Raise a cup for award winners

There are hardly any awards for tea makers domestically to showcase their craft and give us a way to discover new our tea makers have done in a year that saw weather, production and prices stacked against them. On this list are old favourites but also new teas-quite a few are available online.

- Aravinda Anantharaman

The Leafies, offered by the UK Tea Academy and the Fortnum & Mason store, were announced recently. A 12-member jury tasted 320 entries and two of our teas won Gold: the flavourful Tippy Reserve from Rujani Tea in Assam and a smooth spring white tea, Darjeeling Moonshine, from Glenburn in Darjeeling, West Bengal. The Highly Commended List includes a great set from India: Nilgiri Orchid, a well-rolled black tea (Tea Studio, Nilgiris); Doke Black Fusion, a black tea with rich aroma and flavours (Doke Tea Estate, Bihar); Basant Blossom, a superlative first flush black tea (Turzum, Darjeeling); Golden Tips, a second flush black tea with a red-gold liquor (Nahorhabi estate, Assam); a Masala Chai from Glenburn; and a black tea from the Mansimble estate in Kangra, Himachal Prade