SUCCESS is brewing for two young tea entrepreneurs who are celebrating a link-up with one of the region’s best known department stores.
Tom Webb, 23 and Luci Cowie, 21, owners of Easy Teasy, are now supplying the Food Hall at Fenwick Newcastle with their range of fine loose leaf tea, which was showcased at a launch on Saturday 30 January.
The tea purveyors agreed the deal after impressing buyers with their assortment of 18 loose leaf tea flavours, including Peach Sencha Green Tea and Orange Blossom Oolong which shoppers were able to sample at the weekend.
It is a range that sees many of the teas, including Pai Mu Dan and Yunnan Green, developed in their purest form, with all processing happening immediately after the tea is plucked in China before being imported into the UK to be packed. The company’s flavoured teas are produced with the help of artisan blenders based in the UK, ensuring a high level of quality and expertise goes into each individual blend. The duo aim to ensure their teas are sourced through members of the Ethical Tea Partnership, so they know exactly who is growing it as well as safeguarding farmers and producers.
Set up in 2014 by the former Northumbria University students following a shared pot of bad tea, the company was formed as part of a university module designed to give students a real world experience of running a company. The start-up triumphed in local and regional heats in the Young Enterprise Start-up programme, before going on to win Best Investment Proposal and Best Trade Stand awards at the national final in Manchester.
Following a successful first year in business, Easy Teasy has now more than tripled its loose leaf tea offering and has delved into the new market of tea infused chocolate in partnership with local chocolatiers The Chocolate Smiths.
Since becoming a limited company in July, the luxury brew specialist recently introduced exclusive glassware to their range and the Fenwick link-up forms part of the company’s plan to expand throughout the region.
Luci Cowie, director of Easy Teasy, said: “Taking Easy Teasy into a reputable retailer such as Fenwick is a really important development for us and we’re really grateful of the store’s support which will help us to reach new markets.
“The launch allowed us to meet members of the public who share our passion for loose leaf tea and it really helped to affirm our plans to invest and expand in the region.”
Adam Barber, Fenwick Food Hall Buyer, said: “Regional food and drink is very important to our customers so I was excited to learn about Tom and Luci’s new venture. Loose leaf tea is becoming more popular with our customer base and I was impressed with the work that Tom and Luci have put into their new brand.”
For further information on Easy Teasy and to view the product range visit http://www.easyteasy.co.uk/