Introducing Tregothnan: Tamsyn Talks Tea

Mrs Handbag and our Great House manager, Tamsyn, have joined forces to create a storm in a teacup! This weekend, we launch their new Tea House at the Harlequin Cafe, with the most wonderful varieties of teas to choose from. In their quest for the very best, Tamsyn headed down to Cornwall to visit the Tregothnan Estate. Naturally we wanted to hear all about it...

The Tregothnan estate is home to the Boscawen family who have owned it since 1335. They first planted outdoor Camellias (tea plants) in the 19th century, quickly realising that they could thrive in the Tregothnan micro climate. On a recent trip to Cornwall I was lucky enough to have a quick tour of the Tregothnan Gardens where their famous English tea is grown.

After getting a little lost going down the wrong side of the river Fal just outside Truro, (I should have set the sat nav) and driving through fantastic Cornish countryside, we finally reached Tregothnan.
We (my 8 year old son was coming to explore too) were greeted by an imposing wall of tea, picked a few to sample and relaxed for 5 minutes before meeting Jonathon Jones; the driving force behind the English Tea.
 

After a short car journey past the drying barns and down through woods, we jumped out of the car and walked through a little gate, past gorgeous trees and flowers and out into the most spectacular clearing. The sun was shining down and the view was stunning, with tea plants growing far and wide, covering the slopes of the hill.
 

Jonathon explained that only the top two leaves and a bud are picked from the plants and these then go through four processes to produce the tea. Picking, rolling, drying and oxidisation.  It is the last process – oxidisation - that determines the flavour. Easy!

Tregothnan’s  English tea is then mixed with a little assam to produce the traditional breakfast tea. They also produce a large range of herbal infusions... our favourite is the Manuka. Produced from the Manuka flowers grown on the estate,  it has a lovely light refreshing sweet spicy taste.  They also produce Manuka honey,  as well as the most amazing kea plum jam made with plums growing along the banks of the river Fal (don’t worry, you don’t have to go all the way to Cornwall: we sell it in The Great House).

It was an inspiring trip, both Arthur and I learnt tons about tea production! At the end of the visit Jonathon presented Arthur with a book called Made in Britain (featuring Tregothnan tea of course) by James Fielding.

Next stop was Falmouth Art College to see my eldest sons Drawing Degree show, but head over here to find out more about our fab new Tea House at Kilver Court - you won't be able to resist!

Tamsyn xoxo