University College Birmingham culinary arts student Sumaiyah Patel has pioneered an innovative type of tea for the UK foodservice and retail market, as part of a product development competition run by the British Frozen Food Federation.

The BFFF competition challenged UK students to demonstrate the potential of frozen within the premium food category, and aimed to uncover a creative new frozen product which could be launched onto the UK market.

Unlike other teas on the market, the new frozen tea cubes contain freshly frozen fruits and herbs. A total of four frozen tea variants have been developed, and chefs, caterers and consumers can use the one-inch square ice cubes by placing them directly into a teacup and adding hot water.

Patel says the product is designed for the premium end of the market, and with an ever-increasing focus on healthy food, it is estimated that the fresh and natural frozen tea cube could be highly successful in the UK.

She explains, "I used to drink a lot of herbal teas, but I thought they were terrible as you cant get the flavour out of dried herbs and fruits – they are artificial and tasteless. My frozen tea cubes give a burst of flavour, and are a tastier and more natural product. Being frozen, they not only lock the flavour in, but also stay fresher for longer."

Brian Young, director general of BFFF, adds, "Sumaiyah has taken an old staid product which has existed for hundreds of years, and transformed it into a fresh and flavoursome concept. The process of freezing of her fruit and herb tea cubes is acting as a natural preservative. It means that consumers will taste them at the peak of their ripeness and quality. This brilliance of flavour would be impossible with dried.

"We hope to see her premium teas in foodservice establishments and on retailer shelves very shortly – and hope that the public will love these fresh and tasty products!"

Patel plans to showcase her product to UK foodservice suppliers and retailers in a drive to get her product stocked, with supermarket chain Iceland already expressing interest.