Tea Transformed Our Lives:
A casual walk through Belfast nearly 20 years ago changed everything. That simple conversation between Annie and I searching for something beyond our standard 9-to-5 led to the creation of Suki Tea. A business that has not only endured but thrived, transforming the way people think about loose-leaf tea.
This is the first in our 20 Years, 20 Stories series, where we reflect on key moments, milestones, partnerships and the incredible people who have been part of our journey.
Read Oscar’s account of the last 20 years. . . .
For the love of tea.
When we started Suki Tea March 9th 2005, Annie and I had a vision: to bring tea back into the spotlight in a way that celebrated its rich flavours, traditions, and well-being benefits. Today, we’re proud how Suki Tea has become one of the UK and Ireland’s recognised sustainable tea brands, serving thousands of independent cafes, restaurants, and major retailers like Esquires and National Trust for Scotland. Now, the fantastic SUKI team of 10 'tea aficionados' have helped take our teas far beyond these shores, exporting to over 20 countries.
Sustainability at Our Core
From the beginning, sustainability has been one of our driving forces. We are proud to be Northern Ireland’s first certified B Corp tea company achieving this at our first attempt. Our packaging is already plastic-free, and we’re about to take it a step further by eliminating even the glue used on labels, making our entire production process completely plastic-free.
Our Eco Factory, which we moved into in 2023, reflects our deep commitment to the environment. Running on 100% green energy with added solar panels contributing to 17% of our electricity needs, every aspect of our production is designed to minimise waste and reduce carbon emissions.
Beyond tea, our commitment to sustainability extends to the community. We have long supported local artists, awarding grants of up to £5,000 to professionals and supporting the local Belfast art schools. One of the talented artists we supported over the years is Ursula Burke, whose work now decorates our headquarters and has gone onto international fame.
The Journey From a Market Stall to a Global Brand
Back in 2005, Annie and I were looking for something meaningful, something different. We were inspired by how tea brings people together, how it can be good for anxiety and mindfulness, and how it stands apart in the classic "coffee vs. tea" debate. We wanted to reimagine tea to give it the same level of attention that coffee was getting at the time. The original idea was to open a tea house, but when we started selling our loose-leaf teas at farmers’ markets and music festivals the response was so positive that we pivoted to wholesale instead.
That shift proved to be the right move. After our first market, a local coffee shop owner (Jim from Coffee Yard!) agreed to trial our teas, and that opened the door to Belfast’s growing speciality coffee scene. The real breakthrough, though, came in 2006 at a trade show in Dublin. That’s where we caught the attention of Matthew Algie, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest coffee and equipment suppliers.
They saw something in us and invited us to pitch at their Glasgow HQ in 2006. That meeting was instrumental in SUKI’s speedy growth. Their expertise and customer base gave us the platform to grow and that’s exactly what we did.
With distributors support, we scaled rapidly, growing to supply over 2,000 customers and establishing an international presence. Like many businesses, we faced challenges during the pandemic, but we emerged stronger, reaffirming our position as a leader in the specialty tea industry. We’re now supporting coffee roasters with speciality tea all over Europe and beyond.
Oscar & Annie return to the festivals.
Health Benefits and Quality First
Over the years, we’ve remained dedicated to the highest quality loose-leaf tea, offering a product that stands apart from standard tea bags. We’ve also been strong advocates of the health benefits of tea, particularly when it comes to the likes of L-theanine, catechins, and EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate), all of which contribute to tea's reputation for being good for anxiety and mental focus.
Our Organic Ceremonial Matcha Green Tea, for instance, is packed with antioxidants and L-theanine, making it a fantastic alternative in the "coffee vs. tea" debate. Meanwhile, our Organic Peppermint tea has been described as "quite possibly the best peppermint tea in the world" thanks to its fresh zingy-ness. I’m starting to drift into sales chat…back to the story . . .
The market evolves, and so do we but our dedication to bold flavours and consistent quality remains. Our Fairtrade Breakfast Tea is a classic that’s always in demand, alongside our other favourites like Fairtrade Belfast Brew, Apple Loves Mint, and Earl Grey Blue Flower.
Oscar visiting the Horie Family, Kyushu, Japan.
Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter for Suki Tea
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are focusing on expanding our reach across the UK through retail and e-commerce. But no matter how much we grow, we celebrate our roots on that farmers market all those years ago. This weekend see’s us back behind the market stand in Eikon LOVE YOUR HOME show. We look forward to talking more about our Belfast story and sharing the stories of the companies we have had the pleasure to work alongside over the years.
We’ve built a strong foundation of trust and heritage here in Northern Ireland and beyond over the past 20 years. Now, the SUKI TEAm want to bring Suki to even more people. This year, we kicked things off by becoming a B Corp, and we have a really exciting brand refresh on the way, new website functions, trips, collabs and there’s so much more to come, both in the UK and internationally.
Tea is all about connection.
Looking back, I see how much this journey has been about connection. This business started with a commitment to quality and a lot of creativity. Along the way, we’ve been supported by incredible customers, partners, and a brilliant team. Tea is all about connection, and we’re grateful to be a part of that. It’s fair to say tea transformed our lives.
Keep an eye out for more about our journey, our teas, and what’s next. There's giveaways, discounts, unique tea blends, website updates, new kit, new branding, engaging events and lots of stories to tell.
Here's to the next 20yrs!
Oscar
