East Sussex farm grows tea commercially for first time
A farm in East Sussex has become the first in Britain to grow tea commercially, a development attributed to warmer temperatures from climate change.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A farm in East Sussex has become the first in Britain to grow tea commercially, a development attributed to warmer temperatures from climate change. The farm at Mountfield has planted more than 8,000 tea bushes and is now producing black and green tea. The leaves travel just 150 yards from the field to the factory, and the business says it uses no pesticides, relying on nature to manage nature.
Britain has imported tea from India and other nations for hundreds of years, and this is one of the few entirely homegrown sites. The tea is sold at £11 a tin, which makes six brews. At a local cafe, customers said the price was steep but some would try it as a treat or gift.
The farm's approach is different from standard teabag production. One spokesperson compared the flavour to the difference between an Aston Martin and a Mini Metro. The season for harvesting is limited, but climate change is extending the period when good quality tea can be grown.
The development is seen as another sign of the UK's changing climate, which is making it feasible to grow a crop traditionally associated with warmer countries.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| The farm has planted more than 8,000 tea bushes. | |
| The farm is one of the few entirely homegrown tea sites in Britain. | |
| The tea costs £11 per tin and makes six brews. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1's coverage framed the story as a light-hearted 'and finally' segment, focusing on the novelty of homegrown tea, the quality difference from regular teabags, and the high cost. It included a local customer's reaction to the price and ended on a whimsical note. The channel did not provide extensive scientific detail but linked the development to climate change.
- “We are a land of tea drinkers, but very few grow it.”
- “This is a different sort of drink to the tea bag tea that you're drinking at home.”
- “There is nothing quite as soothing as a cuppa.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.