A SPECIALIST tea company has secured new clients and is in talks to export to Australia.

Sunderland-based Honeybush and Butterbum, which specialises in importing loose leaf white tea from China, operates under the brand name 't'.

It supplies white tea to delicatessens, fine food stores and health food shops including Fenwick, in Newcastle.

Sharon Olver, who set up Honeybush and Butterbum with Stephen Grinsell, said the business had secured orders from customers in London, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

She also said it had attracted attention from overseas and had been approached about exporting tea to Europe and Australia.

White tea is believed to be a good natural source of antioxidants, which can help to prevent disease and lower the risk of cancer, heart disease and some neurological diseases.

Ms Olver, from Castle Eden, County Durham, said: "We came up with the business idea because we identified a gap in the market.

"It was virtually impossible to buy loose leaf white tea on the high street.

"White tea has lots of health properties and it is only a matter of time until it becomes a regular item on every health conscious person's shopping list."

The business received financial support from Sunderland City Council's business investment team through a business marketing grant.