Our story
Our story
Tea is not just a beverage, it’s a “way of life”.
A magical brew that adds warmth to a chilly morning, cools the noon of the scorching sun and grants us moments of reflection to heal ourselves and replenish our strength. It connects people, cultures, hearts and minds. Each cup makes any place a home, wherever served.
“Tea” is a drink that cheers on any occasion.
A lot goes into making these occasions possible.
The journey begins with the pluckers on the fields. After a long journey, in branded packages, it ends up in the hands of tea lovers.
Between those phases, there is a distance. The pluckers and the tea brands operate on opposite sides of the world and have their own specialisations. There is a missing link which connects them with each other. A global network that has the extensive knowledge and experience to work in partnerships with all kinds of tea experts.
For over 200 years, Van Rees has remained a leader in the tea world.
Not only as a tea specialist, but as a supply chain manager and operational partner. Our offices around the world have the expertise about the products as well as the knowledge about the international and local standards that allows us to explore innovative ideas with our partners and to support them with solutions when needed. From tasting to supplying, from blending to logistics, we provide “total tea and tisane solutions”.
It all began in 1819 in the Netherlands, when a young tea enthusiast, Jan van Rees, turned his passion into a business. He crossed the country by horse and cart to sell tea, which became a huge success. The business kept on growing through the ages. Today, we are deeply rooted in tea covering the tea world. Yet, we still approach tea the same way as it should: As a craft. Our highly skilled professionals’ taste and grade long batches of different varieties of tea and tisane every week. The brews are personally handpicked by these experts, according to different taste and leaf profiles to match country, region and partner preferences. All out of passion, everything with purpose.
We are a Royally recognised frontrunner who combines its rich history with 21st century skills.
Such acknowledgement comes with the ethical responsibility to focus on social aspects and to collaborate with mother earth. We are strongly committed to food safety, reducing waste and energy in the supply chain, and to our alliances with non-profit initiatives. Together with our partners, we strive to create a “perfect blend” for our partners, employees and nature.
That is our way of creating the “cheering occasions”. We connect tea drinkers with their selves, others and the world by connecting all links within the tea trail.
From the pluckers to the brands. From crop to cup.
That is what we do since 1819…..
