Nicola Davis investigates Scottish tea fraud case
Science correspondent Nicola Davis is investigating the strange story of Tam O’Braan and his attempts to grow tea in Scotland, uncovering suspicions about the origin of his tea and the role of science in providing answers.
Science correspondent Nicola Davis continues to investigate the unusual story of Tam O’Braan, who attempted to grow tea in Scotland. In episode two of the mini-series, which first aired in October 2025, Davis reveals how O’Braan’s network of Scottish tea growers began to doubt the true origin of his products.
According to Davis’s report, growers suspected that O’Braan was selling tea not actually grown in Scotland, as he claimed. Cutting-edge scientific methods were used to determine the tea’s origin and uncover potential fraud.
This story, dubbed a “strange brew,” has attracted widespread attention as it highlights the complexity of food fraud and how science can help detect it. More details of the investigation are available in The Guardian’s podcast.
