Tea Trading

From the Tea Estate direct to you

More than a simple matter of buying and selling tea

A separate section on tea trading, why is that ? Because tea trading involves and requires more than simply buying and selling tea.

The requirements of Quality, value for money, Quality Assurance and Product Security, Environmental Sustainability and Certifications creates today a complexity that demands a high level of competence and knowledge.

Wollenhaupt Tea Trading customers benefit from very much more than just the large assortment of teas we offer from a wide range of origins. This is particularly important in a world where climatic disruptions in the origins can lead to the limited availability of products.

Our tea trading team is comprised of well-travelled experts who are knowledgeable, experienced and in constant contact with the product, suppliers, customers, logistics, market and Quality Assurance requirements. In particular, the team’s wide knowledge and cooperation with their network of well-established tea producers and exporters in over 20 tea-producing countries make them the right partners.

The core activity is the trading of tea in original packed form without any processing or repacking, either from our warehoused stock in Reinbek and Hamburg, or shipped directly from origin to customers around the world. In addition, blends of classical teas of all qualities and grades are produced to match customer requirements, for supply in bulk packing. There is an overall focus on organic and sustainably certified products.

What does that mean for you?

Individuality: No matter how diverse the requirements of your markets, your customers and your own processes are: Let us know your requirements, and profit from our experience. From the production in origin direct to you? We are pleased to arrange just-in-time shipments direct from origin.

Flexibility: No matter how diverse your quality requirements may be: Benefit from the global network of contacts we have established over the past 130 years. Our extensive warehoused stock of teas of different qualities and from a variety of origins allows for supply in case of urgent demand.

Stability: In our Tea Trading team, you have a partner able to provide comprehensive advice and is available to assist you in optimizing your strategic procurement decisions.

For our team, tea trading means focusing on one thing above all: What does the customer want what is he looking for? Where can we find the right product for him in the desired quality? What are the relative strengths of each producer or supplier, and the ability to handle special requests? Travel is certainly a key ingredient in this. Tea trading is not a full-time desk job, personal contact with people - with customers and with our suppliers in origin - is also very important, along with a healthy dose of a strong passion for tea.

Staying close to the global tea sources and the sales markets is absolutely essential.

Marco Sinram Head of Tea Trading

Sustainability, an eye on the future, and our active engagement with environmental issues and commitment to fair labour conditions are the factors that motivated Wollenhaupt Tea Trading to become a Member of the Ethical Tea Partnership in 2014.

ETP is a global membership organisation working to catalyse long-term, systemic change, to benefit everybody who works in tea – especially people in tea-producing regions.

ETP’s work addresses the key issues within economics, equality, and the environment. It focuses on delivering locally-led projects that involve communities, supporting the private sector to pioneer new business models, and engaging stakeholders to support policies that positively impact people in tea.

ETP’s members include a range of tea companies, from the sector’s start-ups to the biggest multi-nationals. ETP convenes and facilitates collaboration between its members, businesses, governments, and civil society which enable it to mobilise its resources and deliver its broad range of work. Founded in 1997, ETP is a non-profit organisation and is supported by both its international members and other private and public sector donors.

Visit etp-global.org for further information or connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.