Tea Blog

Disclaimer: The English Tea Store Blog encourages you to drink responsibly.

This is not the first time I’ve written about

tea and related products available for purchase
,
and more specifically about alcoholic beverages made or flavored with tea.

For example, see

this article exploring beers and similar beverages made using tea
,
as well as

this overview of tea-infused spirits and related drinks
.
On the other side of the equation,

this discussion of tea’s historical connection to the temperance movement

offers a contrasting perspective.

Until recently, however, I hadn’t encountered much information about wines made with tea. That changed when I came across

this historical account of experiments in creating wine from tea
,
which describes the work of Dr. Thudichum.

Although details about Thudichum himself are somewhat limited, he is recognized as a significant figure in the history of medicine. In the late 19th century, he presented a paper to the Royal Society of Arts describing the creation of a tea-based alcoholic beverage.

Working with surplus tea stock in London, he experimented with varieties such as Congou, Pekoe, Kaisow, and Oolong, ultimately producing several types of tea wine. His findings were documented in considerable detail in his original paper.

Modern examples of tea wine remain relatively uncommon, though there have been occasional commercial ventures. For instance,

this report on a Pennsylvania-produced tea and white wine blend called Twine

describes one attempt to bring such a product to market.

Tea-based alcoholic beverages are also being developed elsewhere. For example,

this website describing a Chinese-produced tea wine

offers insight into another variation, though detailed information in English is somewhat limited.

The tea used in such products may include varieties like

green tea known for its lighter processing and subtle flavor profile
,
which can lend distinctive characteristics to the finished beverage.

Beyond these examples, contemporary experimentation with tea wine appears to be largely confined to small-scale or amateur production.

On a related note, see

this article explaining the concept of Grand Cru tea and its connection to wine terminology
,
which highlights how tea and wine cultures occasionally intersect.

© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Excerpts allowed with proper credit.