Business

New Infusion tea bar in Coleraine set to brew up a passion for a 'proper' cup of tea

Duncan and Aine who are opening Infusion Tea Bar next month
Duncan and Aine who are opening Infusion Tea Bar next month Duncan and Aine who are opening Infusion Tea Bar next month

THE art of tea-making is about to become a whole lot more complicated thanks to an inventive Coleraine couple who are set to open what they say is Northern Ireland's first artisan tea bar.

Aine McGuckian and her partner Duncan Davis have started a Kickstarter campaign to raise £5,500 to help them realise their dreams for Infuse Tea Bar which is opening in New Row in the town next month.

The campaign follows funding of £10,000 from Ulster Bank, but the extra cash is needed for finishing touches to the shop fit-out, as well as for the purchase of ceramics and specialist cast iron tea pots.

Unsurprisingly, rewards for those who pledge their support will be based around various "tea experiences", including traditional GongFu tea ceremonies and tea-and-chocolate pairings.

For Aine, who studied herbal medicine at university, the humble tea leaf has remained humble for too long in Northern Ireland and she is hoping her new venture with Duncan – an acupuncturist – will bring a well deserved elevation in status.

"Put simply, we love proper tea and we want everyone else to love it too," she says.

"I know that Northern Ireland people are big tea drinkers, but there is a surprising number of people who don't take it seriously and who don't know how to make it properly.

"We are all about raising the brewing standards so enthusiasts can really enjoy a cup of tea at its best – without losing any of the anti-oxidants and associated health benefits."

The biggest obstacle to the perfect cuppa, it seems, is the temperature of the water and the length of time tea is left to brew.

"Green tea, for instance, is the drink of choice for a growing number of people, but many complain of the bitter taste which is caused by water being boiled," she says. "When the temperature is reduced, there is no bitterness at all.

"Specialist tea bars are really big in London and other European cities, so we think it is time Northern Ireland became a centre of excellence as well."

The couple, who met at university, also blend their own teas and have been developing and perfecting their unique range over the past year, selling them online and at speciality markets. Top sellers and favourites include the blends Chocolate Rose and Smoke and Fire – "for the more adventurous tea lover".

The business idea was fired from participation in a nationwide competition 'TestTown' in 2014, run by the Carnegie Trust and designed to support emerging town centre and high street entrepreneurs.

"We tested our venture by combining my herbal medicine practice, 'The Little Herbalista', with the tea bar concept and we won our local heat," Aine adds.

"Our approach went down a storm in Cambridge, where we took part in the grand final, and that gave us the confidence to develop the idea further.

"Now we are excited to finally bring our business project to fruition. We want the tea bar to be a celebration of loose leaf, with our brewing techniques visible from the bar for everyone to see – before enjoying a really good brew."

The Kickstarter campaign – details at www.kickstarter.com/projects/infuseteabar/infuse-tea-bar - ends on Thursday July 27.

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