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What inspired the decision to focus on biodynamic tea, and how do you see this approach influencing the future of tea production globally?
30 years ago, Kiran, our female founder, was frustrated she couldn’t find organic, affordable, tasty tea in London. Instead of sitting around moping, she decided to go about sourcing it herself. She went on to help establish the world’s first organic and biodynamic certified tea gardens in Darjeeling.
We have a deep respect for nature and a belief that the best teas come from the healthiest, most balanced ecosystems. Biodynamic farming goes beyond organic – it’s about creating self-sustaining ecosystems where every element works in harmony. This approach creates teas that are better for the planet, and also richer in taste and vitality. As people become more conscious of the impact their choices have on the environment and their health, we see biodynamic farming becoming a benchmark for quality and sustainability in the tea industry globally.
Could you elaborate on how Hampstead Tea develops its product range? What are the key factors considered when introducing a new tea blend or product?
Developing our product range is a meticulous process that begins with understanding our customers’ preferences and ends with the perfect cup of tea. We start with customer research, to understand what teas people would like to drink and what’s important to them. Then we see what our tea gardens are able to produce. We source all our ingredients directly from 100% organic growers. This direct relationship allows us to offer such quality tea at affordable prices. Once we’ve settled on a new blend, it’ll take many months of tasting and tweaking before we release it out in the world.
How do you balance staying true to traditional tea-making methods while also catering to modern consumer demands?
Traditional tea-making methods have been perfected over centuries to produce a world of incredible flavours from the tea plant. That’s why we work directly with Makabari Tea Gardens in Darjeeling who produce premium loose leaf teas. However, most of us like to fling a tea bag into our cup. So, we use the highest quality organic tea leaves that fit into a tea bag – no dust! This way, people get premium flavour at an affordable price. Talking about tea bags – Kiran spent years developing a stitched organic tea bag that contains absolutely no plastic (even PLA/bio plastic).
Another thing to mention is that many tea companies add flavourings to their tea bags. You can see the sneaky flavour granules when you break open the tea bag. Plus, even natural flavourings are chemically-processed. By sourcing the freshest leaves from nature, we offer consumers a healthier, tastier alternative. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware about the truth of their tea – that many brands contain plastic and flavourings!
Looking ahead, what are the biggest opportunities you see for Hampstead Tea, both in terms of market expansion and product development?
Looking ahead, we see tremendous opportunities in expanding our reach both geographically and through product diversification. The demand for organic and biodynamic products is growing globally, and we’re excited to bring our teas to new markets that value quality and sustainability. Last month, we launched in DM in Italy and we have some exciting retail partnerships to announce in the Netherlands. In terms of product development, there’s a growing interest in functional teas that offer health benefits beyond hydration. We’re exploring new natural blends that align with this trend while staying true to our core principles of taste, nature-friendliness, and affordability.
