Twinings Tea has announced the launch of an Australian Afternoon Tea blend that will be available for sale in time for Australia Day. The new tea blend was born after a celebrity tea blending competition that was won by the Hon Kevin Rudd MP. More than 80,000 Australians cast their vote following a series of public tastings of the Top 5 blends in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth and online during 2011. The top 5 blenders where rounded out by radio legend Alan Jones, television icon Kerri-Anne Kennerley, seven-time world surfing champ Layne Beachley and country music star John Williamson.
On hearing the news of his win, Mr. Rudd commented, “I’m looking forward to seeing my winning blend on supermarket shelves from Australia Day 2012. The win is a win for Australia’s animals – with 10 cents from every tin going to the RSPCA.”
In creating the Australian Afternoon Tea blend Mr Rudd blended the slightly smoky Russian Caravan with the full-bodied Irish Breakfast and then added the light Ceylon Orange Pekoe.