Tregothnan is the home of English tea. In 2005 Tregothnan sold the first-ever tea grown in the UK, the culmination of over two centuries of experimenting with the tea genus with the help of its unique subtropical microclimate. Tregothnan makes a range of black, green and herbal teas. Fresh leaves are plucked from our Cornish plantations by the Estate’s garden team and processed on site using traditional hand-rolling methods. Muslin cloths are used to squeeze out excess moisture and gently bruise the leaves to begin the oxidisation process to turn the leaves black. Tregothnan blends its teas with the finest ingredients sourced from the Estate's own botanical garden, local growers and tenant farmers and carefully selected ‘sister’ plantations across the globe. Becoming a ‘tea master’ takes many years of blending practice to achieve due to the climatic, soil and varietal factors that influence a tea’s taste. Tregothnan has recognised tea masters who were recently invited to lecture on tea at the Global Tea Fair in Shenzen. MD of Tregothnan trading, Jonathon Jones, took a Nuffield Scholarship and travelled the world to research tea before embarking on this British quest to pioneer Britain’s favourite beverage – finally giving the nation’s favourite drink a home on British soil. People are beginning to think of tea with the same reverence as coffee for its many varieties. Rare varieties of Camellia sinensis (tea bush) have been gifted to Tregothnan to cultivate in England, meaning Tregothnan has one of the world’s most comprehensive tea collections. This includes such varieties as the Vietnamese ‘six-pack’ tea – so nicknamed for its likeness to a well-toned abdomen. As well as growing English tea, a diversity of lands also allows us to produce Floral Manuka honey and Kea plum jam. Follow The Great British Tea Story today !