The Black Swan Tearoom

29th June 2010

We take an exclusive peek into the world of The Tea Guild's Top Tea Winner 2010.

As winner of The Tea Guild’s Top Tea Place 2010 the judges praised The Black Swan’s passion and dedication to tea. Since it’s opening in 2007, the tearoom has gathered a reputation as being a worldwide destination for tassophiles. As well as serving over 25 exquisite specialist teas, and offering an incredibly efficient and friendly service, Tearoom Manager Alison Souter has initiated a tea club as so many customers asked for advice on different teas. "We were amazed at how long the list of interested customers was becoming, so knew there was an opening for the tea club." But what happens at tea club meetings? "It’s a very relaxed and friendly afternoon," Alison reveals. "It’s free to join and we always have scones with cream or sandwiches and little treats to take home for the members." During the sessions customers can try different teas, learn about the history of tea and find out how different teas compliment certain foods. It’s also a great way to meet new people and discover the many health benefits of drinking tea.

To provide her customers with such an extensive and delicious menu of teas, Alison works with a range of tea suppliers around the UK, tasting samples to choose the best loose leaves. "I go by the colour of the liquor, the size of the leaf, the smell of the dry tea and how it’s packaged. I also consider how well it goes with our water." Alison’s favourite teas are The Black Swan Blend, which includes 1st Flush Assam, Ceylon and 5 other teas. "These are secret and the recipe is kept under lock and key in the safe of our supplier!" she reveals. Alison also "loves" Darjeeling, Ceylon from the Uva Valley in Sri Lanka, ("you can taste the sunshine" she says!), and English Earl Grey. "It’s produced in Cornwall and is perfect with a cheese scone."

Tea.co.uk has an exclusive peek into Alison’s diary so we can see exactly what goes into running the UK’s Top Tea Place...

MONDAY

It’s ordering day. We stock-take all the tea and I talk to my suppliers. I’m offered a beautiful Darjeeling 2nd Flush, grown on the Nepal / Darjeeling border. My supplier has a small amount and says it is exceptional. He is going to send me some to try. I also order some beautiful green Earl Grey to be our Tea of the Week and will serve this with a pistachio financier. I have a daily meeting to discuss the menu. We’re currently running an Afternoon Tea offer in the press, which is proving very popular. We have some sunshine today so it’s perfect weather for taking tea in our beautiful walled garden!

TUESDAY

The Darjeeling arrives and it IS exceptional so I keep it under lock and key! It will be wonderful served with our cream tea, clotted cream and home made strawberry conserve… I do the rota for the following week and as I have a new member of staff, I spend the day doing an induction. This involves explaining procedures, standards and introducing her to our extensive range of teas.

WEDNESDAY

We have a group of Swiss visitors in the tearoom, they are on a bus trip and have just dropped into Helmsley. It’s another lovely day and the guests are very impressed with the Afternoon Tea – the dainty sandwiches and patisseries are served on silver cake stands. They take lots of photos and buy tea and glass teapots to take home.

THURSDAY

A very busy day with lots of customers asking for Afternoon Tea with cupcakes. All the staff pull together to deal with the rush.

FRIDAY

Market day, which is always busy. I have a meeting to discuss the weekend as Helmsley is getting ready to cater for up to 10,000 motorcyclists who will be arriving at Duncombe Park for an annual meeting.

SATURDAY

It’s funny to see leather-clad bikers drinking tea from fine bone china cups, eating dainty cakes and even sampling our flowering teas! You can’t judge a book by its cover and everyone from every walk of life loves a cup of tea.

SUNDAY

Father’s Day is very busy with families treating their dads to afternoon tea. One customer was a tea taster and blender and said our Black Swan Blend was "exquisite." He’s now coming to do a tea tasting and blending demo at one of our tea club meetings.

Phew – that’s one busy week. But with such a hectic job, how does Alison relax? "I enjoy pottering in my garden, going for walks on the moors or taking my daughter to York to shop. Our trips always include a visit to a teashop or two!"

Drinking plenty of tea helps Alison wind down after a day at work. "I always drink green tea with lemon and a little sugar at home," she reveals. Tea has always played a big role in Alison’s life. "As a child, both sets of grandparents would always have a pot of tea on the go. It had to be loose tea, the pot had to be warmed, it had to be drunk from china cups and we would sit for hours around my Nan’s kitchen table and put the world to rights." Alison reminisces that she misses those early tea experiences and admits, "they definitely shaped the way I am. Tea will always be more than just a quick cuppa on the run to me!"

Images: Yorkpress.co.uk; bedandbreakfasts.co.uk