A PAIR of business partners have become award winners with their new unique spin on a cup of tea.

Francis Oyewole and Sultan Bin Khaled won the best cold beverage, best overall product and small producer awards in the Café Quality Food Awards.

The business partners came up with the idea for their award winning Green Lady Sparkling Tea whilst studying at the University of Essex, Colchester back in 2013.

Three years on, they now supply 150 of the finest hotels including, The Lanesborough, Hotel, London and Park Lane Casino, London as well as supermarkets such as Waitrose with their product.

The tea is made with Green Tea from the Himalayan Mountains in Darjeeling, India, with carob fruit and nutmeg and rose oil.

Francis, 25, of Branksome Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope said they wanted to create something very different.

He added: “We came up with the idea after realising our favourite restaurants, bars and cafes simply did not provide a non-alcoholic drink for adults.

"A chance encounter with a tea merchant from India sparked the idea for Sparkling Tea, he told us ‘Darjeeling Tea is the Champagne of teas’.

“I put my legal career on hold, bought a soda stream machine, a big bag of tea and an assortment of herbs and spices and started brewing. After two years of brewing and infusing, Green Lady Sparkling Tea was created”.

Mr Oyewole said that he was also interested in the health benefits associated with Green Tea, as it is said that it can promote good health.

He added: "As Darjeeling Tea is said to be the Champagne of teas we quite liked the idea of that tying in with the tradicional ceremony of dinking classic tea with a tea pot.

"People have also been suggesting that our tea is enjoyed from champagne flutes as Darjeeling Tea is seen as being so special.

"To win three awards like this in such a short space of time has been amazing. Just to know that we have been recognised for our work and product is great.

"We are very grateful and pleased."