Meet the Barrach – the Isle of Barra tea

You’ve heard of the Isle of Barra, I’m sure. And maybe you’ve heard of an Isle of Barra tea called Barrach. But what is a Barrach, you ask?

A Barrach is a person from the Isle of Barra – Barraigh in Gaelic. So a Barrach is from Barraigh. The plural of Barrach is Barraich.

The Isle of Barra is approximately 8 miles long and 4 miles wild. It sits at the bottom of the Western Isles.

Castlebay is the main town, featuring a castle in its bay.

One of the best known facts about Barra is the beach airport. Daily flights from Glasgow land on the beach – and the timetable is dictated by the tide.

Barra is home over 1,000 people, and a lot of history! We’re hoping the Barra tea will become just as famous as the bay!

10 Facts about the Isle of Barra

1. The castle in Castlebay Bay is called Kismul.
2. The west of the island has white sandy beaches of shell-based sand. The east has lots of rocky inlets.
3. Channel 4’s Time Team went to Allasdale in Barra in 2007 to uncover bronze age remains.
4. The Isle of Barra was owned by the MacNeils. In 2003 it was given to the Scottish Government.
5. Barra once came first in a “Most Beautiful Island” competition.
6. The island of Vatersay is linked to Barra by a causeway and is the southern-most inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides.
7. Mingulay, south of Vatersay was abandoned by its last residents 100 year ago.
8. The annual Barra marathon is called the Barrathon.
9. The island is apparently named after Saint Finbarr of Cork.
10. The highest point in Barra is Heaval. It has a white marble statue of the Madonna and Child at the top, called “Our Lady of the Sea”.

Barra Tea

The richness of Barra’s history inspired the Barra tea blend – a rich, malty and comforting cuppa .

If you fancy a wee taste of Barra, the tea is available in packets of 10 or 20, and in tins as well!