19 March 2024

Most of us use tea bags. So what’s wrong with that? Why even question the practice? We have gotten so used to drinking tea this way, that it wouldn’t cross our minds to put that question forth. Most of the “Western” world consumes tea from a bag. But in the largest tea drinking country in the world, China, it is not.

Actually, it’s quite a recent trend, dating back from the ‘60s and ‘70s. For centuries, loose leaves have been steeped in tea pots. But as you start to uncover what lies beneath the usage of single use tea bags, many surprising facts emerge.

In this fascinating conversation with Henrietta Lovell, also known as the Rare Tea Lady, and the founder and master blender of the Rare Tea Company, you will hear why tea bags don’t make sense from a taste, environmental and also social perspective. Henrietta will challenge the preconceived ideas about tea. From her travels across the world, working in close supportive collaboration with tea growers, she has a keen understanding of the plight of these growers, and how they can be supported. As an example on how she supports local communities, she founded the Rare Charity.

The podcast will open up a new perspective on tea, and invite you to discover the tastes you are missing.

Henrietta Lovell

Founder and Master Blender - The Rare Tea Company

Henrietta Lovell is known around the world as the Rare Tea Lady. She is founder and master-blender of the award-winning, global brand, Rare Tea Company.
Since 2000 Henrietta has been traveling the world, working directly with small independent tea gardens, from the Shire Highlands of Malawi to the foothills of the Himalayas. By sourcing direct from the farms, she is able to secure unique harvests and ensure that they are crafted using sustainable practices to benefit both the land and the people who live on it.

Lovell is at the forefront of the tea revolution - replacing industrial grade bags with the highest quality, sustainably farmed leaves.  She works with chefs and sommeliers to pair flavours and created bespoke blends for some of the best restaurants and hotels in the world from Claridges and KOL in London, Noma in Copenhagen, The Modern at MoMa and Momofuku in New York; Meadowood in Napa to The Four Seasons in Tokyo.

Her vision encompasses more than excellent tea.  Her ambition is to source and supply tea that not only enriches the lives of those who drink it, but the land and those who grow and craft it.  The tea trade has historically been synonymous with exploitation and sadly this is still too often the reality. It is her ambition to help tea gardens flourish like vineyards, and for her customers to appreciate tea like fine wine.

In 2016 she founded Rare Charity returning a percentage of the revenue of Rare Tea to their partner farms, supporting tertiary education scholarships.

In 2019 Faber & Faber Published her first book – Infused- Adventures in Tea in the UK, USA and with Audible (read by Henrietta)
Named a New York Times book of the year.
2020 Awarded the Fortnum & Masons best drinks book.
2023 published in China and Taiwan.

As an advocate for flavour and a champion of tea-communities, Henrietta is ceaselessly adventuring and collaborating.

She is currently working on a documentary series with Oscar winning producer Laurie David.

“Henrietta is the chef’s tea guru” Food and Wine Magazine.

Connect with Henrietta Lovell