An Abergavenny couple have set up their own tea importation business. KEILGIH BAKER reports.

ELIZABETH and Barry Chantler set up their eponymous brand just two short years ago, yet the amount they have achieved in such a short time implies the business has been running far longer.

An archaeologist and ecologist by profession, how did they become purveyors of fine tea?

It all started when they went on holiday to Malaysia. Barry said: "We found ourselves sitting drinking the best cup of tea ever overlooking this fantastic tea plantation, and we thought, there's nothing like this in Britain."

Having already batted around the idea of starting up their own business, on their return to Britain they decided they would set up their own tea business.

They now offer a around 50 different types of high quality loose leaf and herbal teas from around the world.

All of their teas have been bought from small, privately owned plantations who are either Fairtrade and/or part of the Ethical Tea Partnership, ensuring the highest possible standards for estate owners and workers alike.

Elizabeth said: “All of our teas are ethically sourced from around the world, from small estates who are members of the Ethical Tea Partnership. They are among the top 20 per cent of the finest and best quality tea produced by that country.

“We said from the beginning that was very important to us – our tea must be ethical and of the finest quality.”

The couple hope to open their first tea room cafe when the current financial climate improves, but in the mean time are happy to continue sourcing, producing and selling their delicious teas at a variety of food festivals, events and farmer’s markets.

Their hard work recently paid off when the couple won a prize at last month’s Monmouthshire Business Awards 2013, winning the Best in Retailing category.

Their teas range from the usual Earl Grey and china to the rarer varieties of teas, including oolong and white for 'the discerning tea drinker'.

While they started off sourcing and selling the best loose leaf teas they could find, they have started to blend 10 of their own special teas, each with a Welsh theme.

Teas they have blended so far include the Abergavenny Gold, Brecon Breakfast, Welsh Afternoon and Sugarloaf Silver.

They also blend the hugely popular Welsh Dragon range which includes Red Dragon, a strong tea blended from Indian and Ceylon teas, Green Dragon, a green tea with lemongrass and ginger, Black Dragon, a strong breakfast tea blend, Spicy Dragon, a special version of a spiced chai, Smoky Dragon, their version of a Russian Caravan using top quality China teas, and Gold Dragon, a premium blend of Indian and China tea with the added touch of Marigold petals.

Barry said: “We also have a tea of month, and November’s is our Christmas Spice. It’s a blend of Sri Lankan tea enhanced with cloves, cinnamon and mandarin pieces and has some of the ingredients you would find in a mulled wine.”

The idea for the business came when they went travelling around the world, and ended up visiting plantations in India and south-east Asia and attending tea ceremonies in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Barry explained: “When we tried their tea, we were like ‘wow'. It really was the best cup of tea ever, and we realised there’s nowhere in the UK where you can enjoy an experience like that."

The couple aim to educate people about the variety and quality of teas available.

“There are around 500 different tea varieties, not including flavoured Rooibos, fruit tisanes and herbal infusions," Barry said. "There is so much choice out there, and people just don’t realise it. There’s a whole world of teas to be tried!”

The couple are both strongly passionate about tea and its numerous health benefits, and consider it their mission to convert people away from tea bags and coffee shops to good quality loose-leaf tea.

Elizabeth said: “The difference between the finely ground dust you find in teabags and loose leaf tea is so vast it means you can’t even compare the two. Loose leaf tastes so different and far, far better, and there are so many different types and varieties, you can’t get bored.

“Before, I would drink any tea. But now, I don’t even have milk in my tea and cannot drink anything but tea leaves. Without sounding like a complete snob, i even carry my own with me when we go places, because I just find it tastes so much better!”

The couple believe one the reasons behind the popularity of coffee shops is that people are bored of the blandness of teabag teas. They hope to convert people to the many different types and flavours of tea when they open their first tea room.

Chantler Teas have a weekly stall at Abergavenny Market on Fridays between 9 and 4. They will be at the Newport Christmas Food Festival, the Abergavenny Christmas Food Festival. To find out more visit their website, www.chantlerteas.co.uk or call 07786 593253.