A Top Tea Place Award for 2008 |
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| Once again
Muffins has been named as one of the best tea shops in
the whole of the country. The following article appearing
in the Cornish Guardian on 9th April 2008:- |
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| MUFFINS BREWS TOP TEA, SAY TASTERS | |||||||||||
| Undercover tea
tasters across the country have decided that Muffins tea
shop in Lostwithiel should bag this year's top tea award. Tea Guild inspectors went incognito to sample hundreds of brews.They then declared Muffins the winner of the award of excellence in the UK Tea Council's Top Tea Place 2008 awards. The Tea Guild's team of tea experts have secretly taken tea in tearooms and hotels in search of the finest tea experiences. The judges awarded points for the variety and quality of the teas offered, together with excellent service, decor, ambience, presentation and value for money. The judges were reportedly so impressed with the quality of the afternoon tea served at Muffins Tea Shop, that they awarded them high marks in every category. Muffins co-owner, with her husband Keith, Lindsay Southgate, said: "It's brilliant because we have had it a few years now - 2003 was the first year. It's a super thing to win it, but to keep it is even better. "You don't know who is coming in to taste the tea as it is all done undercover. "Its more than just making a cup of tea - we were given credit for majoring on local Cornish food too which was great." The Tea Guild has now presented the 2008 awards to The Top Tea Place and Top London Afternoon Tea winners, in addition to 55 awards of excellence to tea places throughout the UK. With 115 points to be lost or gained on the judge's scorecard, only those tea establishments achieving the very highest standards across a number of categories are awarded a Tea Guild award of excellence. Tea Guild members were assessed on the quality and selection of teas offered, plus flavour, strength and temperature. In addition, the judging system also reviewed the care, knowledge and attentiveness of staff, the overall ambience and the standard and presentation of the food offered. Irene Gorman, head of The Tea Guild said: "Competition for an award of excellence in the Top Tea Place competition is intense and rigorous. "This award to Muffins Tea Shop was presented in recognition of their consistently high standards of tea-making, as evident in the care and attentiveness with which they prepare and serve afternoon tea." "The UK Tea Council's annual Tea Guild awards highlight the ever increasing popularity, with all age groups, of both afternoon tea and of tea as Britain's favourite beverage. "The exceptional quality and choice of world-wide teas, plus first-class tea making, expertise, superb food and conscientious service, were what impressed judges the most and gained top marks for this year's winners." |
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