Alert the authorities, we thought. A proud chunk of our nation’s heritage is about to pass out of our control – there may even be national security concerns. We didn’t mind when the former British Steel went to the Indians, and honestly, half the world’s nations have had a pop at our stock exchange over the years, but should one of the UK’s favoured brands of tea pass out of our control, the entire country could grind to a halt.
But this may be a false alarm. The story which raised our protectionist hackles was the report, from India’s Economics Times, picked up by Reuters, that the Tata Group is in talks to take over “Britain-based speciality tea firm” Liberty Tea.
A “popular brand in Europe”, Liberty Tea could boost Tata Tea’s presence in other segements of the market as consumption of plain old black tea falters. Tata already has the Tetley brand, and in 2005, bought the US-based Good Earth tea company, which makes green teas, chai teas, red teas and other organic products.
But hang on. A “popular brand.” Where? We are unfamiliar with this particular range of fine, hot beverages.
“Sales and other financial figures for the London-based company were not available, as it is an unlisted entity,” said the Economic Times story.
But a search at Companies House revealed no such company. Directory enquiries drew a blank, and the omniscient Google was none the wiser.
You can take high tea in the Tea Room at Liberty. The department store’s signature Liberty Tea will set you back £21 and includes a glass of bubbly, finger sandwiches, cream cakes and of course, scones.
Delicious. But not we think what Tata are after. The search continues…in the meantime, someone put the kettle on.