In a deal that will see £20,000 worth of tea traded annually, two Edinburgh tea companies have developed a partnership that will see heritage brand Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company sell a range of specialist tea blender, PekoeTea’s pyramid tea bags to their hospitality clients.
PekoeTea’s biodegradable pyramid tea bags will be available to Edinburgh Tea and Coffee customers in an initial range of seven flavours: Scottish summer fruits, Peppermint, Chamomile, Lemongrass and ginger, Chai black, Cloud catcher, and Jade tips. The PekoeTea flavours are a premium addition to Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company’s existing loose-leaf range.
Kevin Moore, Managing Director of Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company said:
“Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company is delighted to be collaborating with our long-time friends at PekoeTea. We are super excited to be bringing our customers a range of high quality teas in pyramid bag format for the first time. The knowledge and experience the PekoeTea team possesses gives us real confidence that our customers will see the benefits of local companies working together in this way.”
With a history dating back to 1812, Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company is one Scotland’s largest commercial tea blenders and artisan coffee roasters. The company is based in Edinburgh’s Portobello.
Esther Kungu Cooper, co-owner of PekoeTea said:
“As hospitality has started to reopen, we’ve seen a resurgence of interest and strong sales for our premium teas. While lockdown saw a spike in sales from consumers looking for really good tea to drink at home, we’re now seeing interest from a greater range of hospitality businesses than ever before. This partnership with Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company compounds this and combines their heritage brand with our uniquely blended teas.”
PekoeTea opened in 2010 and works directly with tea growers from Scotland to Sri Lanka, Kenya to China, to source the finest single-estate teas and create unique handcrafted blends. It is the only company in Scotland to specialise in such blending techniques rather than relying on pre-flavoured teas. Owners, Jon and Esther Kungu Cooper produce a range of teas: from black, white and green teas, to oolong, fruit and herbal blends. A selection of five whisky teas have also been specially blended by hand and flavoured with real Scotch single malt whisky.
In addition to selling direct to the public, PekoeTea is already stocked in outlets like Glasgow’s Mackintosh at The Willow, The Royal Yacht Britannia and Edinburgh’s Waldorf Astoria. Bespoke blends can be created privately for customers, and seasonal flavours like a comforting Christmas blend with flavours of apple, cinnamon, cloves, and orange or a summery Orange Blossom Oolong are also available at certain times of year. All PekoeTeas are loose leaf and many are also available in biodegradable pyramid teabags.
Last month, PekoeTea announced a move from its current Edinburgh store to a specially developed Tea Studio on the city’s Leith Walk, which is set to open in late summer 2021.
PekoeTea takes a comprehensively ethical approach to trading: from sourcing to selling teas. It is an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer.
Find out more about PekoeTea or order online at www.pekoetea.co.uk.