Rare Tea Company: fine green, oolong, and silver-tip tea

  Winner Best Online retailer 2009

Watch the Tea Lady receive her award

Theunis Bates writes:

Determined to get Brits to try new brews, Lovell's Rare Tea Company sources and sells exclusive, uncommonly tasty teas from Asia and Africa.

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2007:

"I recently tried some flowering silver tips from the Rare Tea Company, and a whole new world of tea drinking opened up... Lovell is gaining a reputation as the couturier of the tea world"

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2008:

"Henrietta Lovell's Rare Tea Co sells some of the world's most delicious teas. So delicious, in fact, that her jasmine silver tips have permanently changed my tea-drinking habits. The good news is you can now buy her teas in selected Waitrose. They cost more than your average char, but you not only get wonderful flavours (and rather a pretty tin), but several brews from each lot of leaves. As Lovell says: "Proper tea is not theft.""

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Henrietta spoke to Jane Garvey about the pleasures of drinking Rare Tea.   

Hear the full interview here...  

   

Henrietta appears as a Very Important Producer.

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Siski Green recommends Green Silver tip tea from the Rare Tea Company as the decision of the tea connoisseurs:

"Offer a green tea connoisseur a cuppa made from a tea bag and he or she will turn their nose up because if you really love your tea, you'll know that leaves are the only way to go.

"But more than that, they also know that bog-standard green tea used bog-standard leaves, whereas the best, most delicate flavour comes from the unopened buds - and that's what silver tips are made from.

"We cannot recommend this tea highly enough, it's the King of teas."

Matthew Fort writes:

To be honest, I wasn't a China tea man - they were too refined and challenging for my clodhopping tastebuds. That was until I met Henrietta Lovell, aka the Stickler, for reasons that will become clear. 

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Henrietta Lovell's writes about her quest to find the finest White Silver Tip Tea.

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Michelin starred chef Tom Aikens writes:

The Rare Tea Company imports the most beautiful teas I've ever tasted. We serve them in my restaurant and they are available at Waitrose (£5.50 to £6.50 for a 25g packet). Some of my favourites are the Emperor's Breakfast Tea, a Chinese single-estate black tea; the unbelievably refreshing Jasmine Silver Tip, which has a heady aroma with a very soft flavour; and the Green Leaf Tea, which is hand-crafted in a wok and has the aroma of wood smoke and a clean, refreshing flavour.

Jay Rayner the Observer restaurant critic writes:

The Rare Tea Company exemplifies the very best of quality food and drink in Britain today:  the exquisite good taste of one gifted individual, Henrietta Lovell, realised in a collection of superlative products, in this case

the very best teas that money can buy .

 

Edle Teesorten sind bei Connaisseuren heute so begehrt wie Jahrgangsweine und dazu noch besonders gesund. Die Londonerin Henrietta Lovell hat aus ihrer Leidenschaft fur die zarten grunen Blatter ein gutes Geschaft gemacht: Mit ihrer Rare Tea Company berat sie sogar Hollywoodstars in Sachen Tee.

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 Metro

For pressies or sheer indulgence, the Rare Tea Company, founded by Henrietta Lovell is worth visiting. We tried her jasmine silver tip and it was fragrant and beautiful without even a whiff of bitterness.

Rare white teas that are as delicious as they are good for you.
For the full review please click here .

Ben Machell in the Saturday Times Magazine

Features Rare Teas in his Six Kitchen Greats

All the Tea in China ...we love the top-notch white and green teas sourced by the Rare Tea Company. 

Amy De Vine in the Mail on Sunday YOU magazine writes: Tea Totally Fabulous.

Tea. Proper tea. Like Wine, its about knowing a bit and caring a lot. We all know more about wine now; time to do the same for tea.

Daily Candy

Green, oolong and silver-tip teas, courtesy of Rare Tea Company. Rare, because their delicate leaves can be harvested only for a few days a year, at dawn, before the buds have opened.

These teas aren't any old bags (in fact, they come loose). Founder and chief cha lady Henrietta Lovell lovingly treks up Chinese mountains to source the best leaves; all are packaged without the bulky stalks used by some con artists.

They've been called miracle cures. The jasmine silver tip is packed with antioxidants, which help keep colds at bay. It has even been linked to cancer prevention by several objective slurpers.

Whether that's unfounded or true, you're still probably better off drinking these than a chemically charged mug of freeze-dried coffee; and you'll probably be calmer, too.

The Tea-Lady made tea for Matthew Fort and Tana Ramsey on UKTV Food's Market Kitchen

 

Sheer Luxe

Packed with antioxidants, the teas will leave you feeling soothed, relaxed and utterly indulged.

Eat The Seasons

Well, I've just had my first two cups of White Silver Tip Tea . Being a fairly indiscriminate and infrequent tea drinker I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to tell it from my ordinary ****** tea bag. Fortunately this wasn't the case. It has a balance and purity of flavour that clearly sets it apart - like a fine Burgundy compared with a rustic table wine. Lovely stuff.

Rose Prince - Telegraph Weekend / The Savvy Shopper

Rose Prince recommends the Rare Tea Company in her Telegraph Weekend column and her new book The Savvy Shopper:

"Henrietta Lovell, the Rare Tea Company's founder, personally chose this selection of fresh, fragrant and traditionally produced Green, Oolong and Silver Tip Teas."

Junior Pregnancy and Baby

"Tea lovers will adore the Rare Tea Company, which stocks unusual loose leaf teas, sourced in the Fujian Province of China.

The best choice for pregnant women is its White Silver Tip Tea. Why? It's made from tea buds rather than leaves, cutting down on the caffeine and tannin content.

White tea is also the least processed of all teas, which means it's packed with detoxifying, immune-boosting antixidants. All of which could justify the eating of a biscuit or two."

 

 

Jasmine Silver Tip Tea - The finest white silver tips are steamed and scented with fresh jasmine flowers and it really is the most delicious jasmine tea available anywhere.

Madison & Mulholland, Now, Heat

Rare Tea is included in the Madison & Mulholland 2nd Annual Ultimate UK Nominee Gift Bags for luminaries including Judi Dench , Sienna Miller , Helen Mirren , Thandie Newton , Kate Winslet , Keira Knightley and Daniel Craig .

As featured in NOW magazine :

"Fed up with the stars getting all the freebies? Fancy a few for yourself? Here's your chance. Now has one extra-special Ultimate UK Nominee Gift Bag from Madison & Mulholland, who supplied the gift bags for this year's Oscar nominees, to give away.

The treats on offer include: Rare Tea Company - a selection of four of their wonderful rare teas. "

And Heat magazine :

BBC Radio WM

Rare Tea Company founder Henrietta Lovell is interviewed by Danny Kelly on BBC Radio WM about the merits of drinking fine tea.

 

Newstalk Radio

Henrietta talked to Sean Moncrieff on Ireland's Newstalk Radio

Spectator Reader's Offer

The List Magazine

Customer Feedback

I just wanted to say how delighted I am by both your tea and your service. I bought some tea as a Christmas present and something for myself, which I am already enjoying. I can hardly contain myself waiting until Christmas because I know that your tea is going to be very well received.

I was so pleased to have found you. I can't tell you how many bitter Jasmine teas I have tried before I found yours - which I am drinking as I write. I always refill the pot to get more for my money, and you can't do that with a bad tea because it tastes horrid. I don't call bad teas 'cheap' because they aren't always and, anyway, any amount spent on a bad tea is too much. My partner loves white tea. As with the Jasmine it is hard to tell what you might be getting. You can't go on price as you can often do with other products. Anyway, long may you thrive.
Thanks again,

Betsy

 

Hello Henrietta,

I have just finished my second cup of jasmine silver tip tea from the second brew and amazingly it does taste even better than the first.  The aftertaste is incredible- the fine texture it leaves in the mouth.

Maybe it is that after five weeks of 99% organic raw food my palette is very sensitive and tuned, but this tea is what I have been waiting for. What more can I say but thank you, thank you, thank you.

For the last few years I have been checking different teas and making it slowly more of a thing in my life. For a long time I have been aware of the zen rituals of tea making and drinking and that at some time I would adopt these practices and you are the catalyst for me to now take this into the next level. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I would like to add that the reason I went immediately to your site and placed an order was very simple: in a few sentences of you talking about these teas I recognised your passion for what you do.  I will think of you often over the years and raise a cup to you for flicking my switch.
Sending  you best wishes, peace and love,
Xed Lehead

p.s Many thanks for your very informative and beautiful website, your enthusiasm and passion, and for doing it right.

I first discovered the Rare Tea Company about a year ago, and have since become hooked on the Jasmine Silver tip in particular. I brew it up first thing in the morning (it's more refreshing than coffee and does you a whole lot more good), and last thing at night.

To top it all- when I've finished brewing the tea, and the leaves have cooled down, I put them on my eyes as you would with cucumber slices and it makes my skin really soft, despite having scoured layers of makeup off after a show.

Having performed extensively throughout Asia, and having drunk many different teas in Japan, Taiwan and China- I can safely say that the teas that Henrietta sources are by far the best I have ever tasted.

EOS , BOND

I thought I must write and tell you whatan amazing difference your wonderful teas have made to my recovery from the nausea side effects of Chemotherapy. Particularly your Silver Tip Teas. If only I had known about it when I first started on Chemo back in 2005. I have entirely defeated the nausea which comes often with this treatment. And the tea is so lovely, light, delicate and refreshing - such a joy to prepare and then savour. It truly is so very different from the usual herbal or fruit teas one finds in supermarkets. Thank you for introducing me to it. I would recommend it for all sorts of digestive problems.

I have also found it very effective in bringing a peaceful night's sleep after a hectic and worrying day.

Everyone should know about it!
Judy

Thank you for the green and oolong teas. The oolong tea is wonderful, they are a treat at the end of a tough day.

Marie Jerrold

Yes I am enjoying the tea ENORMOUSLY. What a blessing it is on a troubled tum.

From a customer undergoing chemotherapy.

I've just ordered some more tea from you (green tea this time), and I thought I'd write and let you know how much I like your company.    It is very comforting for me to know that there are lots of tea aficionados out there, and that I am not alone.   Keep up the good work.  

All the best, Elizabeth

I have just had a cup of white silver tip tea...I don't know what to say except that my tea-drinking and quite possibly my life will never be the same again. I had begun to buy the green tea bag tea etc and thought that my tea life was improving. But it was nothing...nothing...And you're right...no need for honey anymore...can't wait to try the others...can't wait for my second brew (followed directions carefully...made just one cup)

Thank-you thank you thank you rare tea.. I'm yours for life

Cheers

Miss C Clewlow

I am writing this rather late at night as you will see when you receive this e-mail. I am also writing it when I am rather squiffy.

Well...actually quite squiffy since I was trying out a bottle of chardonnay which frankly I do not like but I thought it might be better being a real French once this time, but actually it wasn't. Still...enough of that. The reason why I am writing is that once upon a time when I was squiffy like this I could have stuck a T-bag in a tea cup, even if it was quite a posh tea bag, i.e. Birt and Tang or people like that which I had been perfectly happy with before...But now I cannot. Now I have to make a proper tea-pot with my tea from RARE TEA, and measure it out, and do the whole thing about getting a spoon and measuring it out to get the perfect cup, AND ALL THIS WHEN I AM VERY SQUIFFY. And all this because EVEN WHEN I AM SQUIFFY I WANT YOUR TEA.

I think you will understand why I blame you!

PS: I will need to re-order soon.

I have just made my first cup of oolong. I'm not sure where Shangri La is but I know they drink oolong tea there.

I've become quite a fanatic myself and think the Rare Tea Co is a very good thing indeed.

B N Brock 

When I got pregnant I was looking for low caffeine tea and came across The Rare Tea Company. I bought the Jasmine Silvertip tea and I love it. It actually helps with the morning sickness.
Maria Then,
New York