The Tea Table

The Tea Table is an American online tea retailer based in Fort Collins, Colorado. It began in 2000 as a walk-in retail shop — described by the company as the only shop of its kind in its area — where customers could browse tea accessories and select from roughly 100 loose-leaf teas. During its three years as a physical store, the company also launched the first version of its website. When the retail lease expired, the owners chose to close the storefront and operate online-only, aiming to reach a much larger audience while keeping overhead low. Since going online, the business has continued to grow. According to its own account, it has moved to larger quarters three times and now occupies a facility large enough to sustain it for several years. Despite that growth, The Tea Table describes itself as a small, privately owned company whose core staff has worked there from the beginning, and it says it prefers to remain relatively small while staying true to its original vision. The Tea Table's catalog centers on loose-leaf tea. Its website states that it offers over 200 loose-leaf teas alongside tea accessories, teapots, and Tea of the Month Clubs. Featured products on the homepage have included Organic Ceylon FBOP, Ceylon Vithanakande Tea, Tung Ting Jade Oolong Superior, Organic Yunnan Imperial, Earl Grey White Tip Tea, Organic Lucky Dragon Hyson Green Tea (Young Hyson), Tippy Meleng Assam, Grand Earl Grey Tea, Gyokuro, and Organic Chun Mee First Grade Tea, with listed prices ranging from about $4.50 to $15.20. The retailer differentiates itself through flexible ordering and sampling. Its homepage advertises that customers can order any amount of tea in 1 oz. increments, receive up to three samples of any tea (most of them free), and obtain volume discounts starting with a 4 oz. bag. This combination of small-quantity ordering, free samples, and volume pricing is presented as distinctive to The Tea Table. The company remains privately held and does not disclose a parent company or outside ownership. Its operations are online-focused, serving customers in the United States and, through its website, beyond. The Tea Table positions itself as a specialty, service-oriented tea merchant rather than a mass-market brand, emphasizing customer service, a broad loose-leaf selection, and the personal character of a long-tenured small staff.

The Tea Table was founded in 2000 in Fort Collins, Colorado, as a walk-in retail shop. According to the company's own history, it was the only shop of its kind in the area and built a loyal following, offering customers the chance to browse tea accessories and choose from about 100 loose-leaf teas. During its three years as a physical store, the company also created the first version of its website. The site gradually grew, and was later redesigned for better functionality and appearance. When the lease on the retail space expired, the owners decided for practical reasons to give up the storefront and become an online-only store. The stated goal was to reach a much larger audience while keeping overhead low. The business continued to grow and flourish after the transition. As it expanded, it moved to larger quarters three times, eventually settling into a facility large enough to sustain it for several years. Despite this growth, The Tea Table has remained a small, privately owned company. Its about page notes that the core members of its staff have worked there from the beginning, and that the company prefers to stay somewhat smaller and remain true to its original vision while staying flexible enough to change and grow in directions that feel right. The company's public materials do not name a founder, parent company, or outside owner. By the mid-2010s the business was operating as an online store offering over 200 loose-leaf teas, tea accessories, teapots, and Tea of the Month Clubs, with a stated emphasis on customer service. Its homepage has highlighted a rotating set of featured products — including Organic Ceylon FBOP, Ceylon Vithanakande Tea, Tung Ting Jade Oolong Superior, Organic Yunnan Imperial, Earl Grey White Tip Tea, Organic Lucky Dragon Hyson Green Tea (Young Hyson), Tippy Meleng Assam, Grand Earl Grey Tea, Gyokuro, and Organic Chun Mee First Grade Tea — with prices in the range of roughly $4.50 to $15.20. The retailer has also promoted distinctive ordering terms: any amount of tea in 1 oz. increments, up to three samples of any tea (most free), and volume discounts starting with a 4 oz. bag.

• 2016

  The company's about page documents its history, staff, and Fort Collins location.

• 2003

  After the retail lease expires, the company closes its storefront and becomes an online-only store.

• 2000

  The Tea Table is founded as a walk-in retail tea shop in Fort Collins, Colorado.

• 2000

  During its three years as a physical store, the company launches the first version of its website.

• The website is redesigned for better functionality and appearance as online sales grow.

• The company moves to larger quarters three times as the business expands.

Specialty online tea merchant emphasizing a broad loose-leaf selection, flexible small-quantity ordering, free samples, volume discounts, and personal customer service as a small privately owned company.

• Organic Ceylon FBOP

• Ceylon Vithanakande Tea

• Tung Ting Jade Oolong Superior

• Organic Yunnan Imperial

• Earl Grey White Tip Tea

• Organic Lucky Dragon Hyson Green Tea (Young Hyson)

• Tippy Meleng Assam

• Grand Earl Grey Tea

• Gyokuro

• Organic Chun Mee First Grade Tea

1. 1Buy Loose Leaf Tea Gourmet Online Sellers | Tea of the Month Clubs | The Tea Tabletheteatable.com
2. 2The Tea Table: About The Tea Tabletheteatable.com