2011: a small start in Stellenbosch Central
Cup Of Tea Co started trading in 2011 from Stellenbosch Central, in the Western Cape, with a simple focus on loose-leaf tea and honest flavour. The first blends were shaped by long tasting sessions, careful measuring and plenty of notes on aroma, colour and finish. Rooibos was always at the centre of the range because it suits South African taste and works well for everyday drinking, from early mornings to late afternoon tea breaks.
In those first months, the business was still close to home and close to the people who were buying from us. That meant listening closely to what local customers wanted: something fragrant but not too sweet, something caffeine free for evenings, and something steady enough for daily use. It was practical work, with small batches, clean packing and lots of trial and error before a blend was ready for wider supply.
2012 to 2014: building the blend library
As demand grew, the range expanded beyond the first rooibos blends into herbal infusions and fuller tea selections for homes, guesthouses and small offices. This was also the period when the business began to shape its blending style more clearly: balanced, easy to brew and suited to South African conditions, including warm summers, coastal humidity and the reality of load-shedding when tea has to be forgiving and consistent.
During these years, the team began building a proper blend library. That made it easier to keep repeat orders consistent and to create new teas without losing the character of the original recipes. The work was measured in grams, not guesses, and that attention to detail became part of the company’s way of doing things.
- Refined the first rooibos blends for a smoother cup and cleaner finish
- Added herbal infusions for evening use and caffeine free serving
- Set up repeatable blending notes so batches could be matched more easily
- Started supplying a wider mix of customers, from households to hospitality buyers
2015 to 2017: moving from local orders to wider supply
By 2015 the business had outgrown the idea of a purely local tea maker. Orders started coming in from Cape Town, Somerset West and Paarl, and the team had to think more seriously about packing, stock rotation and courier timing. Tea is light to send, but it still needs careful handling so the leaves stay fresh and the rooibos keeps its clean aroma.
This period also brought better structure to customer care and fulfilment. The company learned how to plan around school terms, holiday gifting seasons and the busy end-of-year rush when corporate orders and hospitality top-ups often land at the same time. A small team can only grow if the handover from blending to packing to dispatch is organised, and that became a strong part of the business by then.
- Expanded courier delivery beyond the Western Cape into major cities
- Introduced clearer packing methods for gift orders and bulk supply
- Improved turnaround for customer enquiries and order planning
- Added support for guesthouses, small restaurants and function caterers
2018 to 2020: custom tea work for business and gifting
In 2018 the company moved further into custom tea blending and private label packing, which opened the door to more specialised work. Businesses wanted teas that matched their own style, and event planners were looking for thoughtful favours that felt local rather than generic. That is where the blending side of the company really came into its own, because each brief needed taste, presentation and reliable production all in one go.
The years around 2020 brought a sharper focus on home use as well. People were spending more time at home, and tea boxes, seasonal gift packs and subscription orders became a practical comfort item. Many customers wanted something simple to keep on hand for quiet evenings, family visits or a cup between meetings. The team responded with steadier packing plans and more flexible order options.
- Added private label packing for businesses needing their own tea range
- Built corporate gifting options for year-end and staff thank-you packs
- Introduced event tea bars and wedding favour packing for special occasions
- Developed subscription tea boxes and seasonal gift curation
2021 to 2023: stronger team, broader service
As the business matured, the team also became more defined. Annelise van der Merwe led the company as Managing Director, with Siyabonga Ndlovu heading tea blending, Mariska Botha managing operations, Leanne Petersen leading customer care, Thabo Mokoena coordinating courier fulfilment and Zanele Dlamini looking after retail and gifting. Each role mattered because tea supply is not just about flavour, it is also about timing, consistency and clear communication.
These years saw Cup Of Tea Co work more actively with hospitality supply, office tea supply and tea menu curation. That meant understanding the needs of different places, from small boardrooms in Pretoria to guest spaces in Durban and conference venues in Johannesburg. Some clients needed a familiar black tea for staff rooms, others wanted rooibos for a guest welcome tray, and some asked for tasting sessions before placing a larger order.
The business also strengthened its courier reach, sending orders across South Africa with regular deliveries into Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Bloemfontein. A customer in a coastal suburb and a customer inland can have different storage conditions, so packaging and advice had to stay practical. Loose tea needs to hold up well in real homes, not just in neat storage rooms.
2024 to today: trusted tea supply from Stellenbosch to the country
Today Cup Of Tea Co continues to trade from Stellenbosch Central while serving customers across Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein, Somerset West and Paarl. The company still works from the same practical principle that started in 2011: make tea that tastes good, packs well and arrives in proper condition. That applies whether the order is a single subscription box or a bulk request for hospitality or office supply.
The history of the business is really a history of steady growth. First came the base range, then the custom blends, then the broader service offering that includes tea menu curation, tasting sessions, event tea bars and gifting. Each step came because customers kept asking for something specific and the team kept finding a way to do it properly.
What has stayed constant is the attention to rooibos, the respect for good ingredients and the belief that tea should fit into daily life without fuss. From a small start in 2011 to a national courier service today, Cup Of Tea Co has grown by keeping things simple, careful and consistent. That is still the standard in every pack that leaves Stellenbosch.