teapigs
teapigs is a UK-founded premium whole-leaf tea brand, owned by Tata Consumer Products, selling DTC across 5 regional storefronts, through trade/hospitality wholesale, and via corporate gifting, anchored by its signature biodegradable tea temple packaging.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBrentford, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What teapigs does
teapigs is a UK-based premium whole-leaf tea company founded in November 2006 in Brentford, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Consumer Products. Its core proposition is high-grade whole-leaf tea — black, green, white, herbal, rooibos, oolong and decaf varieties — packaged primarily in its signature 'tea temple', a biodegradable mesh bag designed to give whole leaves room to unfurl. The product range spans individual SKUs (English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Mao Feng, Silver Tips, chai blends, feel-good functional teas, and limited-edition seasonal releases), customizable Pick 'n Mix boxes, a Subscribe & Save subscription service, and an extended teaware line including Kinto glassware, infusers, mugs, jars, and travel accessories.
The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model. Direct-to-consumer sales run through five Shopify-powered regional storefronts with localized currencies covering the UK, Europe, the US, Hong Kong, and Australia, supported by an email, blog, and organic social marketing funnel (Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, Pinterest) and a 'Mood-o-Meter' discovery tool. A B2B trade program serves cafes, delis, food halls, hotels, and restaurants with wholesale accounts, point-of-sale materials, and dedicated trade support; a corporate gifting vertical packages bespoke bulk orders, advent calendars, and gift vouchers for business customers. Subscription billing is operated via ReCharge Payments at a 15% discount with flexible delivery cadence. Distribution reportedly reaches 40+ countries.
Commercial positioning rests on quality recognition (180 Great Taste Awards and 7-time 'best brand' from independent retailers), sustainability certifications (Rainforest Alliance, Ethical Tea Partnership), and an ethical scheme that has reportedly raised over £860,000 for community causes in Gisenyi, Rwanda. Pricing is unit-based across tea, bulk, and subscription tiers, with free UK standard delivery above £25 and express above £50. The company is registered in Greenford (UK) under company number 05426310 and operates with an 11-50 headcount.
teapigs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- teapigs
- Legal name
- teapigs
- Website
- https://teapigs.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- teapigs is a UK-founded premium whole-leaf tea brand, owned by Tata Consumer Products, selling DTC across 5 regional storefronts, through trade/hospitality wholesale, and via corporate gifting, anchored by its signature biodegradable tea temple packaging.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
teapigs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Tea
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates) (CRADAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tea Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAG), Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)
Keywords
Where teapigs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brentford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
teapigs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales of tea products through owned e-commerce storefronts across multiple regional sites (UK, EU, US, HK, Australia) with various product formats (tea temples, loose leaf, bulk buys). One-time purchase model with prices starting from £1.00.
- Subscription (Subscribe & Save): Recurring subscription model with 15% discount on every order, free delivery on UK orders over £25, and flexible delivery frequencies (1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks). Powered by ReCharge Payments platform.
- Corporate Gifting: B2B corporate gifting solutions including bespoke larger orders for teams, with options for tea advent calendars, personalized pick n' mix, tea & mug bundles, and gift vouchers.
- Trade/Hospitality B2B Sales: Wholesale supply to cafes, delis, food halls, grocers, hotels, and restaurants with trade account program and maximum order value of £999.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Subscribe & Save - 15% recurring discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product prices from £1.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk Buy (6 packs) with savings |
| Quote-based/ custom | Multi-year contract | Corporate Gifting |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
teapigs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
teapigs produces and sells premium whole-leaf teas packaged in its proprietary biodegradable "Tea Temple" mesh sachets, alongside loose leaf teas, cold-brew iced teas, tea lattes (matcha and hojicha), drinking chocolate, and ceramic teaware. Distribution is primarily through its UK e-commerce site with international shipping, a Subscribe & Save subscription, supermarket listings, independent retailers, trade/wholesale supply to hospitality, and a corporate gifting service.
Product overview
Teapigs is a premium whole-leaf tea company founded in 2006, offering a portfolio of teas across multiple categories (black, green, herbal, decaf, rooibos, white, and oolong) sold primarily through their Shopify-powered e-commerce platform. The core products include signature tea blends like English Breakfast, Peppermint, and Earl Grey, along with limited-edition seasonal offerings. The company pioneered the 'tea temple' - a biodegradable mesh bag designed for whole-leaf tea. Their product range spans: core teas sold in tea temples and loose leaf formats; the customizable Pick 'n Mix service for building personalized tea selections; a Subscribe & Save subscription program powered by Recharge Payments offering 15% discounts; teaware including Kinto glass cups and teapots, infusers, storage jars, and travel accessories; and gift sets, bundles, and corporate gifting solutions. The company sells to consumers directly online, through retail partners, and to hospitality businesses, with operations spanning the UK, Europe, US, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- tea temple: A roomy, biodegradable mesh bag designed to hold whole tea leaves and release bold flavor
- tea temple
Quantifiable outcome
- 157+ Great Taste Awards
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use teapigs
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
teapigs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature2 records
teapigs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tata Consumer ProductscoreParent company. Teapigs is owned by Tata Consumer Products, a major global tea and beverage company. Registered address: 325 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, UB6 0AZ, UK.
- Ethical Tea PartnershipcoreTeapigs is part of a growing community of ethical tea brands that are members of the Ethical Tea Partnership, a organization working to improve tea supply chains and producer livelihoods.
- Rainforest AllianceminorTeapigs holds Rainforest Alliance certification for sustainable sourcing, displayed as a certification seal on the website footer.
- ReCharge PaymentscoreSubscription management platform powering the Subscribe & Save program. Handles recurring billing, delivery scheduling, and subscription management for customers.
- Gisenyi, Rwanda CommunitiescoreEthical scheme partnership supporting vulnerable young people in Gisenyi, Rwanda. Over £860,000 raised through ethical scheme donations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
teapigs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Whittard of Chelsea: UK premium tea retailer with DTC e-commerce, gift sets, teaware, and own-brand loose-leaf teas. Directly comparable on premium positioning, gift/corporate gifting, and integrated tea-plus-teaware proposition.
- Harney & Sons: US-based premium tea company offering loose-leaf, sachets, and blends via DTC and foodservice. Comparable on whole-leaf premium positioning, broad blend portfolio, and trade/wholesale channels.
- T2 Tea: Premium tea brand offering loose-leaf blends, tea temple-style bags, and teaware across Australia, UK, and global markets. Closely mirrors Teapigs' whole-leaf positioning, multi-regional storefronts, and playful brand identity.
- Kusmi Tea: French-founded premium tea brand selling loose-leaf, bagged, and wellness teas globally via DTC, retail, and hospitality. Comparable on premium DTC, wellness blends, and European/US international distribution.
- Yorkshire Tea (Bettys & Taylors): Premium UK bagged tea brand with strong supermarket and foodservice presence. Comparable to Teapigs in UK grocery distribution, whole-leaf blends, and trade/hospitality wholesale channels.
- Clipper Tea: UK-based organic, fair-trade tea brand offering whole-leaf bagged and loose-leaf teas. Closely comparable to Teapigs on premium ethical positioning, UK retail distribution, and DTC focus, making it a direct category rival.
Broad incumbents
- Tetley: UK household tea brand owned by Teapigs' own parent, Tata Consumer Products. Overlaps as a broad incumbent in the same portfolio, sharing sourcing and distribution infrastructure; competes with Teapigs in retail and foodservice.
- Twinings: Global incumbent tea brand (Associated British Foods) with massive UK grocery and foodservice distribution. Overlaps with Teapigs on UK retail presence and whole-leaf products but operates at vastly broader scale and across multiple categories.
- Fortnum & Mason Tea: Iconic UK heritage retailer with a premium own-label tea range, gift sets, and hampers. Comparable on premium gifting and luxury positioning but operates as a broader department store rather than tea specialist.
Emerging players
- Republic of Tea: US-based specialty tea brand focused on premium blends, wellness teas, and subscription/clubs. Comparable on whole-leaf/functional blends, DTC subscription model, and US distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
teapigs social profiles
Digital presenceteapigs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
teapigs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
teapigs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
teapigs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
teapigs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about teapigs
What does teapigs do?
teapigs produces and sells premium whole-leaf teas packaged in its proprietary biodegradable "Tea Temple" mesh sachets, alongside loose leaf teas, cold-brew iced teas, tea lattes (matcha and hojicha), drinking chocolate, and ceramic teaware. Distribution is primarily through its UK e-commerce site with international shipping, a Subscribe & Save subscription, supermarket listings, independent retailers, trade/wholesale supply to hospitality, and a corporate gifting service.
Is teapigs a public or private company?
teapigs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was teapigs founded?
teapigs was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is teapigs based?
teapigs is headquartered in Brentford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does teapigs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription (Subscribe & Save), corporate Gifting and trade/Hospitality B2B Sales.
Who are teapigs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Whittard of Chelsea, Harney & Sons, T2 Tea, Kusmi Tea, Yorkshire Tea (Bettys & Taylors) and Clipper Tea. Broad incumbents are Tetley, Twinings and Fortnum & Mason Tea. Republic of Tea is listed as an emerging player.
Does teapigs have an API?
No public API is recorded for teapigs.
What industry is teapigs in?
teapigs's product category is Specialty Tea. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAHAE, Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates), with a secondary code of AFAFADAG, Tea Blending & Flavoring. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.