SUKI Tea Makers

Oscar has been on the road with a Tea Blending Masterclass. #sukiteaontour He discusses why collaboration is so important . . . .

Witnessing the Rise of Matcha in the UK Café Scene 🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵🍵 As we soon approach the 20th anniversary of SUKI Tea Makers (Loads to come in 2025!), it's incredible to reflect on how both our journey and the UK's café culture have evolved together. Over the past two decades, we've seen trends come and go, but one development that stands out is the embrace of the super powered green tea known as Matcha. A tea we've passionately championed and imported from Japan since 2008. Returning to Caffè Culture Show this week, especially during this exciting time for us, highlighted just how significant Matcha has become in the industry we love. I hosted sessions with Matcha Whisking Champion Malgorzata (Gosia) Lendzioszek from Matthew Algie , exploring Matcha's history and modern café applications and teaching a bit of Matcha latte art. The enthusiasm from attendees showed the surge of interest among UK baristas and café owners in all things tea. Although we've been importing for 16 years SUKI Matcha sales have surged from 2023 to 2024. Our repeat customers and multi-site contacts know they’re getting the best which is what you need for versatility. Quality is everything when it comes to Matcha. In our opinion. it should always be Japanese, always organic, and of the ceremonial grade. 📈 Café Insights There's a notable increase in non-standard (cheap teabag) tea offerings across UK cafés. We're seeing less and less commodity teabags and more speciality popping up. Consumers are seeking healthier, plant-based options, and Matcha meets this demand head on. Influences from Japanese food and drink culture are inspiring cafés to expand beyond traditional tea selections. Baristas can embrace the product as it has parallels to coffee being able to be prepared as a shot. I Joined a panel of likeminded tea enthusiasts and brand owners at the show, we discussed Matcha's shift from niche to staple. Market trends and social media have popularised Matcha, not surprising as it is extremely pretty, healthy and tasty. Tea Energy. The event's atmosphere was electric and it’s a hat’s off to everyone involved who contributed to the talks, masterclasses, stands and competitions at the tea zone. Something that's growing year on year. The show that the European Speciality Tea Association (European Tea Society) ESTA team put on at Caffe Culture this year was highly impressive! The attention to detail, energy, and overall atmosphere is exactly what’s needed to attract attention to speciality tea and what it can offer. Do you have Matcha on the menu yet? #caffeculture #sukitea #europeanspecialitytea #matchamadness

A few members of the Matthew Algie team had the privilege of participating in a fantastic SUKI Tea Makers workshop led by the talented Oscar from Suki! The session was a valuable opportunity to deepen the team's knowledge and enhance our skills. The team is excited to apply these new skills and continue delivering exceptional customer experiences. 📸 Malgorzata (Gosia) Lendzioszek Sajjad Taherzadeh Joshua T. Greg Austin White #MatthewAlgie #EspressoWarehouse #SukiTea

My home is very close to the River Exe in Devon. This river is folded within the valley where I live; it hides within the gaps of hills whose sloping contours hint at the remains of Bronze Age burial grounds and old Roman settlements. The river slips beyond the borders of fields, snaking through the land, high and low, stretching from its rise at the tip of Dartmoor to its lowest bridging point in Exeter. I saw it, for the first time, as a series of images punctuated by blackberry hedgerows and wire-fencing. In and out, in and out, all the river was like a folded piece of card which kept contracting and expanding my range of vision. I could not hear it, but I knew it was there. Trying to locate the footpath to the next village, I was told to ‘follow the river’, but what does it mean to follow a living thing like this? I had no idea where to go, so I just followed the sound of the water. Water follows us, too. It is already in our homes and in the taps, under the sink, as well as in our kettles, ready to be poured. Tea is a carrier of water, tea is an infusion of water; it transforms one thing into another through a process of blending and balancing. The origins of tea-making date centuries and this simple act of taking water and adding it to leaves and shrubs represents our deep connection with this element which surrounds us all, in the watery places where we live and where we work, from the smallest of villages to the largest of cities.   Since working with Suki Tea as a Story Associate, I have learned about the interconnectedness of tea: this is a vast system of living things, a whole world of movement, trade, community, feeling, sharing, growing, sustaining. Suki have worked closely, for many years, with families and communities of tea pickers and are absolutely committed to the quality and sustainability of each partnership, returning year after year, growing friendships as well as the tea  - we thrive together.   Through Fairtrade, we know that we are supporting farmers and workers so that they can improve their working conditions. They can make sure their children are fed and can go to school. Communities can invest in clean water and clinics. We turn water into beautifully crafted tea, but are also deeply involved in the wider story of water as a life-giving source which needs to be cared for and protected.  Davina Quinlivan. Director of Story - SUKI TEA.

https://lnkd.in/gP955tDg It is a great honour, during Fairtrade Fortnight to announce Oxfam’s new partnership with SUKI, whose GB stores will now stock three kinds of Suki Tea: Fairtrade Breakfast Tea, Fairtrade Earl Grey Blue Flower, and a new seasonal tea Fairtrade Mince Pie – All in biodegradable pyramid x 15’s and 100% plastic free packaging. Read Davina's write up here. #BeTheChange #OXFAM #Fairtradefortnight

A reminder that ESTA are supporting the Leafies awards this year which will be taking place in London. The Leafies International Tea Awards are open to primary producers, suppliers and retailers who are crafting and handling beautiful loose leaf teas. The Leafies International Tea Awards have announced that entries to this year’s competition are now open to tea farmers, gardens, tea makers, suppliers and retailers worldwide. Several exciting adjustments have been made to the award categories this year, including a new category for Herbal Infusions. To learn more or find out how to submit your tea for judging before the deadline of 20th September click on the following link: https://ow.ly/7GhP50T3JQ7 #specialitytea #specialtytea #tealover #teablog #teaaddict #teaenthusiast #teabarista #teasommelier #teabusiness #teafarmer #teassociation #europeanspecialityteaassociation #esta @cantontea @uk_tea_academy @the_leafies_tea_awards

The students had some cracking questions around tea quality and service. A very keen bunch! We look forward to seeing the students progress and wish them all well in their studies. (Enjoy the Belfast Brew!)

SUKI are always brewing up a storm of positive change. We are Fairtrade and Organic certified, committed to recognising the importance of sustainability action at source. This year, led by our MD Annie, we have achieved a number of positive actions: (Sorry we’ve taken so long, but we’re analysing and benchmarking everything and are not prepared to greenwash – keeping it real!) Oscar. X https://lnkd.in/e_xNupuG #environmentalimpact #annualreport

Exciting News for Tea Lovers!   SUKI are thrilled to announce our participation at the World of Coffee Show in Copenhagen from June 27th to 29th, 2024! We’re approaching 20 years’ experience of supporting our coffee roaster partners in Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Norway, Greece, and Japan. Now, we're excited to expand into new markets! With the rising interest in specialty teas mirroring the coffee boom, we're eager to connect with new partners and customers. Join Oscar, our Chief Leaf at stand CE-009E (in collaboration with Espresso Warehouse) to: Taste our exquisite range of specialty teas including seasonal and Matcha Learn about our comprehensive service offerings, including equipment, experience, and training Discover how SUKI TEA can elevate your hospitality business Don't miss this chance to experience the SUKI difference, check out the brand update and explore exciting opportunities with us. See you in Copenhagen! 🌍🍵 #SUKITea #WorldOfCoffee2024 #SpecialtyTea #Hospitality #TeaLovers #Copenhagen #TradeShow #BusinessExpansion #JoinUs Register here https://lnkd.in/eQEpWxZc New brand drop. . . . .

SUKI HQ 'Art Gallery' Where tea meets art and design. Davina Quinlivan. https://lnkd.in/eraPKGxc