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Tea Scotland Wins 2025 Pioneer Award as Scottish Tea House secures Highly Commended Honour at the Leafies
- Sharon Wilson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Tea Scotland has won the 2025 Pioneer Award at the internationally recognised Leafies Tea Awards marking a major moment for Scotland’s fast‑growing tea sector. The network, which supports the commercial cultivation of Camellia sinensis across the country, was praised for producing rare, small‑batch, traceable teas shaped by distinctive Scottish microclimates that echo high‑altitude terroirs.
The Leafies—organised by the UK Tea Academy in partnership with Fortnum & Mason—celebrate excellence in artisan tea and are widely regarded as the “Oscars of the tea industry.”
Jennifer Wood, Director of the UK Tea Academy, said Tea Scotland’s growers “manage to produce exceptional teas in a tough climate under testing conditions,” adding that the award recognises their “optimism, dedication and achievement in creating delicious, world‑class, award‑winning teas year after year.”
Tea Scotland Chair Mike Hyatt said the accolade reflects a decade of work establishing tea as a viable Scottish crop. “It is important to recognise the hard work that tea growers in Scotland have put in over the last 10 years,” he said, acknowledging growers from Orkney to Dumfries and Galloway.
Scottish Tea House Highly Commended for The Angels’ Share
Alongside the Pioneer Award, Tea Scotland member Scottish Tea House received a Highly Commended honour for its black tea The Angels’ Share, further underscoring Scotland’s rising profile in the global tea world.
Produced near Lanark by founder Joanne Holley, The Angels’ Share reflects years of nurturing tea plants in a challenging climate and crafting tea with a strong focus on provenance, sustainability, and biodiversity.
“To receive a Highly Commended award at the Leafies is a tremendous honour,” Holley said. “This recognition reflects the care, patience and commitment involved in growing tea here in Scotland, and it’s incredibly encouraging to see Scottish-grown tea recognised on an international stage.”
Scottish Tea House has become known for its focus on provenance, sustainability, and connection to place, alongside its growing reputation within the food, drink, and tourism sectors. The award further reinforces Scotland’s emerging position within the global tea landscape.
Special Mentions for Sustainability
The Leafies highlighted Glen Caladh Tea in Argyll and Scottish Tea House for their commitment to quality and environmental stewardship:
Glen Caladh Tea, run by former Tea Scotland Chair Islay Henderson, was recognised for its regenerative approach. “Tea being a crop with huge potential for biodiversity and carbon sequestration, we grow organic tea outside with this in mind,” Henderson said. “It’s a dream for me to bring an ethical tea product to the table with the Glen Caladh single estate tea we make in Argyll.”
Awards Ceremony
The Leafies ceremony on Friday 16 January at Fortnum & Mason, London.
