English Tea Shop is exhibiting its range of sustainable, organic teas at the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in Singapore next week (7-11 May), as it ramps up its focus on the travel retail sector in the region.

From its booth (Basement 2 J23), the Sri Lanka and UK based tea company is unveiling a new Gifting Collection, as well as two innovative new ranges: Gin Botanical Infusions (offering consumers an ‘elevated’ gin drinking experience) and Cold Brews (to be enjoyed in summer, brewed quickly in cold water).  

The exclusive English Tea Shop Travel Retail Assortment Packs complete the refreshed portfolio.

“Asia Pacific is the most important regional focus for us in travel retail,” said Founder and CEO Suranga Herath. 

“Airports in the region are built for consumer experiences and shoppers now want to offset their emissions through responsible buying. 

“English Tea Shop helps consumers do this and our social equality programme helps communities and farmers build better lives.”

The brand is currently available in travel retail at London Heathrow T2 & T4, London Luton and London Gatwick South, The Maldives Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Singapore Changi Airport T3, as well as on airlines including Scandinavian Airlines.

This is in addition to a selective domestic presence around the world, including with Selfridges of London, Isetan in Japan and Galeries Lafayette, Paris. 

Its new Gifting Collection (comprising Favourites, Moments and Exclusive) is well-suited to the travelling consumer, with a variety of teas, from classic blends to creative combinations, designed to elevate the tea drinking and gifting experience.

The Gin Botanicals range contains flavonoids and antioxidants while the Cold Brews, described as ‘the ultimate thirst quenchers’, comprise two refreshing blends: Lemongrass, Citrus & Ginger and Super Berries.

The exclusive travel retail assortment pack includes teas from the Moments and Exclusive pyramid collections, Gin Botanicals, a tasting glass and a customised travel-friendly triangular advent calendar with nine pyramid tea bags.

Bringing sustainable teas to travel retail

English Tea Shop teas catch the eye with their vibrant packaging and the brand, which launched in 2010, has impressive green credentials, too. 

The premium, gourmet teas are grown by small-scale organic and Fairtrade farmers from all over the world and blended in the company’s factory in Sri Lanka.

The business works directly with over 3,100 small scale farmers, 46% of its employees are women and the facilities are 100% carbon neutral (even when taking into account the action of boiling the kettle for a cup of tea), making its product ‘carbon neutral’, according to the company.

In October 2021, English Tea Shop became 30% employee owned and the following year, the company achieved B Corp certification status at the first attempt (score: 117.8).

“At English Tea Shop we have a passionate belief in doing things differently, putting people and purpose before profit,” said Herath. 

“Our presence in over 55 markets worldwide proves our belief that ethical, sustainable businesses can be successful and profitable. 

“We strive to create the finest organic teas while having a net positive impact on the planet and enriching the lives of everyone involved from farm to cup.

“From planters to pickers, processors and packers to tea drinkers around the world – all these wonderful people make up our tea loving community.”

At a product level, the outer packaging is fully compostable, the tea bags are staple-free and all the pyramid tea bags are fully biodegradable.

The company offers a diverse range of blends, from classic black, green and white teas to more delicate and exotic creations featuring organic herbs, spices and botanicals. 

The teas are packed in tea bags, sachets, luxury Soilon pyramid tea bags or loose leaf.