REAL

Development involved a two-year period and over 150 brews, with Begg working alongside nutrition innovator Adrian Hodgson, who joined as co-founder, and tea expert Will Battle. The brand first kicked off in early 2016, starting with Begg brewing the initial batches in his garage. REAL later established its Fermentery on the Waddesdon Estate in Buckinghamshire, in the Chiltern Hills, built near the brand's original facility at Hartley Farm. The Fermentery is the UK's first sustainable fermentery, and the project is part-funded by the UK government; water and heat are recycled within the fermentation process.

All REAL sparkling teas are produced using a slow, completely natural fermentation process with no additives or flavourings. Loose-leaf teas are hand-picked from China and India, including Silver Needle; the brand works with between 150 and 200 teas in total and uses UK-sourced sugar. Live cultures are maintained and subjected to DNA testing, and the head brewer is a microbiologist. Fermentation runs for between two and eight weeks, with additional carbonation added afterwards to give the drinks their sparkling character.

REAL positions its range for the modern wine drinker, with the flavour profile described as sitting between delicate champagne and light scrumpy cider. The brand aims to show that choosing not to drink does not have to mean dull options. Its drinks appear in 60 Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK, as well as in top hotels, cocktail bars, and national pub chains. Distribution extends internationally, with the brand reaching Sweden and launching in Switzerland in August 2023. One of its drinks has picked up an award.