Artisan blender to set up Northern Ireland's first tea bar

Infuse Artisan Tea in Northern Ireland has launched a campaign on Kickstarter to raise funds to set up the region's first tea bar.

Based at Garvagh in county Derry, Infuse is aiming to set up the tea bar in nearby Coleraine to help in promoting a tea culture and its extensive range of loose leaf teas which it has been selling successfully at farmers' markets in Northern Ireland.

The business, established last year by tea lovers Aine McGuckian and Duncan Davis, is scheduled to open in the next few months.

Aine says: "Our new Tea Bar will focus on the art of good tea. We will place a strong emphasis on using the best brewing techniques to ensure a great tasting cup each and every time. The tea bar will be a celebration of loose leaf with a considerable selection of teas to choose from. We will also offer unique experiences such as Gong Fu tea ceremonies and tea and chocolate pairings.

"We decided to set it up because we absolutely love tea! The humble tea leaf can make an amazing brew if treated right and that's what we want to bring to Northern Ireland.
"From the quality of the leaves right down to the water temperature and brew time, we are passionate about making the very best tea we can and share that with other enthusiasts."

The small business has already created an exciting range of loose leaf teas and has received initial bank funding. It is hoping to raise additional funds through the Kickstarter campaign to help in kitting out the new tea bar.

"The money will help towards paying for the finer details of the shop fit, as well as purchases such as equipment, ceramics and tea pots, and even help us expand our current range of teas to include a few exciting and rare teas.

"Our aim is to create something truly unique for Northern Ireland and we want people to get involved in the process, but don't worry, we have great rewards for your support," Aine adds.