Taylors of Harrogate Archives

The curious case of the Taylors of Harrogate tea that can’t be bought in Harrogate

It is one of Harrogate’s premier brands, known around the world. But it seems even people living in Harrogate can’t get hold of some varieties of tea sold by Taylors of Harrogate.

The company, whose brands include Yorkshire Tea, is part of Bettys and Taylors Group, which dates back more than 100 years.

Children’s author Eirene Watson-Power is one of the company’s many loyal customers. But she had a shock when she returned to the UK after living abroad for four years and couldn’t get hold of Taylor’s of Harrogate Green Tea Earl Grey.

Mother-of-four Ms Watson-Power, who hosts a radio show on Harrogate Community Radio, said she enjoys the taste and health benefits of this green tea variety, adding:

“I live in Harrogate and discovered Taylors of Harrogate Green Tea Earl Grey a while ago in my local Asda. It instantly became my favourite morning cuppa.

“When I moved abroad to the Middle East I was so happy to discover my local shop also stocked this tea. Imagine my surprise when I returned to live in Harrogate and found that nowhere stocked it.

“Even though it’s a local company, if I wanted to drink this particular tea I would have to order it from abroad and pay the additional taxes on top of international postage and packing. This seemed unbelievable to me.”

Taylors of Harrogate Green Tea Earl Grey

The elusive blend

The mystery deepened when she visited her local stockists of Taylor’s tea and no one had even heard of Earl Grey green tea.

“How can so much have changed in four years? I wondered, if more places knew it existed and requested it then perhaps Taylor’s would again make green tea Earl Grey available in the UK.

“I am sure many people in Harrogate would appreciate being able to purchase this amazing tea.”

A Taylors spokesperson said it was lovely to hear how much the customer enjoyed the blend and was sorry she was unable to buy it locally. They added:

“While we do still make Earl Grey green tea, it is part of a range we currently only make for our international market where it sells a lot better than in the UK.

“Sadly, this particular blend simply doesn’t sell well enough for UK retailers to order it from us which is why you won’t see it on the shelves over here anymore.

“We do have a range of Taylors speciality blends available in the UK, including flavoured green teas such as green tea with jasmine, mint or lemon. These are mostly to be found in smaller independent shops, delis and garden centres or through online retailers.”

The spokesperson added the company recommended either this website or this one for ordering Taylors speciality teas.

District businesses donate to Ukraine aid convoy

Businesses from across the Harrogate district have shown their support for Ukraine by donating dozens of pallets of supplies.

Neom Organics has given shower gel, soap and hand sanitiser, while Taylors of Harrogate has contributed supplies of tea and coffee.

Children’s shop Milk and Honey donated thousands of pounds’ worth of clothes, from wellies and hats to summer clothes. Other donations have included bottled water and fizzy drinks.

The supplies are being sent to Global Empowerment Mission, which is distributing them to refugee camps as well as communities in Ukraine.

Organiser Whitney Vauvelle said:

“It has been an incredible effort from the Harrogate and Yorkshire community. It really speaks highly of the bread and butter of what this community is about.

“People are going numb on this and we can’t let that happen. Supply chains are severely disrupted into Ukraine so we have to keep donating and sending trucks over.”

A final collection will be held at White Horse Machinery (WHM) on Hornbeam Park on Wednesday, May 18, from 9.30am to 1.30pm, when businesses and individuals can make contributions.

Donations of non-perishable foods are needed, along with clothing including shoes, new underwear, new and like-new trainers, and sportswear for children.

For more information, call Ms Vauvelle on 07860 922600.

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Home care company expands from Harrogate base

A home care company founded in Harrogate in 2018 is expanding to a satellite office in West Yorkshire.

West Park Care will cover Ilkley, Burley in Wharefedale, Guiseley, Menston, Yeadon and surrounding areas from its new office at Wharfe Bank Mills in Otley.

Founder Tom Page said:

“We’ve got through the pandemic which has been a slog to say the least. We’ve come out of that relatively unscathed and now we’re looking to expand.”

The company offers domiciliary care to private clients in their own homes, and now has 30 staff and 44 clients on its books.

Mr Page said its point of difference was not using zero-hours contracts and paying above minimum wage, which helped it to keep staff turnover low.

Harrogate Spring Water and Yorkshire Tea suspend trade with Russia

Harrogate Spring Water and Yorkshire Tea said today they will cease trade with Russia with immediate effect.

The two Harrogate-based companies issued statements in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has so far claimed about 13,000 lives and forced two million people to flee their homes.

A Harrogate Spring Water spokesperson said:

“Harrogate Spring Water has made the decision to stop all exports to Russia with immediate effect.”

Russia has been one of Harrogate Spring Water’s biggest export markets in the past, according to multiple articles published in 2013.

An article in The Business Desk, published in 2013, said water sales in Russia has increased by 40% year-on-year.

The company itself tweeted an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin drinking a bottle of its water in 2013.

https://twitter.com/HarrogateSpring/status/375589127275560960?s=20&t=DQo5_CMsbRdj8AltJnys1g

Yorkshire Tea is owned by Taylors of Harrogate, a 130-year-old company founded in Harrogate. It has a distributer in Moscow.

A spokesperson for Taylors of Harrogate said today:

“Like everyone, we’ve been deeply shocked and saddened by the invasion and our thoughts are with all those impacted.

“Our ethical trade and human rights policy states that our values guide how we work with suppliers, customers and distributors, including the provision that we will not trade with individuals, entities, regions or countries where UK sanctions have been applied.

“While Russia has been an export market for some of our teas for several years, as a result of the invasion and the subsequent sanctions we’ve suspended trade.”

All brands owned by Taylors of Harrogate, which also include coffee products, will no longer be exported to Russia.

Top bonfire night foodie treats from across the Harrogate district

Remember, remember the Fifth of November, toffee, parkin and ale…

Yes bonfire night is here! It’s time to wrap-up warm, dig out our hats and gloves, light the sparklers and watch fireworks illuminate the sky.

With events more or less entirely called off due to covid last year, 2021 is a chance for families to make up for lost time.

And that also includes all the amazing food and drink that comes with the celebrations.

Here are some of our top food and drink picks for bonfire night from across the district:

Farrah’s Harrogate Toffee

Farrah’s Original Harrogate Toffee.

A real British classic, the jaw-breaking treacle toffee, known as bonfire toffee, dates back hundreds of years.

And Harrogate certainly knows how to do toffee with style, with the famous Farrah’s blue tins selling in shops all over the world.

Farrah’s was established in 1840 and the Original Harrogate Toffee was designed to clear the palate of the putrid taste of Harrogate’s Sulphur Water. Fortunately we can now just eat it for pleasure – and it’s perfect for bonfire night!

Natalie Smith, manager of Farrah’s Olde Sweet Shop, said:

“Our world famous Harrogate Toffee has often been comparable to the delicious taste of bonfire toffee. It’s brittle, butterscotch, treacle-like texture is full of flavour and the perfect accompaniment to a bonfire night feast.

Whether it’s the Harrogate or bonfire toffee you’re after, at this time of you they are both a guaranteed sell-out. Be sure not to miss out and visit the shop to grab yours now.”

Betty’s Yorkshire Parkin

Betty’s Yorkshire Parkin.

In Yorkshire, parkin is as much a part of bonfire night as sparklers, toffee apples and hoping that the rain stays away. It’s a real warm, cosy scarf of a cake, deliciously sticky and with a fiery ginger kick.

Like bonfires themselves, the tradition of eating parkin here at this time of year is much older than the Gunpowder Plot. The origins are unclear – they could be pagan or linked to All Saints’ Day – but for centuries it’s been enjoyed at the start of November, usually on ‘Parkin Sunday’.

We have the brisk Yorkshire climate that favours oats over wheat to thank for parkin. Over time the recipe has been sweetened and spiced to become the treat we know today.

And we all know Bettys does a fabulous Yorkshire parkin.

A spokesperson for Bettys said:

“Parkin has been a Bettys favourite for almost as long as Bettys has existed. We love making it because it’s so perfectly suited to its season – sticky, warming, hearty. It’s hard to imagine bonfire night without it.”

Hustle & Co’s Bonfire bagel and hot spiked apple cider

Hustle & Co’s Bonfire bagel.

Hustle & Co, on Harrogate’s Station Parade, will be opening a little later on Saturday for those who are on their way to the Stray Bonfire.

And for those who fancy something a little different this year, the independent healthy-eating cafe has created a special bonfire bagel and lots of amazing drinks to keep you warm, including a hot spiked apple cider.

Spiked apple cider at Hustle & Co.

The bonfire bagel is gluten free and features dill cheese, seasoned spinach, scrambled egg, smoked salmon and caper crisps. As well as the cider, which will definitely warm the cockles, drinks also include flamed orange mocha, peppermint hot chocolate and a gingerbread latte with ginger spice crunch topping.

Nici Routledge, owner of Hustle & Co, said:

“We’re always doing something a little out of the ordinary at Hustle & Co and this month’s festivities are no different. We’ve got lots of specialty warming hot drinks.

On this week’s specials board we’ve got some great treats, like our bonfire bagel stack, Mak Tok curry bowl, roasted root soup, sharing boards and lots of sweet treats with autumn spice.

“We look forward to welcoming our lovely guests on their way to the Stray Bonfire on Saturday. We are staying open a little later until 6.30pm and we will have out hot spike apple cider ready for you on your way over to the Stray.”

Taylor’s of Harrogate Apple and Cinnamon Tea

Taylors Apple and Cinnamon Tea.

Fancy something warming, but without the alcohol, while you enjoy this year’s bonfire night celebrations?

Taylor’s of Harrogate does an awesome apple and cinnamon tea. It might not be an actual toffee apple, but the inspired flavour still totally conjures up those childhood bonfire night memories.

Abigail Sawyer, brand PR specialist for Taylor’s, said:

“Inspired by apple strudel and toffee apples, this caffeine-free treat is spicy and sweet. It is made with real apple pieces and a warming cinnamon spice blend, making it the perfect bonfire night brew.

Turning Point Brewery’s Heavy Dreams Barley Wine

Turning Point’s Heavy Dreams Barley Wine.

For those who do want something with a bit of a kick, Knaresborough’s Turning Point Brewery does an English-style barley wine, hopped with Godiva, First Gold, and Bullion.

This classic sticky sweet barley wine, with notes of figs, caramel, ripe blackberries, and almonds, is a nice warming drink to swig whilst watching the fireworks.

Aron McMahon, co-founder of Turning Point Brewery, said:

“I guess you could say it is the perfect bonfire or autumnal warmer, for ideally sharing with a friend, or family, before heading out to your favourite bonfire display, or celebrating this date at home.

“It is also a very popular style at this time of year as many folk use barley wine as one of their ingredients for making Christmas pud, in advance of those festivities.”

Taylors of Harrogate wins UN climate change award

Tea and coffee merchant Taylors of Harrogate has been recognised for its efforts to tackle climate change by the United Nations.

The company has been named as one of 11 winners of the UN Global Climate Action Awards and its work will go on display at next month’s COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

The awards advisory panel praised Taylors for its role in the international small group tree planting programme in Kenya. This scheme works with farmers in rural communities to share knowledge on conservation farming and reforestation.

About 7,500 tea farmers are included in the project across four factories.

The awards advisory panel praised the company’s “unique programme with its long-term suppliers” that tackled “the interlinked challenges of climate change, smallholder livelihoods and ensuring a continuous supply of quality tea and coffee”.

The company also installed solar panels on its tea and coffee factory, generating almost 200,000 kwh of electricity a year.

UN Climate Change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa said:

“The winners of the 2021 UN Global Climate Action Awards provide tangible proof that solutions to tackle the climate crisis exist and that they can be replicated and quickly scaled up. This is what inspiring leadership looks like.”