Master the art of your favourite brew
A little update to my blog post on Monday (https://lahlootea.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/).
Here, the BBC investigate just how to master the art of brewing the perfect brew with me, Kate Gover (founder of Lahloo Tea) and The UK Tea Council.
Happy reading!
At the end of last year, I had a lovely visit from Jess Salter, a journalist for The Telegraph. Over afternoon tea and a pot or three of Mr Shao’s green tea we nattered about all kinds of things: growing up – unknowingly down the road from each other – in Yorkshire, tea, business, my love of flavour and aroma and more! And it was fantastic to read Jess’ article recently featured in The Telegraph’s weekend magazine regular Word of Mouth feature. Read more here >>>
Kate Gover: tea hunter
I hope you new year has got off to a cracking start! I love starting the year by reflecting on the last.
2012 was fun-filled and jam-packed to say the least! As a business, we grew by more than a whopping 200%! It was a year of fun, a little stress, not a lot of sleep, steep learning curves and quick thinking! This didn’t give me much time to enjoy some of the things I used to have plenty of time to do – traveling, tasting, discovering, relaxing!
But after a relaxing, friends and family filled Christmas break, I have enjoyed a lovely steady, slow paced venture back into the world of tea and fuelled by pots of nutty buckwheat tea Sobacha, as part of Lahloo’s herbal therapy month, I have been planning for what is going to be an exciting year ahead!
With a brilliant team helping me at both Lahloo Tea and at our tea store, Lahloo Pantry, I’m taking advantage of some space to rediscover those things that make me tick. And I’m starting with an exciting trip to southern Sri Lanka.
I’ve been flicking through my go-to (and fellow South West company) travel companion, i-escapes, for tips and I can’t wait! I’m so looking forward to the colours – the turquoise sea, blue sky, green tea hills, golden beaches, vibrant food markets and saris – the people, their culture, the tastes and the aromas! A feast for the senses!
The people (courtesy of http://www.i-escape.com/sri-lanka)
The tea (courtesy of http://www.i-escape.com/sri-lanka)
The culture (http://www.i-escape.com/sri-lanka)
Not only will I experience Sri Lanka’s gems, I will be visiting the garden who make our’s and Tom Herbert’s favourite cinnamon-smoked version of lapsang souchong tea – Smoky – and other amazing artisans to hunt out new herbal infusions and maybe another tea to bring back.
Now, that’s what I call a cracking start to 2013, here’s to more to come! What about you, I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to this year?
Kate
Over ten centuries ago, the Chinese emperor Hui Zhong proclaimed it to be the culmination of all that is elegant. Lahloo founder Kate talks about why white tea is the Queen of Tea! Video by Raspberry and Jam.
Don’t the late summer days inspire you to do something fun! At this time of year, I get a sudden urge to enjoy the outdoors and breath the last breaths of balmy summer air. And I love the feeling of being a little bit closer to nature.
Not one to do things by halves, last week I went wild swimming! I’ve always been a bit of a water baby, given the opportunity you will find me splashing about in water – puddles, rivers, lakes, the sea. As a kid I was always the first to run down the beach to dip my toe in, no matter what time of year! And that hasn’t changed – we nearly missed a flight home a few years ago because I wanted to have one last dip!
Since moving to Bath, I’ve really missed my alfresco dips at the Lido and when a friend told me about a new river swimming spot he’d discovered, I just had to go. So, after a rather long and busy Monday, rather than spending my evening cooped up in an indoor swimming pool or gym I decided to go and hunt out this new and go for a spot of evening wild swimming.
Part of the fun of wild swimming is the discovery of the best spots. The very best places are the most tucked away! Just outside Bath, on the Warminster Road you go down a little windy dead-end road, cross the canal and the train tracks and you’ll find a clearing. Next to the clearing, a weir. The river above the weir is like a natural pool. Just gorgeous!
The evening we went there were half a dozen or so couples relaxing for an alfresco post-swim supper. Knowing you’ve arrived at a hidden but carefully shared spot is really wonderful! The smell of bbq’s wafted in the evening air, hot air balloons drifted over head and the late evening sun gradually fell making beautiful tree-shaped silhouettes on the horizon. It couldn’t get more idyllic.
Getting into the water was, shall we say, bracing! But, with the last of the sunshine on my face, so revitalising. I’d thoroughly recommend it – there’s no better way to clear a foggy head. I just wish I’d taken a thermos of warm oolong tea to sip after my dip.
Now, I’m not sure you’ll find me there in January (no matter how much tea you promise me afterwards) but I am definitely going to make it a regular spot to visit.
Why don’t you let me know your favourite wild swimming spots. I’d love to hear where you go.
Kate x
Founder, Lahloo Tea
Write this date in your diaries: Thursday the 19th of January, 6-8pm at Lahloo Pantry in Clifton! We’ll be hosting our first Tea Workshop of the year!
Taste our selection of teas: this month you’ll discover our most rejuvenating and purifying teas, the healthiest -perfect for a fresh new start!
Learn about the story behind them: type, origin, process, how to pair them with food and health benefits.
Take home your favourites! Tickets are 100% redeemable so you can go back home with a bag of goodies!
Tickets cost £15 and places are limited, so book fast! E-mail hello@lahloopantry.co.uk or give us a call on 0117 329 2029.
A big big ‘THANK YOU’ to all our customers for your ongoing appreciation of Lahloo Tea. Here’s a little Christmas message from me, Kate:
Tea is a wake-up call to the senses!
It’s cosy on a cold day, refreshing on a hot day, uplifting when you’re down in the dumps, calming when the stresses of life get on top of you, revitalising when you need a pick-me-up and nourishing from the inside-out!
Oh and when it’s the good leaves, it tastes great too! In a nutshell, it’s pretty fantastic stuff!
So for 2011 make Lahloo loose leaf tea part of your everyday life.
Best wishes for Christmas & Happy New Year!
Kate
Lahloo Tea 
