The future of non-alcoholic drinks lies in the tea leaves…say hello to the REAL Drinks Co. Naturally Fermented Sparkling Tea and your next alcohol-free alternative to Champagne and Sparkling Wine.

When we heard we had a chance to visit the REAL Fermentery, and indulge in the world of tea leaves, non-alc fermentation and innovation, we obviously couldn’t say no. Centred at the heart of the beautiful Waddesdon Estate in Buckinghamshire, we took a closer look at how REAL transforms some of the world’s finest hand-picked, loose-leaf teas into a drink with exceptional depth, flavour and complexity. A serve that delivers a sparkling moment without the alcohol (or the hangover!).

The motive behind REAL Drinks is to challenge the rules of fermentation, crafting flavour nuances you’d normally expect from fine wine - and that isn’t easy. The bespoke fermentery is the first of it’s kind; combine this with founder David Begg’s relentless determination, it’s abundantly clear that REAL Drinks are leading the charge in non-alc fermentation.

The REAL Drinks sparkling tea range was born out of a frustration with the lack of choice and food pairing opportunities for drinks without alcohol. The founders knew there must be a better way, and set about experimenting with fermentation, comparing the taste profiles from different loose-leaf teas and the impact of fermentation, conditioning and bottling. They have a REAL passion for sustainable food and drink, investing hours in experimentation to push the boundaries of what’s possible, right the way through from production to the end drinking experience.

“Our ingredients are just as important as our process and we’re really proud to work with some really top quality loose-leaf teas…We experimented with over 150 different teas before we landed on the three very special ones that we use to create our Sparkling Teas today…”

Bet you didn't know this about tea...

Although the UK consumes a lot of tea, many wouldn’t be able to tell you much about the tea leaves themselves!

All tea comes from the same plant: Camellia Sinensis from China and Camellia Sinensis Assamica, the main varietal planted in Assam, India. The quality however depends on the terroir - soil, situation, and local climate.

Black tea, green tea, white, oolong - it’s the same plant at the base of all your favourite brews. But depending on when and how the leaves are harvested, and the type of treatment they receive after picking, is what determines the flavour and the colour of the tea. The darker the tea, the more processing and oxidisation the leaves would have gone through - for this, think Black and Oolong. White, Yellow or Green Tea on the other hand sits at the other end of the spectrum. Now let’s talk about flavour…

“Black teas such as Yunnan, Assam, and Darjeelings produce a rich flavour akin to cider. Green sparkling teas are fresh and fruity with tones of citrus, while white teas can deliver flavours of vanilla and rose. Oolongs offer a good balance and make a very fresh sparkling tea that is light and delicate…”

If you want to read more into the world of how REAL transforms the first flush Darjeeling into their Royal Flush, the pan-fired Dragonwell green tea into their Dry Dragon and the White Peony tea that makes the Peony Blush - click here. They’re the tea experts for a reason…

The REAL process behind sparkling tea

If you’re still not convinced that Sparkling Tea can compete with the nuances and ability to enhance food pairings like Champagne & Sparkling wine can - think about it this way. REAL’s loose-leaf teas are treated with the same respect that a winemaker affords their grapes, fermenting with the same passion and attention to detail as fine wine. They are uncompromising in their tea selection, adding nothing before, nor extracting anything afterwards.

Adrian and co-founder David made their first batch of sparkling tea in David’s garage in rural Buckinghamshire. Seven years later, the business has a brand new custom-made fermentery on the Waddesdon Estate, and a customer list that includes Michelin Starred restaurants, the Fat Duck and Le Gavroche, and world-class drinks retailers like Spirits Kiosk…

It all sounds incredibly complicated to the average drinker - but REAL Drinks are in safe hands. Co-founder Adrian has a PhD in metabolism and nutrition, specialising in polyphenols (the micronutrients found in tea).

The tea crafted at REAL Drinks are special in the fact that all the delectable character and flavour notes each bottle carries, are created naturally. No additives. No flavouring. It’s made up of a blend of three key ingredients: brewed tea, English beet sugar and live cultures (yeast and acetobacter bacteria).

Hundreds of “invoices” (samples of tea) are tasted to select the perfect blends for each bath, with an eye for consistency and superior flavour profiles. The REAL team works with long-established tea farmers across the globe who appreciate the exacting quality demands of the fermentery.

The teas that make the cut are steeped in natural Buckinghamshire groundwater, in what looks like a massive tea kettle. This intense builder’s brew is then gravity fed into temperature stabilised, Italian-made, stainless-steel, fermenting vessels with the English beet sugar and live cultures. Yeast then breaks down the sugars, converting them into alcohol, whilst the acetobacter bacteria simultaneously breaks down the resultant alcohol into tartaric glucuronic acids (which also has natural detoxifying qualities) - in turn curating length, texture and mouthfeel in the drinks. The final sparkling teas contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume - don’t worry though, there is more alcohol in a ripe banana.

REAL nurture a handful of carefully curated microorganisms and now with a highly researched “spice rack” of yeasts and bacteria at their disposal, they only select the few that combine to drive maximum flavour at a consistent and reliable level. As the saying goes…consistency is key, and they are consistently delicious.

Their approach gives them total control over the finer flavours in their liquids. Fermentation with yeast creates the top notes in the finished products, think light, floral berry notes and citrus. While the specific blend of tea, lends grassy and herbal notes reminiscent of a summer meadow. The breakdown of the alcohol by acetobacter furthers the depth and nuance in the final flavour profile. For example, that deep chestnut mahogany finish found at the end of their Dry Dragon is a result of this process and it’s because of this, that you’ll notice complexity in the mouthfeel.

The Products - Find your perfect pairing with REAL Drinks

REAL Royal Flush Sparkling Tea - Naturally fermented from first flush Darjeeling tea from Assam, this sparkling tea has notes of grape, citrus zest with overtones of stone fruit and peach. On the nose the fragrance is fresh, while this fruity and medium-bodied tea is dry, textured, and delicately acidic on the palate. Perfect for a summer toast, pairing beautifully with charcuterie - Royal Flush is a superb substitute for sparkling wine in a non-alc spritz.

REAL Dry Dragon Sparkling Tea - Naturally fermented from rare pan-fired Dragonwell green tea from Zhejiang, China - known for its nutty and slightly spicy notes. There’s a fragrant hit of lemon meringue on the nose, quickly leading to chestnut and hay. The Dry Dragon is fresh on the palate with flavours of sweet lemon, chocolate and dry grass. This elegant and complex tea pairs beautifully with oysters and white fish - stunning sparkling white alternative.

REAL Peony Blush Sparkling Tea - Naturally fermented from rare and expensive white peony tea from Fujian, China - the delicate tea leaves are pan-heated to preserve their flavours. This sparkling tea is fresh and light bodied, with aromas of nougat and summer fruit. It’s buttery and well-rounded on the palate with flavours of strawberry, cranberry and raspberry leading to a soft, creamy vanilla-oak finish.Pair this one with pan-roasted vegetables and seared meat.

A big thank you to the REAL Drinks Co. for having us over, you’ve opened our eyes and palate to a whole new world of tea, fermentation and non-alc food pairings. Cheers!