FAQs

It’s possible that the question you have is one that someone else has already asked. Have a look through our list of frequently asked questions below. Is there a question that hasn’t been covered? Send us a message at hello@realdrinks.co.

WHAT IS SPARKLING TEA?

Our Sparkling Teas are naturally fermented as the perfect, non-alcoholic alternative to Champagne and sparkling wine. We take the world’s finest loose-leaf teas and ferment them over a period of 3-6 weeks to create a well-balanced and beautifully complex non-alcoholic sparkling. 

WHAT DOES SPARKLING TEA TASTE LIKE?

We ensure that our Sparkling Teas achieve the perfect balance of top notes, astringency, acidity and sweetness, just as winemakers do when fermenting their grapes. The result is a well balanced non-alcoholic sparkling with elegant top notes from the teas and a soft but complex palate.  

Our Royal Flush Sparkling Tea is brewed from a First Flush Darjeeling tea. It is richly fragrant and creates a brew that is fresh and floral. We add nothing, but the tea alone develops notes of rhubarb, white peach and a touch of blackcurrant. The fruit and spice flavours round out the acids to make it soft and delicate.

Our Dry Dragon Sparkling Tea is light and citrusy with notes of sweet lemons and grapefruit, but with a delicate leafy undertone. Brewed from a Dragonwell Chinese green tea, it is dry and fresh – a perfect light summer Sparkling Tea to be drunk at any time of day.

Our Peony Blush Sparkling Tea is a delicious sparkling rosé alternative made using delicate white peony loose-leaf tea. Fresh and light bodied, expect summer fruits, a touch of nougat and a soft vanilla-oak finish. 

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPARKLING TEA AND KOMBUCHA?

We ferment our loose-leaf teas using a complex non-alcoholic fermentation process to produce our Sparkling Teas. Traditionally the process of fermenting tea produces a drink known as kombucha. Where we differ is that kombucha makers use a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) for their fermentation, allowing thousands of microorganisms to interact with the liquid, whereas we use a carefully curated selection of specific microorganisms to drive flavour. 

You can expect a more tart, acidic and ‘funky’ profile from a kombucha, and the liquid is often cloudy as a result of the remaining microorganisms. Kombucha tends to be drunk as a healthy alternative to a soft drink. In contrast, our focus when fermenting is flavour, so we carefully monitor the interaction of our microorganisms with our loose-leaf teas to create a balance of acidity, sweetness, astringency and top notes before filtering to improve the clarity of the liquid. Our Sparkling Teas are served as wine alternatives as they enable you to enjoy a wine occasion without alcohol, and also pair beautifully with food. 

HOW IS SPARKLING TEA MADE?

We apply authentic winemaking techniques to the world’s finest loose-leaf teas to create well-balanced and complex non-alcoholic Sparkling Teas. We use only four ingredients: loose-leaf tea, live cultures, sugar, and water. These interact during the fermentation process to deliver the flavours we expect, uncovering delicious top notes.

HOW LONG DOES A BOTTLE OF REAL LAST? 

Bottles of REAL Sparklign Tea should be stored in a cool place (ideally 20ºc or lower) and chilled well before opening to create the perfect serve. Once open, re-seal using one of our bottle stoppers and it will remain fresh for around a week. Consume by the best before date that you’ll find printed on your bottle.

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU USE?

All of our products are made from loose leaf tea, sugar and water, fermented with our live cultures. Peony Blush also contains a black carrot extract to give its distinctive blush colour and a naturally derived tannin.

HOW MANY CALORIES ARE THERE IN A GLASS?

There’s 15 calories/100ml of REAL meaning that an average 125ml wine glass contains around 19 calories. Not bad when compared to a glass of white wine which is around 100 calories!

Nutritional Info

Per 100ml
Energy: 15kcal, 61kJ
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrates: 3g
Of which sugar: 3g
Fat: 0g

CAN I DRINK REAL IF I'M PREGNANT?

REAL sparkling teas are naturally fermented and lightly filtered. They contain some residual yeast and bacteria and are therefore considered a live product. There is also a small amount of residual alcohol (0.5%), but this is negligible at around the same amount as is found in a very ripe banana!

We know that many people drink REAL throughout their pregnancy as a refined non-alcoholic alternative to sparkling wines, but we always suggest you check with your doctor if this is of concern to you.

DOES SPARKLING TEA CONTAIN ALCOHOL?

Our Naturally Fermented Sparkling Teas contains a trace of alcohol as a byproduct of the fermentation process. At 0.5% ABV, this is legally considered non-alcoholic and you’ll find us in the no & low section on menus and in farm shops, delis & in supermarkets. 

DOES SPARKLING TEA CONTAIN CAFFEINE?

At The REAL Drinks Co., we brew with a strength of tea that is far below the level you’d have in a standard cup of tea. Much of this caffeine is then also dissipated in the fermentation process. However, as it is a tea-based product, allergies and sensitivities should be taken into consideration at your discretion. 

ARE YOUR SPARKLING TEAS PASTURISED? 

No, we do not pasturise. 

WHERE CAN I BUY REAL ?

We sell it in a variety of spots around the UK and we’re really proud to be working with some of Britain’s most prestigious and well-respected restaurants, hotels and bars. 

Our Sparkling Teas are available on our website www.realdrinks.co and in many independent farm shops, delis & bottle shops around the UK. We’re also on the shelves of Waitrose and Sainsbury’s superstores or online at ocado. If you want to find a particular stockist local to you, please drop us a message at hello@realdrinks.co.

I WANT TO BECOME A REAL STOCKIST. HOW CAN I GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU?

We work with a number of national distributors, and it’s highly likely that you can order us already. Head over to the Become A Stockist page of our website, pop in your details and someone from the REAL team will be happy to help! 

I LOVE REAL . WHERE ELSE CAN I FIND YOU?

We love to evangelise about REAL and we hope you will, too. You can find us at @realdrinks.co on instagram and facebook, and sign up to our newsletter here.