Saicho delivers award-winning sparkling teas, using the finest single-origin teas as the base to create luxurious, non-alcoholic drinks designed for refined palates.
Apparently, more birthdays fall on September 26th than on any other day. As a January birthday, this clearly doesn’t apply to me. However, as someone who is always looking for an alternative to champagne or any other good fizz for celebrations – I really will accept any excuse – the sparkling Saicho tea collection felt like a good fit for the toast.
Featuring four different options, with flavour profiles ranging from bright and floral to rich and indulgent, there is a good range to choose from to suit different preferences. Plus, being housed in beautiful boxes and served in elegant glassware made the drinking experience feel all the more special and considered. Not, as it can sometimes seem, like simply choosing the obligatory soft option. The Saicho teas still make you feel like you are enjoying something special, without the ABV.
The Saicho Hojicha Sparkling Tea (RRP £19.99) is described as rich, comforting and wonderfully indulgent. A roasted green tea, Hojicha originated in Kyoto in the 1920s as a way of utilising leftover leaves, stems, stalks and twigs. The result is a wonderfully refreshing and easy-to-drink beverage. Served chilled in a glass bottle and poured into a wine or champagne glass, it feels like something made for an occasion.
The Saicho Osmanthus Sparkling Tea (RRP £23.99) is a lighter, more floral expression. Based on a Tie Guan Yin oolong tea, before being scented with osmanthus blossoms, means this expression is fruitier than the Hojicha. For those who don’t wish to imbibe, it would work equally well as a welcome drink, or as something served with cheeses and other such nibbles. Again, the elegant box (which is a work of art in itself) and the choice of glassware makes this feel more sophisticated than simply opting for fizzy water or sparkling elderflower, as is often the case.
There are two more Saicho sparkling tea options for those who want choice – the Saicho Darjeeling Sparkling Tea and the Saicho Jasmine Sparkling Tea. The Saicho website is filled with an abundance of information, from what you would expect on the nose and palate, to serving suggestions and even where and when the tea was grown. Each of the four teas is made with a commitment to quality, terroir and craftsmanship. Good to know.
As someone who drinks tea in abundance, there was a good chance this was going to be up my street. As someone who is often looking for non-alcoholic alternatives for welcome drinks, dinner drinks, or simply something to toast with, I would personally opt for Saicho’s tea-based sparkling drinks again for true sophistication and elegance.
When people are willing to put time, effort and consideration into what fizz and wine they serve, why not do the same for the soft option?
The Saicho teas are available from a range of different sellers, including Selfridges, Harrods, Fenwick, Amazon and The Whisky Exchange, as well as directly from Saicho, with RRP starting at £19.99 for a 750ml bottle.