Dorothy’s Teas Wins Gold at The Leafies International Tea Academy Awards 2023!
As a small family business, we are extremely proud and feel so deeply honoured to be one of only 13 Gold Award winners amongst such distinguished international tea growers and retailers at The Leafies 2023.
Our award-winning tea, Shannon Estate Silver Needles, won Gold in the retail section and was personally sourced by Dorothy Stubley, Owner and Founder of Dorothy’s Teas and The Hazelmere Tea House, Restaurant & Bakery.
Dorothy said, "Shannon Estate Silver Needles was sourced directly from Sri Lanka at my request via a much valued and long term friend and supplier, Robert Wilson - a 5th generation Sri Lankan tea planter. After sampling and tasting various white teas Robert had sent over, I settled on Shannon White Needles. I think it is a truly stunning tea and I am thrilled the judges at The Leafies thought so too!"
“I love the teas from Sri Lanka for their quality and diversity, and regularly source and buy from this delightful small island. I have also had the pleasure of visiting Sri Lanka on three occasions, stopping by various estates and sampling the wonderful teas that are grown there.”
The Leafies 2023, in partnership with Fortnum & Mason, took place on 26th October at Asia House in central London. Dorothy attended the ceremony with her son and daughter, Russ and Maria, alongside over 100 inspiring tea professionals, growers and enthusiasts.
“I was truly thrilled beyond words to receive this accolade in London at the prestigious Tea Academy Awards, The Leafies”, said Dorothy.
A total of 320 teas were entered from around the world in nearly 50 categories - all distinguished by tea type, region and processing. All teas were blind taste tested by 12 judges from around the world in early October, at Fortnum & Mason’s new state of the art Food & Drink Studio located at its flagship Piccadilly store.
Judging for The Leafies 2023
Ottilie Cunningham, tea buyer for Fortnum & Mason, said: “An enormous thank you and huge congratulations to everyone for another successful year of The Leafies. The organisation that goes into the entire thing is immense and it is really exciting to see how much it has grown since last year’s launch.”
We are thrilled with our prestigious Gold award and we can’t wait for our wonderful customers to try it, if they have not already… What are you waiting for?
More about our Gold award-winning tea
Shannon Estate Silver Needles is a delight to the senses. The long, exquisite silver-grey downy needles release aromas of sun-dried meadow flowers and grasses. On steeping the pale golden liquid, made delicately hazy by the tiny down particles, breathes warm sweet hay notes. It is sumptuously mouth filling with a smooth, sweet taste and suggestions of sweet clover and honeydew melon. The finish is long and honeyed, and utterly delicious. Join Dorothy’s Tea Club for a special subscription of tantalising teas hand-picked by Dorothy.