This month, we have been speaking to Andy Evans, from Beans and Leaves, one of our regular stallholders at the 24 Carrots Market to learn a little bit more about Beans and Leaves and its gorgeous products….
Andy and his wife Jane have always enjoyed attending and being stallholders at various markets throughout the Midlands. Their passion for selling teas and coffees began in 2002, when they sparked up a friendship with a coffee stallholder. One day this stallholder announced to them that he was giving up the trade due to personal reasons and would Andy and Jane be interested in taking it over- they were- and Beans and leaves was born!
Andy and Jane started by selling the coffee beans, in bean form or ground, at craft fairs around the country. At one craft fair, a customer asked if they would be interested in going to Stourbridge Farmer’s Market. Pretty soon Halesowen, Moseley and Kings Heath Farmer’s Market followed. These were followed by Kings Norton and the Jewellery Quarter. During 2002, a famous tea shop in Wolverhampton W.T.M. Snape closed down, which had been in existence since the late 1800’s, when Mr Parkes the owner decided to retire. Not long after his retirement, Mr Parkes sadly passed away. One day Mrs Parkes was passing by the stall and said to Jane that if she thought of selling tea to get in touch and she would give her details of where Mr Parkes used to get his tea from, a tea merchant in London. The rest they say is history!
During 2006, Andy decided to search for a new coffee provider. During this search, he came across a micro coffee roaster in Stafford who imported his coffee beans form mostly small independent coffee growers from across the world. This first visit opened Andy’s eyes to a whole new world of coffees. The Staffordshire roaster is a font of knowledge when it comes to coffee and has been a member of the “Cup of Excellence” judging panels. The Cup of Excellence is a strict competition that selects the very best coffee produced in that country for that particular year. These winning coffees are chosen by a select group of national and international cuppers and are cupped at least five different times during the competition process. The final winners are awarded the prestigious Cup of Excellence and sold to the highest bidder during an internet auction. The roaster firmly believes in visiting the coffee farms where the beans come from and getting to know the families that farm the beans.
Beans and Leaves stocks coffees from Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nicaragua, blended coffees and fair trade coffees. The countries and coffees regularly change due to the coffees running out. This is due to different countries having harvest times at different times of the year.
The teas Andy stocks include traditional teas, black, green and white, from Ceylon, China, Formosa, India and Kenya and blended teas. Flavoured teas, which have a base of either black or green tea to which such flavours as Wild Cherry and Peppermint are added. Fruit infusions of mixed dried berries and fruit, which has no tea content and herbal teas which are parts of the herb or plant and have many medicinal properties.
When asked, Beans and Leaves attends 24 Carrots to give the people of this part of Birmingham the chance to taste coffees and teas that are not easily available. Andy also enjoys talking to and discussing coffees and teas with people who enjoy them.
Andy’s top tip is to always use as fresh as possible ground coffee to get maximum flavour. If possible by beans and grind them when required. You then get the wonderful aroma that you get on a Saturday, every time.
The coffees and teas are available at various Farmer’s Markets including 24 Carrots – Jewellery Quarter and via the website www.beansandleaveswolves.co.uk
