A university professor has described how his tea-testing expertise helped police secure a conviction against a scammer who fraudulently marketed a fake brew, falsely claiming it was a favourite of the Queen. The academic's forensic and taste analysis provided crucial evidence for investigators, exposing a scheme built on a fabricated royal endorsement to lend the product false credibility and drive sales.

The professor examined the tea in question to establish that it did not match the claims made about it, giving police the technical grounding needed to pursue the case against the fraudster. The episode highlights how bogus associations with the Royal Family have been exploited to market dubious consumer goods, and underscores the role that academic expertise can play in supporting criminal investigations into such scams.