In China's Song dynasty (960-1279), poet Su Dongpo introduced tea alcohol. He was a painter, judge, philosopher, calligrapher, governor, magistrate, and tutor. He made tea distillation for fun. His recipe was lost but came back in the 21st century with Song Cha.
The Brand
Song Cha brings back Su Dongpo's ancient recipe. It's a new category in spirits. This drink is not easy to classify. It's a brown spirit but not Cognac or Whisky. It's used in cocktails but not Gin or Vodka. It's made from tea but not a liqueur.
Song Cha blends ten teas from around the world. It's for tea and spirit fans. You can drink it on the rocks or in cocktails. This spirit shows how looking back can inspire innovation.
The Philosophy
The brand believes in simplicity. The spirit has three ingredients: organic tea, water, and alcohol. The tea's quality, its source, and careful making give it rich aromas. It doesn't need sugar, flavours, preservatives, or additives.
Song Cha is light and aims to be memorable but not heavy on the planet. It uses organic teas. Traditional fertilisers are replaced with compost. Natural predators are used instead of insecticides. They prefer small distilleries near their customers. The first distillery is in France, near Cognac. Their packaging is 100% recyclable and partly made from recycled materials.
Song Cha values honesty. It sources Fairtrade tea when possible. This ensures fair pay for tea pickers and good working conditions. This approach supports traditional methods and skill sharing. Their French distillery, dating back to 1777, continues a long tradition of spirit making. This adds to Song Cha's quality.