BA unveils signature tea blend
Published: 29/01/2013 - Filed under: News »
British Airways has unveiled its own signature tea blend, in partnership with Twinings.
The new tea is a blend of Assam, Kenyan and high grown Ceylon tea, which BA says has been “specifically designed to work at altitude”.
BA says that a variety of factors were taken into consideration when creating the new blend: research showing that taste can be reduced by up to 30 per cent at altitiude; the lower boiling point of water on an aircraft (89 degrees centrigrade), and the reduced air pressure and humidity affecting taste.
The carrier said it was also important that the new blend worked well with and without milk.
A panel of 19 customers, crew and experts conducted tastings on the ground and in the air, and describing the blend BA says that “A bias towards the Assam produces a well-rounded, full-bodied blend, while the Kenyan gives it strength and lift and the Ceylon adds flavour”.
The new tea will be available in all classes from February 1.
Customers in premium classes also benefit from the Twinings partnership, with First passengers able to choose from speciality teas from the Whole Leaf Silky Pyramids range including Mint Humbug, Red Berry Fool and Honeycomb Camomile, and Club World choices including Cranberry and Elderflower, Camomile and Peppermint infusions.
Twinings became BA's global tea supplier across its lounges and flights at the start of 2012, and last year the brand offered a special Jubilee blend in BA's lounges as part of the carrier's Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations (see online news May 28, 2012).
For more information visit ba.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
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COMMENTS »
sparkyflyer - 29/01/2013 09:38
Are the teas Fairtrade do we know? I recall reading a few years ago that Twinings may not have been as ethical in its sourcing as other tea brands.
BusinessTraveller - 29/01/2013 10:46
Hi sparkyflyer - thanks for your comment. We've queried this with BA, and will let you know as soon as we get a response.
JordanD - 29/01/2013 11:34
Sparkyflyer - beware the Fairtrade mark: it is a branding tool, and products produced ethically in some countries aren't able to be marked accordingly because of Fairtrade's internal policies.
InterestedObserver - 29/01/2013 11:51
As for Twinings...
http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/A-Question-of-Tea?page=2
BusinessTraveller - 29/01/2013 12:18
BA has sent us the following reply regarding the Twinings teas:
"Twinings works with the ethical tea partnership, so yes their teas are socially and sustainably sourced."
http://www.ethicalteapartnership.org/
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