drinkers and tea employees are female, which is why our new collection is centered on the female tea experience.”
The collection features brand new blends of tea from eight inspirational women tea leaders across the world, including:
- Sakura Green Tea – a vibrant and creamy blend by Saeri of Chill Tea Tokyo
- Premium Black Tea – a rich and malty flavour from Jess of Jersey Fine Tea
- China Green Tea – a refreshing and smooth oolong from Maria of New World Tea
- A brand new Elegant Earl Grey Tea – a rich and robust flavour from Darcey of Darcey’s Tea Co
- Dawn Tea – a sweet and rich blend by Kate Moss’s Cosmoss
- Opus Raw Pu Er Tea – an elegant and robust brew from Carole of Teaspec
- Organic Turmeric Chai – a spicy and fragrant tea from Vishaka of Tea People
- Dubai Chai – a spicy and robust blend from Noreen of Tribe Tea
Developing the focus on the new collection, Díaz Ayub – who launched The Tea Group and National Tea Day in 2015 in order to recalibrate the perception of tea as a drink not just of necessity and routine, but also of pleasure, ceremony and refinement – said he was excited to also launch a series of events in the UK.
Díaz Ayub added: “After our trip to Jersey, we look forward to launching a very special new event in London. We’ve crafted a ‘7 Chakra Teatime Experience,’ launching at The Mandrake Hotel, which will include a tea pairing of seven courses, all designed to stimulate each of the seven chakras through colour and the functionality of the food and featuring teas from five ladies from around the world.”
The Ladies Tea Collection has been created to give back to women working in tea plantations, tea businesses and tea cultures. Women constitute 65% of the world’s tea consumption, and it is women who are largely responsible for the careful planting, delicate picking, processing and packaging of tea.
50% of all profits from the Ladies Tea Collection will be collated and donated to enhance education, health-care and sanitary services for women in tea, the world over. The Tea Group is in the process of creating The Ladies Tea Foundation, which will continue to give back to these women in tea. Next year, to mark National Tea Day 2025, the organisation will announce how much has been raised from the Ladies Tea Collection and how the funds have been donated.
Díaz Ayub added: “Our new selection of teas has been curated in direct response to the survey of more than 2,000 people we conducted last year, which revealed that the traditional English Breakfast tea was fast becoming a second or third choice since 2019 when it accounted for 85% of sales in 2019 according to a Unilever report. In 2024, tea lovers are opting for new wellness and mindful-centered teas amongst an ever-growing selection of delectable teas.
“The teas in the Ladies Tea Collection, from Kate, Carole, Vishaka, Noreen, Maria, Jess, Saeri and Darcey are an eclectic mix, speaking to all preferences, moods and tastes. We can’t wait to hear how our customers and followers enjoy sampling and pairing these gorgeous teas and to see the impact of the Ladies Tea Collection on the women behind the magic of these beautiful flavours, who work and live in the tea-growing communities.”
The Ladies Tea Collection will be officially launched on National Tea Day 2024. Available to purchase online at The Tea Shop and served in luxury retailers and hotels around the world.
