MDTea
MDTea is an independent tea retailer and wholesaler, which grew out of an art deco tearoom, established in 2009, in Brighton, East Sussex.
From a starting point of serving 15 loose leaf teas and infusions to customers in the tearoom, the company now offers around 50 blends and supplies cafés, restaurants, hotels and spas up and down the country, as well as selling via an online shop and a small bricks and mortar store in Brighton.
Founder Helen Taggart's passion for tea encouraged her to develop her own range of blends with the help of a master blender. At the same time, she gained certifications from the UK Tea Academy, and began to realise it was the tea she loved, rather than hospitality.
That said, the experience of running a tearoom and attending many hospitality events means Helen can help other businesses in the industry who are starting out and need expertise and advice with tea related concerns – whether they're pondering over menus for Afternoon Tea, the best way to serve tea for fine dining, or how to present teas to hotel guests throughout the different departments.
Helen is also a personal trainer, as well as a keen cook, and her passion for health & wellness have influenced the more recents blends that MDTea has created, especially the very popular 'Wellness Range'. Working with a dietician and herbalist, Helen created this range with women in mind, using ingredients that would benefit certain symptoms of menopause, not to mention offering some delightful flavours.
Her love of cooking has steered her to explore tea as an ingredient and encourage tea lovers to experiment with using tea in everyday cooking. This might include the tried and tested method of making cookies and cakes with matcha, or using a lapsang brew as a base for a soup, or grinding tea as an additional herb over salads and stews. Pairing with food and experiencing the wonderful alchemy that a warm tea can bring when consumed with the right food is sensational. Forget wine and cheese, tea takes pairing to a whole new level.
Helen's husband Michael came on board in 2023 with marketing expertise and a curiosity about tea. Together, the partners in love and business wish to connect to and celebrate tea in all its glory – from its growth and production in the plantations, to the selection for consumers, to the many rituals, ceremonies and habits of drinking tea.
In their own words: "We want to educate ourselves and others of what is happening in the industry and understand how each cup we choose to drink can have an impact on someone somewhere else in the world. We believe tea is a mindful drink that can promote health and spread happiness, yet not taking away from the fact it is the nation's most popular drink taken every day in most households around the country. We joined ESTA to help us on our journey, first to gain knowledge and meet other like minded people in the industry and hopefully, in turn, to share and bring knowledge to others coming into the industry."
Website: www.mdteashop.co.uk
Instagram: @mdteashop
Helen Taggart