Glen Afton Tea, Ayrshire

Tom Campbell

Glen Afton is a beautiful valley in East Ayrshire. The tea garden nestles alongside the river Afton, which inspired Robbie Burns’ poem Afton Water:

“Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, 

Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise; 

My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream, 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream….”

It’s a picturesque spot, and at 250 meters above sea level is one of the highest tea gardens in Scotland. 

Glen Afton boasts acidic, free-draining soils, which suits the needs of the ericaceous tea plants. Although, the seedlings have had to acclimatise to the long winters and a short growing season that the garden experiences.

Tom and the team started with a test plot of 140 tea plants in 2021, early signs of success saw them expand into a larger tea garden in 2022. Currently the team grows Camellia Sinensis using sustainable, organic techniques.

Glen Afton aims to be a thriving, bio-diverse garden that creates a tea reflecting the beauty, balance, and complexity of the landscape it is grown in.