Summerdown Named As Best Drinks Producer At BBC Food & Farming Awards
Summerdown, the Peppermint People, has been named Best Drinks Producer 2022 for their range of restorative herbal teas at the prestigious BBC Food & Farming Awards, held on 9th November.
The BBC Food & Farming Awards launched in 2000 to mark the 20th anniversary of Radio 4’s The Food Programme. Since its inception it has continued to champion and highlight the people who, through food, are changing Britain for the better. The Best Drinks Producer category celebrates, according to category judge Jaega Wise, “The best of the UK’s drinks producers. People who aren’t just making incredible drinks but are doing things a little bit differently.”
Summerdown was initially nominated for the Award by members of the public, and went on to be judged by presenter and brewer Jaega Wise, who visited the farm in August. Summerdown was shortlisted for its teas alongside cider producer Little Pomona and wine producer Sugre South Downs, before being named the winner at the ceremony at the National Museum, Cardiff.
Summerdown is a family farm best known for its Black Mitcham peppermint, however the bees and butterflies also love the farm’s rolling fields of aromatic camomile and lavender. Inspired by their wonderful herbs, Summerdown produce a range of restorative teas with a taste and provenance that really stands out from other brands. Building on the foundations of their best-selling peppermint tea, earlier this year the team added two new flavours to the range: Pure Camomile and Peppermint & Camomile. The BBC team tasted all three teas during their visit to the farm.
Jo Colman, Head of Sales and Marketing at Summerdown, said: “We are delighted to be named the UK’s Best Drinks Producer by the BBC, over the moon in fact! It is especially humbling considering the calibre of our fellow finalists.
“This Award recognises 30 years-worth of care, passion and hard work that our founder Sir Michael, farm manager Ian and the whole Summerdown team have put into growing our very special Black Mitcham peppermint, and for that we couldn’t be happier”
The Best Drinks Producer 2022 Award is the latest in a number of prestigious accolades the company has recently picked up, having been awarded two Great taste awards earlier in the year alongside gaining their B Corp certification in 2021.
Thanks to the BBC for supplied image.