Madura Tea Estate at Clothiers Creek between Murwillumbah and the Tweed Coast have beaten out stiff overseas competition to bag a major award for their locally produced tea.
The family-owned company took out the Best Tea Bag following a survey of more than 2500 consumers.
The survey was conducted by research outfit Colmar Brunton on behalf of ratings company Canstar Blue as part of their prestigious nationally recognised annual Blue Taste Awards food awards.
“This is a great result in a competitive market, and a great validation of the Madura brand,” Canstar Blue manager Rebecca Logan said.
Ms Logan said 85 per cent of consumers surveyed told Canstar Blue they sought value and were prepared to pay more for an item “if it tastes good”.
Madura Tea Estate partner Gary Davey said it was particularly satisfying, as the Tweed tea was up against overseas competitors.
“This award is extremely important to us,” Gary said.
“We are the only Australian owned tea producer left and to collect such an award against our overseas competitors, particularly based on taste – well, it doesn’t get any better than that!
“It is a proud day for the staff of Madura,” he said.
“We’ve tried to maintain the taste profile of our product for more than 40 years. It has been a pretty important part of our business. This award proves that quality will always win out in the long-run.”
Madura was Australia’s first sub-tropical tea plantation, established by a third-generation tea planter from Ceylon in the late 1970s. Ten years later, the company pioneered production of Australian green tea, recognising its natural health benefits.
Today, Madura is owned by four local families and remains Australia’s foremost 100 per cent locally owned and operated tea company.
The company blends and packags more than 24 tea styles in loose leaf, teabag and silk infuser– from traditional brews such as English Breakfast and Earl Grey, to exotic blends including Green Tea infused with locally grown Lemon Myrtle.
Madura is a multi-award winning tea producer, recognised for the purity, flavour, freshness and aroma of its tea. They have also been rewarded for their innovative, sustainable approach to tea production, presentation and packaging.
The company is no stranger to awards, taking out Tweed Business Excellence (BEX) Awards: Gold BEX Award – Business of the Year, 2009, Food Magazine Challenge Awards: Finalist, 2009, Tweed Business Excellence (BEX) Awards: Category award winner – 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards: Gourmet Teas – Gold and Silver medal winner, 2008, Label and Tag Manufacturers Association of Australia (LATMA): Silver medal winner – Design, 2004, Queensland Printing and Industry Craftsmanship Awards (QPICA): Silver medal winner – Design, 2000 and Fine Foods Australia: Retail and Foodservice Teas – Best new product, 2000.
