A NICE cuppa has given a Dunfermline business a taste of success in the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards 2021.

The Wee Tea Company, which is also looking to expand its premises in the Kingsgate Shopping Centre and teach members of the public how to become a 'tearista', was recognised by the judges for their rhubarb-flavoured rooibos.

The refreshing brew, rich in antioxidants, was named the winner in the 'Hot Beverages – Tea and Tisanes, Small Producer' category at a ceremony last week.

Director Derek Walker said: "It's the inaugural awards so it's cool to be a winner the first time they've run this.

"We were up against people from all over Scotland so it's quite amazing they've recognised our Wee Tea Company in Dunfermline.

"To see our name up there with some of these highly-respected producers makes me so proud.

"With this recognition, we will look forward to exciting times ahead and a brighter year as the restrictions in hospitality are relaxed. Our whole team is extremely grateful!”

He added: "We've always been recognised as having really good tea. The rhubarb rooibos is a beautiful tea and is actually our second-most popular, after our breakfast tea.

"People are looking for healthy options and caffeine-free tea and alternatives to tea and coffee seem to really be catching people's imagination at the moment."

Founded in 2012, the company sources fine tea and ingredients to blend at their premises in the Kingsgate.

Primarily a wholesaler that supplies the hospitality sector, with clients such as the Gleneagles Hotel, the V&A in Dundee and the Signet Library in Edinburgh, the pandemic led to a change of direction.

Derek said: "Last year was really tough but the fact we're a small business meant we were more flexible and could move faster.

"We moved from wholesale to selling direct to the customer through our website and we had free doorstep deliveries throughout Fife."

It also launched an online tea subscription service in February – "which has kept us very busy" – and is ready to cross the great brew divide.

He explained: "We're actually moving into coffee this summer. We already sell a great range of coffee but we're going to be one of the only companies in the UK to sell biodegradable coffee bags.

"The reason for that is very much to take advantage of the staycation market. Hotels and Airbnb's are interested in our tea for their rooms and are looking for a coffee offering that's similar.

"So we'll be doing really good-quality ground coffee beans.

"We may roast our own coffee but in small batches; we'll mainly be linking with other local independent coffee roasters, like the Roasting Project in Burntisland and Forth Coffee Roasters in Newbridge.

"You can already get our tea in Incontri, Loch Leven's Larder, Cafe Wynd and Fire Station Creative so it's nice to be able to support other local businesses too.

"More and more people are discerning when it comes to buying their coffee – they're spoiled for choice with so many roasters on their doorstep – that they're turning away from the gravy granules type of stuff the supermarkets sell."

Derek said the company was also set to expand: "We're taking on two more members of staff and are in negotiations with the Kingsgate about taking on a larger unit and running sessions where you can learn to be a professional tearista.

"We've actually trained staff at the Dorchester Hotel – they do one of the finest afternoon teas in London – and the idea of a tea school is to give an experience to the customer.

"You can become a tearista and there's so much to learn about tea, it's a great hobby.

"We'd like to create a venue where you can book in, get lessons on tea, the origins and history and the Scottish links, of which there are many; most of the plantations in Sri Lanka were actually started and looked after by Scotsmen."