We take five minutes with master tea blender Bernadine Tay, founder of luxury tea company Quinteassential. Teaming up with Amanda Wakeley, they have created the first designer tea blend combined with white and green tea with dark chocolate.
Can you tell our readers what first inspired you to get into tea blending?
One of my earliest and fondest memories was my mother boiling water in her favourite tin kettle, carefully preparing black tea with oranges while we sat round the table for some cakes and conversation. The tea tasted so good. Over the years as my passion for travel grew, so did my love of tea. I watched in fascination at how this amber brew and in some places near-religious drink, is enjoyed in different ways depending on the kind of food, the occasion and the place.
Like a fragrance designer, I wanted to blend different teas and ingredients to share these stories. I love tea not only because it’s a healthy beverage, but there is a wide variety of different types to work with.
How did you learn how to tea blend?
Although I pursued a degree in Biomedical Science, my passion in teas has not waned and always beckons. The very first time I blended tea was when I was 10. I was interested to see how the flavours of an oolong tea would mix together with some spices my mother had in the kitchen cupboard. Sadly it did not turn out too good.
It would be years of blending experience, study and endless tastings before Quinteassential Fine Teas was born.
What is your favourite tea?
Oolongs, I grew up with them. They are a type that sits in between a black and a green tea and have the most wonderful characteristics. Depending on where they are produced, they have fascinating natural notes of orchid, peach and milk. The leaves are often large and have a lot of flavour in them so each pot I brew from the same leaves keeps revealing new notes.
What sets Quinteassential apart from other tea brands?
Each blend tells a story, not only in the taste, with how it looks, smells and sound.
Inspired by things that I love; travelling, experiencing different cultures and cuisines, our blends capture these. Our interactive boxes are fitted with a QR code that plays a piece of music. With a quick scan of your smartphone, the tune not only puts you in the mood for the tea, but acts as a tea timer. So when the music is finished, your brew if perfect.
I love using tea as a vehicle to bring the tea drinker on an imaginary voyage with each sip.
You grew up in Singapore, how has your culture affected your love for tea?
Yes, in fact it shaped it. I was born of a Chinese and Portuguese Eurasian heritage in Singapore and it has always been part of my life. There tea is enjoyed with food, given as gifts and used in celebrations such as weddings. More than anything, I love it because it brings people together.
How do you find inspiration behind creating a new blend?
For me inspiration is everywhere. Opening your mind to new experiences whether it is tasting something you haven’t before, taking the time to speak to someone new or drawing from memories can trigger an idea. I often have more ideas for new blends than time to create them.
What are your top tips on brewing the perfect cup of tea?
Aside from the quality ingredients, the freshness of the water is very important. The fresher the water, the more oxygenated it is and it brings out the aroma of the tea.
The brewing time is also important for different teas. Black tea and Oolong the brewing time is a bit longer, about 4 and 3 minutes respectively. Green and white tea is more delicate so brewing time is shorter, about 2 minutes depending on the type.
What are your tips on discovering the perfect blend?
Keep trying different ones. Tea comes in so many varieties and flavours that you are bound to find one that fits you to a T.
You have recently teamed up with Amanda Wakeley for the first tea designed for a fashion label. How did this partnership emerge?
Amanda and I first met through a mutual friend and the idea blossomed organically. It was a natural fit as I have always been inspired by women with energy and drive. Amanda embodies that. Her designs are not only beautiful, they empower women. Together, we wanted to create something that would support the busy lifestyle of modern women. When she mentioned her love for Green tea and ultra dark chocolate, the rest as they say was history.
Can you tell our readers a little bit about the process behind creating The Wakeley blend?
To capture Amanda’s spirit, I decided to create a green and white tea with dark chocolate. This is tricky to achieve because green and white tea are delicate and light in character and can easily be overwhelmed by the chocolate. I started by working on creating the perfect combination base blend that could carry the heavy notes of the dark chocolate shavings and cacao beans. I then finished it off with a sprinkling of white cornflowers for that touch of feminity and mirrors her collections. The result is a smooth, clean tasting blend with creamy notes of chocolate.
As well as tasting indulgently smooth, what are the health benefits from drinking The Wakeley blend?
Absolutely. Green and white tea, are low in caffeine and high in antioxidants which is good for your skin and general well being. White tea has also shown to aid weight loss stopping fat cells from accumulating in the body. But more importantly, The Wakeley supports a busy lifestyle by releasing energy slowing and constantly throughout the day. It also helps if you are looking for an alternative to chocolate.
For those coffee drinkers, what would you say to get them to enjoy the benefits of tea?
There is no doubt that tea is healthier for you than coffee as it has less caffeine. We are all addicted to the way caffeine is delivered to our system and because coffee has a different body and mouthfeel to tea, it can be hard to make a total switch. I think timing is everything. Perhaps choosing to enjoy a cup of tea in the afternoon instead of coffee can be a good way to start. For coffee lovers who need the energy kick during the day, try green tea. It will be hard at first but the slow energy release throughout the day will give you sustained alertness with the ‘coffee jitters’, keeping you focused and calm.
When you are not busy blending and brewing, what do you enjoy doing to unwind and relax?
I love listening to music and cooking, both together, so we often have friends round to enjoy a meal together. I derive great joy from feeding others, something I probably got from my mother. Laughter, food and song are for me the best way to spend my weekends.
You live in Cheshire, do you have any favourite spots you like to eat/shop/drink?
I live very close to Chester and I love going for a stroll by the river Dee and exploring all the quaint shops in the cobbled street alley ways. I share Amanda’s love for chocolate, what woman doesn’t! Whilst in town I always look forward to popping into the Rococo Chocolate shop at The Grosvenor Hotel, Annie and Peter who manage the store are so lovely and the chocolates are amazing. I also enjoy a beautiful Sunday lunch or a glass of wine by the river side at Edgar House. A small luxury hotel along the Chester walls with stunning views of the river, it is the best rest stop for after a day of shopping.
Street stores and www.quinteassential.co.uk at £25 from March 2016.