Kevin Gascoyne, partner at Camellia Sinensis Tea Company of Montreal, veteran tea-taster and world specialist on Darjeeling teas, will discuss the elements of tea’s relationship to where it grows.
Thursday 12th June 2025, 7pm – 8.30pm.
Joining instructions will be sent out on booking.
Numbers are not restricted and everyone is welcome.
Every tea origin has its own unique combination of meteorological, geographical and geological specifics that separates it from all other growing environments. These variables will stimulate or inhibit the growth patterns of the plant, causing reactions that create a sense of place and identity, and a series of physical and chemical markers that become the distinguishing features of every ‘origin specific’ production’.
In his book Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties, Kevin explains, “In addition to the choice of plant material, growing season and the quality of the picking, the characteristics of a plantation – its soil, climate, altitude, latitude – are important factors that greatly influence the quality of a tea. … The notion of ‘terroir’ helps define the specific characteristics of a particular region or expanse of land, by examining its soil, climate, altitude and latitude in combination with the expertise of the local growers.”
Kevin will relate his talk specifically to teas from Darjeeling, an ideal example of a region where numerous varying factors (different altitudes, different soil, varying amounts of sun, cloud, rain, etc.,) give the teas from different estates markedly different flavour profiles.
Kevin will choose a few Darjeeling teas that he has purchased this spring for his company’s catalogue that clearly illustrate the effects of terroirs. Samples of those teas will then be made available, with a special discount code, for any attendees who would like to buy them ready for the event. More details of that nearer the time. (Kevin is currently in Darjeeling selecting the teas he needs for his business, a selection of which he will make available for our event.)
