Tea Archives

Tea Archives is a UK-based beverage brand specialising in premium cold-brewed sparkling teas made with a minimal two-ingredient formula: high-quality loose tea leaves and cane sugar. Founded by brothers Cheyne and Kory, the company was established with a clear mission to reimagine how tea is consumed in the British market, drawing inspiration from the unflavoured, unsweetened bottled tea culture observed across Asia. The founders identified a significant gap in the UK drinks market, where most commercially available iced teas were laden with sugar, artificial flavourings, preservatives, fruit juice additives, and sweeteners that masked the natural character of the tea itself. Tea Archives was created as a direct response to this, offering consumers a clean, honest alternative. The product development process was extensive and rigorous. Cheyne and Kory sourced and trialled over 250 teas from tea-growing regions across the world, travelling extensively to identify leaves of sufficient quality to stand alone without flavour masking. This approach was inspired by wine tasting methodology, applying the same principle of terroir and provenance to tea selection. After exhaustive testing, they settled on a 24-hour cold-brew extraction method, which maximises the natural depth and complexity of the leaves while avoiding the astringency associated with hot or rapid brewing techniques. The current product range includes three distinct varieties: Darjeeling from India, roasted Hojicha from Japan, and Oolong from Taiwan. Each variety is cold-brewed for 24 hours using premium loose tea leaves, then lightly carbonated to deliver a crisp, refreshing finish. The drinks contain no artificial flavours, no preservatives, and no fruit juice additives. Products are sold in 250ml cans, with a mixed 12-pack available for retail consumers. Tea Archives targets the growing premium soft drink and better-for-you beverage segment in the UK, positioning its products as a sophisticated, low-calorie alternative to conventional soft drinks and conventional iced teas. The brand appeals to health-conscious consumers, tea enthusiasts, and those seeking cleaner label beverages with transparent ingredient lists.