WHEN Rob and Michelle Comins met at university, little did they think that they would, one day, be travelling the world and viewing different tea plantations – but that’s exactly what happened, and their passion for this very British drink quickly turned into their business venture.

Having opened Comins Teahouse in Sturminster Newton in 2012, the company has gone from strength-to-strength and, during the last two-years, it has gained a reputation for not only high quality and, importantly, individual tea, but for also producing its own line of British-made tea ware.

But before getting married, they existed happily side by side as one tea lover (Michelle) and one tea skeptic.

That all changed on a trip to Northern India when Michelle persuaded primary school teacher Rob to venture to Darjeeling to see the plantations.

Here they had a chance meeting with Mr Rajah Banerjee, of the Makaibari Tea Estate.

“Walking through his estate was a life-changing and unforgettable experience that offered us a personal tasting and insight into tea production, which completely changed Rob’s perception of the drink he once considered mediocre,” Michelle said.

“Inspired by our trip to India and unable to find the quality of single estate tea we had shared with Mr Banerjee in the UK, we made the decision to set up on our own and we haven’t looked back since.”

And so the couple set about creating Comins Teahouse in Sturminster Newton in 2012.

“Mr Banerjee had given us hope and a little confidence that we might meet more tea producers and experts happy to indulge a few English tea amateurs.

“So, with the little knowledge we had and some big ideas, we set about directly sourcing fine loose leaf teas from estates around the world,” said Michelle.

“We agreed on our business aim and direction which was to make it simple for customers to find and enjoy good value, quality, single estate loose leaf teas.

“We believed then, as we do now, that the preparation and enjoyment of loose leaf tea can be an everyday activity which can fit in with and indeed enhance our increasingly busy lives.

“Our direct approach actually seemed to work and soon saw us in contact with gardens across the world.”

Today, the tea house offers in excess of 22 different varieties and an eclectic selection of tea, including white, oolong, green and black tea.