Premium sparkling tea brand, Saicho is set to launch new 200ml and 750ml glass bottles across its entire tea range from June 2021. This innovation is part of a continued focus to better meet the needs of its customers and the hospitality industry, who are increasingly looking for new ways to enjoy non-alcoholic drinking and dining experiences.
Since launching in 2019, Saicho sparkling teas has been welcomed by sommeliers, hoteliers and consumers, slowly becoming the unsung heroes of the booming low ABV market. With a growing number of people seeking to drink less, Saicho offers a unique and refreshing alternative.
Saicho’s co-founder Natalie, unable to drink alcohol, recognised the lack of thought that went into low/no pairings with food, and with her husband, set about creating a non-alcoholic drink that would speak the language of wine. Saicho teas are cold-brewed for 24 hours and very lightly sweetened with grape juice. All the teas in the range are designed to be served chilled in a champagne flute or coupe. Rather like single estate wine, each tea has been selected from specific regions, harvested at a certain time to create varying acidities, sweetness and mouthfeel that would complement certain foods and flavours rather than overpower them.
Saicho’s tea range currently includes three distinct flavours; Jasmine, Darjeeling and Hojicha, all of which will be available in 200ml and 750ml format. Both the smaller and larger bottles will include ornately designed label artwork, which nods to that specific tea’s heritage, including the national bird from the country the tea is sourced from. Saicho sparkling teas aim to enrich any dining experience and the new single serve bottles allow individuals to sample across the range, working perfectly in mixed drinks and hotel mini bars, whilst the larger bottles are more suited to group dining, perfect for use by sommeliers for pairing menus or simply to share and celebrate.
Founder Charlie Winkworth-Smith commented on the launch: “At Saicho we are on a mission to bring sparkling tea to the drinks receptions and dining tables of the world. Whether eating in a fine dining restaurant, enjoying a drink at a wine bar or just at home with family and friends, the new size bottles allow Saicho teas to be enjoyed in new ways and are a direct response to the suggestions of our customers and stockists. We hope that our knowledge, passion, hard work and hands-on approach shines through in every glass.”
