uptea
uptea is a Munich-based German company that produces and sells eight varieties of tea enriched via a proprietary caffeine-binding process (120 mg per bag), positioned as a healthier alternative to coffee and energy drinks for individual consumers (DTC subscription/one-time purchases) and B2B office teams across Germany, Austria, and France.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What uptea does
uptea GmbH is a Munich-based, privately held German company (HRB 259713) founded by Managing Director Maximilian Pütz, producing and selling a portfolio of eight caffeinated tea varieties under a single differentiated technical premise: tea leaves enriched with natural caffeine extracted from the tea plant itself, applied in the company's own in-house production facility in Germany using a proprietary, strictly secret enrichment process (Koffeinierungsverfahren) developed with a food chemistry expert. Each pyramid tea bag delivers 120 mg of natural caffeine with claimed 4–6 hour sustained release and no jitters or stomach irritation, positioning the product as a healthier alternative to coffee and energy drinks; packaging (pyramid bags and aroma-protection film) is compostable PLA, and shipping is climate-neutral via DHL GoGreen. The portfolio spans green, black, white, herbal, and fruit blends (Fresh Green, Very Berry, Double Mint, Tropic Mango, Italian Lemon, Gentle Earl, White Apple, Mountain Herbs).
The business operates a direct-to-consumer model through a Shopify-hosted storefront (uptea.de) shipping to Germany, Austria, and France, with unit pricing of €7.90 per 15-bag box (€0.53/bag) and tiered Sparpakete (S/M/L at €28.90/€54.90/€76.90) available as one-time purchases or as a subscription (Spar-Abo) at 18–31% discounts on flexible 4–16 week cadences, payable by PayPal, major card networks, Apple/Google/Shop Pay, or SEPA direct debit. A parallel B2B Büro-Paket line (Trial €49 net for 8 boxes, S €119 net for 24 boxes, M, L, plus custom multi-location plans) is sold via [email protected] with 14-day invoicing for one-time purchases and SEPA/card subscriptions, targeting office teams from small (~25-person) to multi-site enterprises. Customer acquisition is primarily organic: newsletter-driven (10% first-order discount), earned media (Antenne Bayern, Munich Startup, LMU Entrepreneurship Center, Radio Gong 96.3, aboutdrinks, Food Innovation Camp), and word-of-mouth, supported by 5,000+ lifetime customers and 4.91/5 ratings across 150+ verified reviews. No external funding rounds, acquisitions, M&A, or third-party retail listings are disclosed; the company is bootstrapped and founder-led.
uptea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- uptea
- Legal name
- uptea GmbH
- Website
- https://uptea.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- uptea is a Munich-based German company that produces and sells eight varieties of tea enriched via a proprietary caffeine-binding process (120 mg per bag), positioned as a healthier alternative to coffee and energy drinks for individual consumers (DTC subscription/one-time purchases) and B2B office teams across Germany, Austria, and France.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
uptea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Caffeinated Tea
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates) (CRADAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Instant Tea, Tea Extracts & Concentrates Manufacturing (AFAFADAH), Caffeinated Functional Beverage Production (Non-Energy) (AFAFAFAG), Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)
Keywords
Where uptea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
uptea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct Tea Product Sales: One-time purchase of individual tea boxes (€7.90 per 15-bag box) or bundled Sparpakete (S/M/L packages) at discounted per-bag rates ranging from €0.37 to €0.53 per bag.
- Subscription / Spar-Abo: Recurring subscription model offering automatic delivery of tea packages at 18-31% discount vs one-time purchase. Customers choose delivery frequency (4/6/8/12/16 weeks) and can modify flavors before each delivery. No minimum contract term, cancellable anytime. Revenue is recurring and predictable.
- B2B Office Packages: Corporate tea packages for offices and teams. Includes trial package (8 boxes, €49 net), Paket S (24 boxes, €119 net), Paket M (48 boxes), and Paket L (96 boxes). Offered as one-time purchase or recurring office subscription. Invoicing on account (14-day net) for one-time purchases; SEPA/direct debit for subscriptions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Tea Box - 15 bags per box |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sparpaket S - 4 boxes (60 bags) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sparpaket M - 8 boxes (120 bags) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sparpaket L - 12 boxes (180 bags) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | B2B Trial Package - 8 boxes (120 bags) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | B2B Paket S - 24 boxes (360 bags) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
uptea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
uptea develops, produces, and sells caffeinated loose-leaf tea blends (8 varieties, 120 mg natural caffeine per pyramid bag) using a proprietary in-house caffeine-enrichment process applied at its own production facility in Germany. Products are sold as individual 15-bag boxes, as Sparpaket bundles (S/M/L) with optional recurring Spar-Abo subscription (18-31% off, flexible 4- to 16-week cadence), and as Büro-Pakete B2B packages for workplace teams with invoicing on account. The brand positions the tea as a stomach-friendly, sugar-free alternative to coffee and energy drinks with 4-6 hours of sustained focus.
Product overview
uptea is a German caffeinated tea company offering a portfolio of 8 distinct caffeinated tea varieties, all enriched with 120mg natural caffeine per bag. The products are available as individual tea boxes (Koffeintee Fresh Green, Very Berry, Double Mint, Tropic Mango, Italian Lemon, Gentle Earl, White Apple, and Mountain Herbs), as subscription bundles in three sizes (Sparpaket S with 4 boxes, Sparpaket M with 8 boxes, and Sparpaket L with 12 boxes), and as B2B office packages for workplace consumption. All products feature natural caffeine binding in tea leaves for smooth 4-6 hour energy release without the jitters or crash associated with coffee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Koffeintee Fresh Green Green tea blend with lemon and ginger, each pyramid bag enriched with 120 mg of natural caffeine via uptea's proprietary Koffeinierungsverfahren for sustained focus without the crash. Sold as a 15-bag retail box for individual hot or iced consumption by caffeine-using consumers seeking a stomach-friendly, sugar-free alternative to coffee and energy drinks.
- Koffeintee Very Berry Forest fruit and cherry blend with 120 mg of natural caffeine per pyramid bag, intended for intense fruit flavor with functional energy; enjoyed hot or iced by health-conscious consumers.
- Koffeintee Double Mint Combination of curly mint and peppermint with 120 mg of natural caffeine per pyramid bag, delivering cool, refreshing flavor and mental clarity for individual consumers.
- Koffeintee Tropic Mango Tropical blend of mango, orange, and pineapple with 120 mg of natural caffeine per pyramid bag, providing exotic flavor and energy for individual hot-or-iced consumption.
- Koffeintee Italian Lemon Sweet lemon and lime blend with 120 mg of natural caffeine per pyramid bag, offering sunny citrus flavor and sustained energy for individual consumers.
- Koffeintee Gentle Earl Black tea blend with bergamot and vanilla, enriched with 120 mg of natural caffeine per pyramid bag for a classic, refined taste with functional energizing effect for individual consumers.
- Koffeintee White Apple White tea blend with apple and cinnamon containing 120 mg of natural caffeine per pyramid bag, providing a delicate, fruity taste and energy support for individual consumers.
- Koffeintee Mountain Herbs Mountain herbs blend featuring lemongrass, enriched with 120 mg of natural caffeine per pyramid bag, combining herbal-wellness positioning with functional energy for individual consumers.
- Sparpakete (Tea Bundle Subscriptions) — S, M, L Sparpakete are three bundle sizes (S = 4 boxes, M = 8 boxes, L = 12 boxes) freely configurable from any of the 8 Koffeintee flavors, with optional Spar-Abo recurring subscription at 4/6/8/12/16-week cadence for 18-31% off versus one-time purchase, free shipping, and no minimum contract term. Sold directly to individual consumers through the uptea.de Shopify storefront.
- Büro-Pakete (Office Packages for Businesses) — Trial, S, M, L Bulk B2B office tea packages — Trial (8 boxes, €49 net), Paket S (24 boxes, €119 net), Paket M (48 boxes), and Paket L (96 boxes) — including all 8 Koffeintee flavors distributed equally, with optional recurring office subscription (5% savings on Paket S) and invoicing on account (14-day net) for one-time purchases. Designed for workplace teams and multi-location enterprises outfitting their offices with a healthier team beverage alternative.
Quantifiable outcome
- 120mg natural caffeine per bag — more caffeine than coffee or energy drinks — at €0.37–0.53 per serving
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use uptea
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
uptea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
uptea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
uptea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Republic of Tea: DTC specialty tea company with subscription program and curated blends across black, green, and herbal categories. Comparable DTC subscription model and curated premium tea positioning.
- Teami Blends: US-based DTC functional tea brand selling caffeinated detox/energy teas via subscription bundles and individual SKUs. Directly comparable in DTC subscription model, functional positioning, and pyramid-bag format.
- Vahdam Teas: DTC premium tea brand sourcing direct from Indian estates, selling loose-leaf and bagged teas via e-commerce with subscription bundles. Comparable DTC-first go-to-market, premium tea focus, and direct-to-consumer bundle architecture.
- Four Sigmatic: Functional coffee/tea brand offering mushroom-infused and adaptogenic beverages as coffee alternatives. Comparable in positioning as a healthier caffeine alternative with DTC and subscription model.
Broad incumbents
- Clipper Tea: UK-based ethical tea brand with bagged teas sold across European grocery and foodservice. Comparable bagged tea format and ethical/sustainability positioning, though mainstream retail rather than DTC subscription.
- Pukka Herbs: Premium organic herbal tea brand with broad retail and DTC distribution. Comparable premium positioning and herbal blend range, though broader portfolio and broader channels than uptea.
- Traditional Medicinals: Well-established herbal tea company selling functional teas (caffeinated and non-caffeinated) through grocery, natural, and DTC channels. Comparable functional/wellness positioning; significantly broader product range and retail footprint.
- Yogi Tea: Established herbal/functional tea brand owned by a large CPG company with broad retail distribution. Comparable functional tea positioning but at much larger scale with grocery and mass-market presence.
Regional players
- Lebensbaum: German organic tea and coffee brand with DACH retail distribution and premium positioning. Comparable German origin and premium tea focus; broader retail channel and B-Corp positioning rather than functional caffeine specialization.
- TeeGschwendner: Germany's largest specialty tea retailer with strong DACH presence and own-brand teas. Comparable German specialty tea expertise and regional customer base, though primarily retail-channel rather than DTC subscription.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
uptea social profiles
Digital presenceuptea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
uptea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
uptea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
uptea 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 uptea
What does uptea do?
uptea develops, produces, and sells caffeinated loose-leaf tea blends (8 varieties, 120 mg natural caffeine per pyramid bag) using a proprietary in-house caffeine-enrichment process applied at its own production facility in Germany. Products are sold as individual 15-bag boxes, as Sparpaket bundles (S/M/L) with optional recurring Spar-Abo subscription (18-31% off, flexible 4- to 16-week cadence), and as Büro-Pakete B2B packages for workplace teams with invoicing on account. The brand positions the tea as a stomach-friendly, sugar-free alternative to coffee and energy drinks with 4-6 hours of sustained focus.
Is uptea a public or private company?
uptea is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was uptea founded?
uptea was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is uptea based?
uptea is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does uptea make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Tea Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription / Spar-Abo and B2B Office Packages.
Who are uptea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Republic of Tea, Teami Blends, Vahdam Teas and Four Sigmatic. Broad incumbents are Clipper Tea, Pukka Herbs, Traditional Medicinals and Yogi Tea. Regional players are Lebensbaum and TeeGschwendner.
Does uptea have an API?
No public API is recorded for uptea.
What industry is uptea in?
uptea's product category is Caffeinated Tea. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAHAE, Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates), with a secondary code of AFAFADAH, Instant Tea, Tea Extracts & Concentrates Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.