Upmarket drinks brand Real has opened what it claims is the UK’s first standalone fermentation plant for non-alcoholic drinks.
The “state-of-the-art” site has opened on the Waddesdon Estate, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Hand-picked loose-leaf teas will be fermented there to create the brand’s duo of sparkling drinks – Royal Flush and Dry Dragon – without the need for any additives or flavourings.
Real said it experimented with over 150 different tea varieties before deciding on first-flush Darjeeling for its Royal Flush expression, and Dragonwell green tea for its Dry Dragon drink.
It plans to continue to experiment in this way at The Fermentery to create new sparkling tea flavours.
The site will be open to the public for tours and tastings, as well as becoming a supper club destination for “unconventional thinkers, creators and makers”, said Real.
The move was a “historic” investment in the future for the alternative wine category and alcohol-free options, it added.
Real founder David Begg added he was “passionate about leading the way in non-alcoholic fermentation”.
Opening The Fermentery would allow Real “to experiment with a whole range of loose-leaf teas to create the alcohol-free drinks of the future”, said Begg.
“We are proud to be bringing provenance and quality to a growing category.”
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