Discover this incredibly popular non-alcoholic option for weddings

Saicho is a luxury, non-alcoholic, single-origin sparkling tea brand with various flavours from India, China, and Japan. 

Founders Charlie and Natalie have always had a passion for food and drink. Now, husband and wife, they met whilst studying PhDs in Food Science. Unfortunately, Natalie can’t drink alcohol (she turns as red as a tomato with even the smallest sip) and as such, she hasn’t been able to fully enjoy the food and wine pairings that Charlie so loves. So, this got them thinking; surely there could be a non-alcoholic drink with ingredients that possessed the same complexity and heritage as wine - the rest is history!

Cold brewing has a very different flavour compared to hot brewing. It’s far more delicate, with enhanced aromatics and better-balanced astringency, creating a more complex flavour profile and mouthfeel that pairs perfectly with food. Saicho uses single-origin tea, hand-picking the exact varietal, time of harvest, location, terroir, altitude and processing methods. Rather than being bombarded by a mongrel of flavours, there’s a simplicity to using single origin tea. Each individual tea is cold brewed for 24 hours to extract the most delicate and complex flavours. The teas are then finely balanced with a hint of sweetness and a dash of acidity. As a finishing touch, sparkling the drink enhances the flavour of the tea. 

Discover the options available...

Saicho Darjeeling 750ml, £17.99 
This black tea was grown in the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, India and is harvested in the summer to develop its unique Darjeeling muscatel flavour. The tea has notes of mandarin, ginger, wood spice, and dry tannins—it pairs well with grilled meats or rich pasta dishes. 

Saicho Hojicha 750ml, £17.99  
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, delicate smoke and woody tannins, which pairs well with sushi or mushroom risotto. 

Saicho Jasmine 750ml, £17.99  
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. This drink pairs well with spicy Asian salads or elderflower jellies. The Jasmine flavour is an incredibly popular non-alcoholic wedding option due to its beautifully refreshing taste.

Check out: www.saichodrinks.com