Talking Ginger beer and business with Tim Key, Peacock's Tail
Our Business Specialist librarian interviews small Wellington businesses. Today we are happy to have Peacock's Tail.
But listen — if you’re feelin’ dry,
Just see there’s no one near,
And go and wink the other eye
And ask for ginger beer.
The Road to Hogans Gap by Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson
This week in our business blog we acknowledge international ginger beer day, recognised on 13 March. We delve into the history of ginger beer brewing in Wellington City and talk to one of Wellington’s newest ginger beer brewers, Tim Key of The Peacock’s Tail.
Ginger beer – a refreshing beverage resulting from the fermentation of ginger, sugar, yeast and water - is believed to have originated in the Britain around the mid-1700s, taking advantage of the increased trade in goods like sugar and ginger from the Caribbean and India. Usually it was bottled in sturdy, earthenware bottles that allowed for wide distribution.
It’s not surprising then, that no sooner had the first Pākehā settlers arrived on the shores of Te-Whanganui-a-Tara and they began using natural springs to brew a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Ginger beer was one of the many beverages popular with the new immigrants and the first recorded brewers in the fledgling settlement believed to be John Osborne (Osborne and Co) and John Roots both of whom were documented as being merchants or manufacturers of ginger beer by 1843.
As the colony grew so too did the number of manufacturers of “aerated waters, cordials and syrups” all of which made up the broader “soft drinks” (i.e. those without alcohol). While some businesses flared and died within a short period of time, others became generational and established a solid reputation for product quality and service.
It was these family run operations that sometimes gave some women an opportunity to move into the business world, albeit due to the necessity of needing to support themselves and their families on the untimely death of their husbands.
Colonial life was harsh, and Mary Roots took over John’s business following his demise a few years after establishing his business. Also continuing on, and successfully expanding, the family business was Emma Dixon (Mrs Geo Dixon), following the death of her husband George. George had in turn earlier taken over the aerated water and ginger beer manufacturing company started by his father Edward (who was ably assisted by wife Catherine) in the mid-1850s. Other of Edward and Catherine’s offspring either branched out into starting cordial businesses in the Manawatu, Wairarapa or Nelson (for the sons) or, in the case of their daughters, married into manufacturing families. Emma Dixon eventually sold the business to a competitor company, Bennet and Ready in 1897 and they in turn continued manufacturing soft drinks until 1920.
Around the same time as the Dixon business was established Thomas Cooper, and eventually his son George, ran an aerated water business first in Molesworth Street and then Thorndon Quay, continuing production for over thirty years.
Other names that became brands associated with the brewing of ginger beer in Wellington included the Strikes who formed numerous companies over a forty-year period.
Thomson and Co were a respected business that began in Dunedin, and through partnership, expanded operations into Wellington. Becoming Thomson and Lewis in the late 1880s, the company Thomson Lewis and Co. still has registered offices in Ngauranga. A remnant of Thomson Lewis manufacturing can be found in the well at the entrance to Moore Wilson's in Te Aro.
The big brand international names of Schweppes and Coca-Cola moved onto the Wellington soft drink manufacturing scene in the 1930s. Ginger beer remained a popular refreshment, particularly with those who abstained from alcoholic drinks, until sometime after the Second World War, when popularity began to wane.
The 1990s saw a resurgence in popularity of the ginger brew as noted in this article in City Voice from July 1995. Throughout the decades there have been as many as 70 different Wellington ginger beers.
Tim Key, a musician and self-described Fizz Whizz, and his Peacock’s Tail kawakawa infused ginger beer are the latest to join the long list of Wellington ginger beer brewers.
With the increased popularity in fermentation and its health benefits, along with a growing interest in alcohol free drinks we are again seeing a revival in ginger beer and it was both these things, along with a desire for a less heavily sweetened drink, that led Tim Key to begin experimenting in his kitchen several years ago.
Tim Key, a musician and self-described Fizz Whizz.
Tim operates his small batch ginger beer brewing business out of the Vogelmorn Bowling Club community centre, where he first began offering his product through the on-site cafe before venturing into wider sales via his website.
The name, Peacock’s Tail is, Tim advises a reference to its symbolism in alchemy and in turn the fermentation process the ginger beer ingredients go through to become the end product.
Using the juice of freshly pressed root ginger, and infusing it with several leaves of kawakawa, Tim has arrived at a brew that is a dry, warming and refreshing addition to the non-alcohol options available locally.
Ginger beer isn’t Tim’s first venture into beverage production having been involved in the launching of a chai manufacture some years previous.
Watch our video as we talk to Tim about making ginger beer and future plans to grow his business.is a unique, 21st century addition to a manufacturing industry that has a long history in Wellington.
Below you'll find our video where we talk to Tim about making ginger beer and future plans to grow his business.
If you want to know more, check out some of Wellington City Libraries' historical resources and some of the books we have that might encourage you to begin your own brewing.
A pictorial guide to collecting New Zealand ginger beers / Baldwin, Bruce
The aerated water and soft drink industry in New Zealand, 1845-1986 / Robson, Peter E. W
Capital thirst : Wellington's soft drink industry 1843-1988 / Fisher Peter
Wild drinks : the new old world of small-batch brews, ferments and infusions / Flynn, Sharon
Probiotic drinks at home : make your own seriously delicious gut-friendly drinks / Evans, Felicity