Dorset Tea wins at Great British Food Awards and Nourish Awards

Dorset Tea, which is based in Ferndown, took gold at the Great British Food Awards for its Sandy Beaches Loose Leaf blend and won bronze at the Nourish Awards for its Ginger and Sunshine Lemon tea.

The brand’s Sandy Beaches tea uses the ‘finest orthodox teas from world-class tea estates’ is now regarded as one of the best products available in the UK’s food and drink sector.

It was scored 14 out of 15 by a panel of industry experts who said the tea was a ‘true delight’ and makes a ‘perfect brew’.

The judges said: “Blending Kenyan tea with Rwandan leaves and a touch of malty Assam, it has a great depth of flavour and the quality of the leaves really shines through.

“We love the combination of malty and zesty notes, which results in a smooth and refreshing taste.”

The panel also praised the tea’s packaging, depicting the ‘white cliffs and golden sands of Dorset’.

Lauren Forecast, brand manager for Dorset Tea, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded Gold for our first loose leaf blend, at the highly regarded Great British Food Awards. This marks a significant milestone for the brand – as we continue to blend the finest teas to create a taste and feeling synonymous with our beloved county.

“We are delighted to have been acknowledged for our fruit and herbal range at the Nourish Awards too. These accolades reflect our commitment to providing a delicious ‘cup of sunshine’ for our customers every day.”

The brand’s Ginger and Sunshine Lemon tea was recognised for its combination of lemon peel, ginger and black tea at the Nourish Awards.

The awards are regarded as having the toughest entry criteria and a robust judging process, representing the leading awards for the food and beverage sector in the UK.

The business was founded by Keith Spicer in 1934, in his mother’s kitchen in Bournemouth, as Keith Spicer Tea.

The Dorset Tea brand was launched in 2009 for the 75th anniversary of the company, and now sells 12 blends of tea.