Freshness is a quality of tea that matters a lot. Tea without freshness is of no value. Private label tea and freshness are inseparable. But the challenge of retaining its freshness drives private label tea companies to find effective ways to do so. One successful measure included in the infrastructural development process is the setting up of a cold storage unit at a substantial cost.Whether private label tea or private label tea bags, A Tosh and Sons have set up a customised cold storage unit to address the problem of freshness for every product packaged under ideal conditions. Being one of the early players in the industry to make this infrastructural move reveals the commitment of A Tosh and Sons to bring quality tea for its customers.   

Private label tea 

Till now, no tea producer or tea packing unit mentioned freshness as its biggest strength because the tea made from dried leaves does not go well with the idea of freshness. From the gardens through the auction process to warehouses and storerooms, the teas undergo a long, arduous journey in which the freshness is lost or compromised. Tea companies have found merit in not making claims of the freshness of the product. However, a drastic change in strategy is in the offing because of the recent moves to combat the enemies of tea with great success. Being a modern, technology-driven tea company, A Tosh and Sons have its core focus on quality. A Tosh and Sons have come up with a customised cold storage unit – temperature and humidity controlled, with insulated walls, roof, and floor to prevent cooling loss and to ensure the quality of all products are kept intact. This cold storage helps retain the freshness of private label tea and private label tea bags to preserve the flavours and aroma for as much of its shelf life as possible. Going to great lengths to store tea has fetched the company more respect in the tea packaging industry as the private label tea bags and private label tea carry the highest quality. A Tosh and Sons ensure there is no room for compromise in matters of quality of teas. What enters into the market should have freshness intact for a refreshing cup.  

Enemies of tea

Moisture, light, heat, and oxygen are the key enemies of tea. Moisture deprives tea of freshness and flavour as the teas turn stale very quickly in the presence of excessive moisture. The strict quality norms require that the moisture level should not cross 4 percent. The same moisture level is maintained throughout the process of cleaning, sorting, packing, and shipping. Opaque bags with an aluminum layer are preferred to protect teas from moisture and light. Oxygen harms tea as oxidized tea leaves make flat tea, with no flavour, briskness, or astringency. Vacuum packing is the right way to fight this challenge and store teas.  

Heat – the biggest enemy of all – was the challenge to be addressed and the cold storage facility does take care of it. Heat causes leaves to perspire and renders it tasteless. All the care involved in the production of tea comes to nothing if stocked in a humid and hot room. Sadly, most storerooms are like that. The ideal solution for tea is a cold storage facility where it becomes possible to store teas below 0 deg C. A Tosh has set up a customised cold storage facility at the campus to maintain the quality of teas. It procures teas within 48 hours, and this immediately goes to the cold storage facilities where it is stored at negative temperatures. Keeping teas in cold storage keeps them fresher for longer.

Cold storage facility

With the current packaging, A Tosh and Sons protect the tea from oxygen, light, and moisture. But the cold storage facility can protect the tea from temperature fluctuations that happen throughout the year. High storage temperature and temperature changes significantly affect the physical, chemical, and sensory quality of tea. Cold storage retains the tea quality, composition, flavour, and colour. The temperature difference between day and night is a prime factor leading to a substantial change in the quality of tea. The rate at which tea loses its freshness and flavour also depends on the tea and how freshly it was packed. The teas offered are special because they are vacuum-packed and stored in a cold, controlled environment that retains the freshness and taste throughout the year.

Clients realise the worth of this initiative as they find a discerning difference in flavour and aroma in the private label tea bags and private label tea as well. The fresh and superior quality of teas from A Tosh and Sons becomes easily identifiable.