Scotland’s inaugural tea festival will be held in Laurencekirk next month.
From tea tasting talks to tea cocktail making demonstrations to children’s art workshops inspired by the comforting drink and teddy bear picnics, the three-day event will have an array of events of people of all ages.
The full programme was launched at the town’s Dickson Hall yesterday with a mad hatter’s tea party.
There will also be an exhibition focusing on James Taylor, who was born and raised just outside Auchenblae in the mid 1800s.
Dubbed the father of Ceylon tea, Mr Taylor left the north-east and started up a tree plantation in 1867 on the Loolecondera Estate in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.
The free exhibition, put together by the Auchenblae Heritage Society and Howe O’Mearns Heritage Club, will showcase the instrumental part he played in introducing tea to the country, as well as the contribution by other Scots, including Hercules Linton, from Inverbervie, who designed the famous tea clipper the Cutty Sark.
Visitors will also be able to tour the cottage where Mr Taylor was raised.
Mike Robson, of Mearns Heritage Club, said: “James Taylor is one of those missing stories we like to bring to the foreground.
“It seems like he is pretty well forgotten. He doesn’t appear and he isn’t mentioned in history books.
“There’s this huge connection from a long time ago, but given the international world we’re in, it’s important to remember these links.”
The festival will run from August 22-24. For the full programme of events, including the various venues taking part, visit www.scotlandteafest.co.uk