THE FULL SAICHO RANGE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AT SELFRIDGES LONDON AND ON SELFRIDGES.COM
Saicho (www.saichodrinks.com) an award-winning, luxurious, non-alcoholic, single-origin, sparkling tea brand has launched into the luxury UK department store, Selfridges. Consumers can purchase the full range which consists of three SKUs: Hojicha, Darjeeling and Jasmine, at Selfridges London and on Selfridges.com.
Saicho uses the finest single-origin teas from around the world to ensure a premium taste experience, making it different from other non-alcoholic alternatives on the market., The range is making a profound mark on the low and no category as a preferred alternative to wine. Offering consumers an exceptional taste experience. This comes as the pace of growth of the category is expected to surpass that of the last four years, with volumes expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of +7% in 2022-26, compared to +5% in 2028-22. The Saicho range consists of:
Darjeeling – This black tea was grown in the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, India. Harvested in the summer to develop its unique Darjeeling muscatel flavour, the tea has notes of mandarin, ginger and wood spice and gentle, dry tannins. Pairs perfectly with grilled meats or rich pasta dishes. 750ml bottle
Hojicha – Originating in Kyoto in the 1920s as a way of utilising leftover leaves, stems, stalks and twigs, Hojicha is a roasted green tea from Japan. The tea has a deep umami character and notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnut and delicate smoke, with dry and woody tannins. Pairs well with sushi or mushroom risotto. 750ml bottle
Jasmine – Scented with jasmine blossoms, this green tea from Fuding, in Fujian province, China, has a delicate floral aroma and notes of apple sherbet, lychee and vanilla, making it a refreshing aperitif. Pairs well with spicy Asian salads. 750ml bottle
Charlie Winkworth-Smith, Co-Founder of Saicho says: “We are delighted that Selfridges has chosen to stock the Saicho range at Selfridges London and online. This is a huge success for the brand, and we feel that Selfridge’s customers are perfectly aligned with those of Saicho, so we look forward to seeing where this takes us next!”
In addition to Selfridges, Saicho can be purchased from www.saichodrinks.com/shop, The Whisky Exchange Covent Garden, Club Soda Off License, Not On The Highstreet and Amazon, as well as multiple hospitality partners across the UK and Asia.
Website: www.saichodrinks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaichoDrinks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saichodrinks
Founder Messaging
Charlie and Natalie have always had a passion for food and drink. Now, spouses, they met whilst studying PhDs in Food Science.
Natalie cannot drink alcohol as she goes bright red and as such, she hasn’t been able to fully enjoy the food and wine pairings that Charlie so loves.
This came to a head, one night in an upscale restaurant. With limited soft drink options, Natalie had to make do with her usual glass of tap water. Enviously, she watched on as Charlie was regaled with stories of far-flung vineyards and detailed advice as to which specific dish’s tones and textures were most enhanced by a particular vintage and why.
It was clear that Natalie was missing a huge aspect of the fine dining experience. So, this got them thinking; surely there could be a non-alcoholic drink with ingredients that possessed the same sort of complexity and heritage that wine does.
Hailing from Hong Kong, Natalie had grown up drinking tea with food so knew it could create the perfect pairing. With tea, it really matters at what point of year it is harvested, the region it’s grown, its level of oxidation and the specific weather conditions of that particular season. Accordingly, you get a vast variety of different flavours from floral to fruity, nutty to smoky, candied to umami – all depending on the type, terroir and production method. Tea was chosen as the alternative for the wine and \Champagne moments, as there is no compromise on the taste and sensory experience when using tea to compliment food – unlike some dealcoholized wines.
Excited by this moment of inspiration, Charlie and Natalie enthusiastically threw themselves into the painstaking, 2-year process of sampling and experimentation. Having assessed hundreds of different varieties from around the world they eventually settled on their first three teas.
