6th August 2023
A Celebration of Great Taste
This year we are thrilled to have been awarded 10 Great Taste Awards by the Guild of Fine Foods. Judged blind by the most discerning palates in food and drink, these awards are all about celebrating great tasting food.
Tom & Mr Wang in Yuyeang City, Hunan province, China
You've probably noticed, we're obsessed with taste.
We've spent nearly 20 years searching for incredible producers who share that obsession, we tell their stories and show how great tasting tea comes to be. We've designed teaware and love sharing our tips and tricks that make getting the best taste from your leaves as easy as possible.
Last week we were thrilled to find out that the Guild of Fine Foods recognises our obsession and has given 7 of our teas Great Taste Awards.
With 10 stars in total we are incredibly proud of our team's dedication to sourcing, as well as our skilled producers and their communities who make exceptional tea possible.
Meet our award winners:
Each year Tom our head of tea visits origins to source our teas directly from the gardens.
Assam Breakfast Loose Leaf
Our single origin Assam Breakfast loose leaf tea has received the highest honour of 3 stars. This exquisite full-bodied tea is a true expression of Assam character with a rich and honeyed malt flavour and invigorating aroma. This year, a total of 14,195 products were entered into the Great Taste Awards, with only 248 products, including our Assam Breakfast, earning the coveted 3-star accolade, accounting for just 1.8% of all entries.
This recognition is truly a testament to our Head of Teas rigorous sourcing methods direct from a small selection of esteemed gardens in Assam, India.
What the judges said:
“A delightfully malty tea, producing a coppery liquor, bright with milk. A pleasing tippy leaf has produced a beautifully rounded liquor, with clear and pleasing Assam character.”
3 Star award winner JING Assam Breakfast Loose Leaf.
Yunnan in China where our Jasmine Silver Needle is grown.
Jasmine Silver Needle Loose Leaf
The delicate and captivating loose leaf tea is produced by Mr Wei in Mengjiao Garden, Yunnan China and is then naturally scented with fresh jasmine blossoms over 5 nights in Guangdong. Achieving this rating puts it among the top 10% of entries.
What the judges said:
“A very beautiful quality of leaf delivers a delicate liquor with delicate, fresh jasmine character, bright, clean and nicely persistent. We feel this could easily take a further brew or two.”
2 Star award winner JING Jasmine Silver Needle Loose Leaf.
Mr Luo – producer of our Phoenix Honey Orchid in Guangdong, China.
Phoenix Honey Orchid
This iconic oolong tea is produced by Tea Maker Yong Luo, to organic practices, in a single garden nestled within lush Phoenix Mountains in Guangdong, China.
What the judges said:
“An interesting tea, a surprising coppery shade. There is indeed a Sauternes aroma and a peachy flavour.”
1 Star award winner JING Phoenix Honey Orchid Loose Leaf.
Mr Luo – producer of our Phoenix Honey Orchid in Guangdong, China.
English Breakfast Tea Bags
Our single origin English Breakfast Tea Bags won the judges over with a balanced and bold character.
What the judges said:
“The deep amber liquor carries enticing honeyed notes on the nose. The palate is satisfyingly malty, with astringency in balance with the second flush character. It takes milk well, maintaining robust body and sound malty yet bright character to a firm finish.”
1 Star award winner JING English Breakfast Tea Bags
Our Organic Ceremonial Matcha is traditionally stone milled.
Organic Ceremonial Matcha
Our Organic Ceremonial Matcha is traditionally stone milled and is produced by Tea Maker Kenji Tofuku in the verdant single garden of Kirishima Chuou Garden, Kagoshima, Japan to organic practices.
What the judges said:
“The colour is beautifully vivid. The nose is delicate with lots of fresh grass. Whilst the texture is quite thin, the flavour is elegant, with gorgeous acidity and a light but lengthy finish. We loved how refined and restrained this was.”
1 Star award winner JING Organic Ceremonial Matcha Loose Leaf.
We use only the freshest buds of chamomile.
Chamomile Tea Bags
Our Chamomile Tea Bags aromatic flavour and soothing experience shone through. Sourced from only the freshest buds of chamomile, this tea ensures a calming and comforting tea experience.
What the judges said:
“This is a simple, fresh and floral tea, the ultimate calming herbal infusion. It does exactly what it says it does, clear, authentic and brightly soothing. Unlike many chamomile teas it seems to stimulate your saliva glands rather than leave you with a dry mouth – this may well be a tribute to the freshness of the flowers.”
1 Star award winner JING Chamomile Tea Bags.
Our Peppermint is naturally dried to bring out its essential oils.
Peppermint Tea Bags
Our Peppermint Tea Bags have also been recognized for their invigorating and refreshing taste. Made from pure peppermint leaves, this tea is a perfect choice for those seeking a vibrant herbal infusion.
What the judges said:
“This minty infusion is fresh tasting and clean on the palate and has good length of flavour. With a menthol aroma this brew reflects the care that has been taken over processing this product.”
1 Star award winner JING Peppermint Tea Bags.
Our Peppermint is naturally dried to bring out its essential oils.
How the awards are judged
The rigorous judging process involves a panel of selected chefs, cooks, buyers, retailers, restaurateurs, food critics, and writers who blind taste each product with meticulous attention to detail.
What do the Great Taste stars mean?
The Great Taste Awards, the largest and most trusted food & drink accreditation scheme, has long been a beacon of culinary excellence. Fostering a platform that supports and promotes food & drink producers, it provides buyers and food enthusiasts in the UK and beyond with trustworthy recommendations for exquisite tasting food.
You can find our new award winners online, as well as some newly starred products at incredible partners all over the world from Gails to Cathay to the Savoy...
