Red Blossom Tea Company

What Red Blossom Tea Company does

Red Blossom Tea Company is a privately held, family-owned specialty tea retailer founded in 1985 and headquartered at 831 Grant Avenue in San Francisco's Chinatown. The company curates and sells artisanal loose-leaf teas sourced directly from farmers and craftspeople in China, Taiwan, and Japan, organized by type (green, white, oolong, black, pu-erh, aged, scented, matcha), region, and flavor profile. The product portfolio includes tiered branded collections — Red Label (premium single-origin), Song Kiln (artisan ceramics with master ceramicist Xu De Jia), and Private Collection (rare aged crops) — alongside an extensive teaware assortment (gaiwans, Yixing teapots, glass infusion, celadon ware, accessories) and curated samplers such as the Essential Collection and Pinnacle Collection.

The company operates a hybrid distribution model: a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce site, a single physical showroom in San Francisco offering tastings and education, a dedicated B2B wholesale portal (redblossomteawholesale.com) for retailers, and a corporate gifting program with bespoke options. Pricing is unit-based per gram/ounce, with premium SKUs reaching $90–$980 and gift cards in $25–$100 denominations. Customer segments include individual tea enthusiasts (primary), wholesale/retail buyers, and corporate gifting clients. The company explicitly notes a past custom blend formulation for Opus One Winery as a B2B reference. Marketing relies on educational content (Tea 101, Gong Fu Cha 101, etc.), social media, email newsletter, and the in-person showroom experience rather than paid acquisition or technology-driven growth levers. The company is women-owned (Buy Women Owned certified) and an NMSDC member, supporting corporate procurement channels. Headed into its 40th anniversary, the business shows no disclosed funding, no acquisitions, no leadership changes, and no public revenue figures.

Name

Red Blossom Tea Company

Legal name

Red Blossom Tea Company

Website

https://redblossomtea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Red Blossom Tea Company is a 40-year-old, family-owned San Francisco specialty tea retailer that curates and sells artisanal loose-leaf teas from China, Taiwan, and Japan, plus premium teaware, via a Shopify e-commerce site, a Chinatown showroom, a wholesale portal, and corporate gifting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Tea Retail

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Tea Shops (Loose-Leaf, Tea Bars) (THAFAKAD), Tea Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAG)

Keywords

• Specialty tea retail
• Artisanal loose leaf tea
• Tea accessories retail
• Wholesale tea distribution
• Premium Chinese oolong

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Retail sales of teas and teaware through their website, offering various sizes and formats with per-unit pricing. Products include loose leaf teas, tea accessories, and brewing equipment.
2. Wholesale: B2B wholesale channel through dedicated wholesale portal (redblossomteawholesale.com) for retailers and businesses.
3. Corporate Gifting: Custom corporate gifting programs and bespoke gifting solutions for business customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Red Blossom Tea Company sells artisanal loose-leaf teas directly sourced from farmers and craftspeople in China, Taiwan, and Japan, organized by tea type, region, and flavor profile. The assortment is complemented by a deep teaware catalog of brewing vessels (gaiwans, Yixing and celadon teapots, glass infusers), serving pieces, and accessories, including the curated Song Kiln Collection of artisanal ceramics. The company serves individual tea drinkers, wholesale retailers, and corporate gifting customers through its Shopify e-commerce site, San Francisco showroom, and dedicated wholesale portal.

Product overview

Red Blossom Tea Company is a direct-to-consumer tea retailer offering artisanal teas sourced from China, Taiwan, and Japan, complemented by an extensive teaware collection. The product portfolio centers on premium loose-leaf teas organized by type (green, white, oolong, black, pu-erh, scented, herbal) and flavor profile, with the Red Label Collection representing the premium tier. The company also offers curated tasting collections including the Pinnacle Collection (ultimate tea experience sampler with teaware) and Essential Collection (introductory sampler). Teaware offerings span brewing vessels (gaiwans, Yixing teapots, glass infusers), serving pieces (servers, tasting cups), and accessories (scales, strainers, scoops, trays). The Song Kiln Collection features artisanal ceramics inspired by Song Dynasty kilns, crafted by master ceramicists Xu De Jia and Xu Chun Tian. The company operates both e-commerce and a San Francisco showroom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red Label Collection: Premium line of single-origin teas featuring the company's finest harvests from China and Taiwan, including Da Yu Lin, Silver Needle Reserve, and other high-elevation Formosa oolongs.
• Song Kiln Collection
• Private Collection

Products and services

• Da Yu Lin, Spring 2026 Premium Taiwanese high-mountain oolong from Da Yu Lin, cultivated at over 8,000 feet above sea level, featuring qing xiang crafting and tasting notes of gardenia, butter, and sugarcane. Targeted at tea enthusiasts seeking the most coveted Taiwanese oolongs.
• Fu Shou Shan, Spring 2026 Taiwanese high-mountain oolong from Fu Shou Shan, harvested at nearly 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), featuring qing xiang crafting with notes of fresh cream, tropical fruit, and floral. Targeted at premium loose-leaf tea drinkers.
• Silver Needle Reserve Premium white tea from Fuding County, Fujian, hand-harvested from da bai tea trees in the first spring harvest, featuring fine protective down (trichomes) on tea buds with tasting notes of marzipan, rose water, and cream. Targeted at premium white tea drinkers.
• Japanese Matcha
• Red Label Collection
• Song Kiln Collection
• Pinnacle Collection Ultimate tea experience sampler containing nine single-serving samples of Red Label teas plus a complete porcelain teaware set including Spring Gaiwan, Ming Server, and Ming Tasting Cups for gongfu-style brewing. Targeted at premium gift buyers and serious tea enthusiasts.
• 40th Anniversary Collection Limited edition collection celebrating 40 years of Red Blossom Tea Company, featuring four exquisite harvests including two Red Label teas and two exceptionally rare aged crops from the Private Collection. Targeted at collectors, premium gift buyers, and loyal customers.
• Essential Collection
• Gift Card
• Wholesale Tea Program
• Corporate and Bespoke Gifting Program
• San Francisco Showroom Tasting Experience

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Farmers and Craftspeople in China and TaiwancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect relationships with tea farmers and craftspeople in China and Taiwan, focusing on provenance, variety, season, and craft to bring clean and naturally flavorful teas.
• Xu De JiacoreOthersNationally acclaimed Taiwanese master ceramicist who crafts the Song Kiln Collection. His son Xu Chun Tian also creates hand-thrown stoneware and historical celadon pieces.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Smith Teamaker: Portland-based premium loose-leaf tea company offering direct-sourced teas and teaware via DTC and wholesale. Comparable premium niche positioning and educational content approach.
• Teavivre: Direct-from-farmer Chinese tea retailer offering premium loose-leaf teas online with detailed origin and craft information. Comparable DTC model focused on authentic Chinese-origin teas.
• Adagio Teas: Direct-to-consumer online specialty tea retailer offering loose-leaf teas, teaware, and custom blends with similar curated catalog and consumer education focus. Highly comparable business model with DTC-first distribution.
• Yunnan Sourcing: Online specialty tea retailer with direct farmer relationships in China, especially Yunnan province, offering premium pu-erh and other Chinese teas. Comparable direct-sourcing premium positioning for connoisseurs.
• Harney & Sons: Premium tea brand with multi-channel distribution including DTC e-commerce, wholesale to retailers, and physical tasting rooms. Highly comparable premium positioning and channel mix to Red Blossom.
• Ippodo Tea: Premium Japanese and Asian tea specialist with both online store and physical tea rooms/showrooms. Directly comparable for curated East-Asian-origin loose-leaf teas and artisan teaware focus.
• The Republic of Tea: Premium tea brand offering curated loose-leaf and bagged teas through DTC, wholesale, and food service. Highly comparable multi-channel premium tea retail model.
• Mei Leaf: UK-based premium specialty tea retailer focused on single-origin Chinese and Taiwanese teas with strong direct-sourcing narrative and educational content. Directly comparable premium curated model.
• Art of Tea: Specialty tea company offering curated loose-leaf teas and teaware through DTC, wholesale to hospitality, and custom blending. Comparable business model and B2B2C focus including custom blends for restaurant/winery clients.

Broad incumbents

• Bigelow Tea: Established family-owned American tea brand offering a broad tea portfolio across retail and food service channels. Adjacent incumbent that competes at lower price points but illustrates the scale a heritage tea brand can achieve.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/redblossomtea
• Instagraminstagram.com/redblossomtea
• Xx.com/redblossomtea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/redblossom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Blossom Tea Company