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.