Everything is settling down whilst we finish the last of the autumn work.
The farm has shifted into its quieter rhythm. Over the past few weeks we’ve harvested thousands of tea seeds, many of which have already gone off to new homes. Our seed beds are now full - finished just in time for the harder frosts that arrived last week. We're offering seeds for sale until the end of December to ensure the best possible viability.
Work on the new polytunnels has finally wrapped up (only a year later), and with that comes the seasonal dance of covering some plants and uncovering others as we head into winter. The cover crops we sowed back in September have grown well alongside the tea, adding a welcome layer to the fields at a time when everything else is beginning to die back. These plants help protect the tea through the winter months by providing shelter, improving soil drainage and reducing nutrient loss. In the spring, this layer will bed down as essential organic matter, increasing soil fertility and ensuring a more diverse and active soil microbial community.
The apples and yuzu are all gathered, and the tea has slipped into full hibernation — the farm feeling quieter each day as the light drops and the last jobs of the autumn season wind down. We’ve more or less finalised our plans, projects, and inevitable mad ideas for next year... super excited to see how it all unfolds.
We're now finally releasing our much anticipated first batch of Yuzu & Black tea and it really is special. Made using our own fresh organic yuzu and a carefully selected batch of 2025 black tea. Yuzu provides a unique mix of lemon, grapefruit and mandarin with a very distinct fragrance. In combination with our black tea this results in a complex, refreshing cup with a lasting citrus finish, perfect for autumn as it is both invigorating and soothing. Available in both 12g jars and 18g refill pouches.
Inside, kombucha production continues in small batches: Baked Apple is back, and the first-ever batch of Ginger has now made its way onto shelves (and into fridges). Both feel like perfect companions for this time of year.
A gentle closing of the season — and the beginning of whatever comes next.