23 A ≥Glyn Brown reads the leaves with I Like Trains
s everybody knows,
the music business is in crisis since downloading reared its ugly head, and bands must diversify to make a living. Elbow have launched a premium ale; The Rifl es have launched a beer. But what is this? Brooding, epic, Leeds-based, alt-rockers I Like Trains have only gone and launched their own tea. How did you get the idea?, I ask vocalist David Martin. ‘We were on tour in Germany and, as
is always the case, we struggled to fi nd a decent tea in Europe – it’s always pretty weak and not to our taste, I’m afraid. That’s when we fl oated the idea of launching a tea we really liked – but when you’re in a band, you fl oat a lot of ideas that don’t come to fruition.’ Not this time. The fi endish plan
crystallised back in Blighty, in one of the band’s favourite cafes. ‘Usually we have a pint before a show but, if we’re in Nottingham, we have a cup or two pre-gig in Lee Rosy’s Tea Room. And as we were leaving, we asked if they’d like to collaborate with us.’ Lee Rosy’s sent some samples and,
aſt er a marathon tasting, the boys arrived at a signature blend. ‘A strong English Breakfast, and I’m really proud of it. I think it stands up, which is reassuring.’ I Like Trains aren’t tea experts, but
they are connoisseurs. ‘We drink tea when we’re writing, when we’re on stage, and when we’re on tour.’ And now, hurtling down some rainy autobahn, they can just
brew up and suddenly they’re smiling. ‘Absolutely. That’s exactly what happens. We take tons of the stuff with us. And you should see what our tour bus smells like now. It beats what it used to smell like.’ Eh? ‘Well, it smells of tea – get that much tea in one place, and it’s very pungent. And because we take all our merchandise on the bus, if you buy a T-shirt from us, it’s sort of infused with the fl avour.’ So it’s a ‘tea-shirt’! Well, isn’t that nice? Martin ponders for a moment. ‘In some ways.’ And there’s another wonderful thing
about tea. Try as you might in a digitised world, you can’t download the fl avour, so you must employ the genuine article. (Search for the boys’ ILTea advert on YouTube and you’ll see what they mean…) ‘A theme close to our hearts, and not just because of the music business. The current vibe seems to be all about convenience, everything’s synthetic – but we hanker for the real thing, I guess. A bit of authenticity.’ The band’s ILTea does the trick. They’ve
just launched an Earl Grey, too. What next? Teacakes? A biscuit range? ‘We haven’t approached suppliers, but I wouldn’t rule anything out.’ Ooh! ILTeacakes. It’s got a certain ring.
iliketrains.co.uk
What makes David smile? ‘I’m not too big on smiling to be honest. I like to think that when I do it on stage, for example, I come across as a little bit sinister.’
MORE TEA PLEASE, WE’RE BRITISH
Last year’s unseasonably warm spring, unusually wet summer and unexpectedly mild autumn may not have helped our tans, but it did result in a major boost to British tea production. The UK’s only grower of our favourite leaf, the Tregothnan Estate in Truro, Cornwall, saw a 30 per cent rise in its crops. Why so, you ask? Well, seems the region’s cool, wet climate isn’t a million miles away from what’s found mere thousands of miles away in leafy Darjeeling, India. Browse blends at
tregothnanshop.co.uk
TO AVOID TEACUP TYPHOONS...
End offi ce brewing wars with Clipper Tea’s ingenious Wheel of Tea iPhone app [apple. com/uk/iTunes]. Spin the wheel and it’ll decide who’s next to make a brew. Not sure which tea you fancy? Click on the mood-o-meter at Teapigs [
teapigs.co.uk] and they’ll match the right mugful to your mood. Sleepy? Try peppermint leaves. Stressed? Chamomile fl owers will soothe your brow. Bloated? (It can happen at this time of year.) Matcha’s your match. Find a range of Teapigs teas at
ocado.com
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW SHAYLOR
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36