Le Parti du Thé
Le Parti du Thé is a Paris-based specialty tea retailer founded in 2005, sourcing premium loose-leaf teas directly from producers worldwide. It operates two Paris boutiques, a PrestaShop e-commerce platform, a B2B supply division serving Parisian restaurants, and educational tea workshops.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Le Parti du Thé does
Le Parti du Thé, legally operating as UNION TEA SARL, is a Paris-based specialty tea retailer founded in 2005 by Pierre Lebrun. The company sources loose-leaf teas directly from producers across China, Japan, India, Taiwan, Rwanda, Nepal, Africa, and Sri Lanka, offering 300+ products spanning green, black, white, oolong, Pu Erh, Rooibos, scented teas, matcha, herbal infusions, and tea accessories (Degrenne teapots, Iwachu cast iron, Kinto tumblers, matcha bowls). It operates a PrestaShop-based e-commerce storefront as the primary sales channel, supported by two physical boutiques in central Paris (Faidherbe in the 11th arrondissement and Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement), a dedicated atelier at 3 rue Richard Lenoir for workshops and custom blend preparation, and full social/email/content marketing presence.
The company monetizes through three revenue streams: direct-to-consumer retail tea and accessory sales via e-commerce and boutiques under a unit pricing model with volume discounts (5% at 500g, 10% at 1kg) and free domestic delivery above €40; B2B wholesale supply to Parisian restaurants, hotels, and caterers through its "Espace Pro" division offering bespoke blends and customized solutions; and in-person tea-making workshops priced at €60 per participant. The B2C segment targets tea enthusiasts and quality-focused individual consumers, while the B2B segment targets hospitality professionals seeking premium tea programs.
Le Parti du Thé's positioning centers on direct-trade sourcing relationships, full producer traceability, the "Fabriqué à Paris" artisanal label, and a self-described intersection of artisanal tea expertise with street culture aesthetics. Pierre Lebrun continues to serve as gérant, with no disclosed external investment, no headcount data, and a registered capital of €9,375 (mentions légales). Technology is limited to standard PrestaShop e-commerce with Stripe payment processing; no proprietary AI, data, or platform technology is evidenced. The company marked its 20th anniversary in 2025 with a special collaboration collection and continues to launch seasonal harvests and experiential programming into 2026.
Le Parti du Thé firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Le Parti du Thé
- Legal name
- UNION TEA
- Website
- https://lepartiduthe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Le Parti du Thé is a Paris-based specialty tea retailer founded in 2005, sourcing premium loose-leaf teas directly from producers worldwide. It operates two Paris boutiques, a PrestaShop e-commerce platform, a B2B supply division serving Parisian restaurants, and educational tea workshops.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Le Parti du Thé industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Tea Retail
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7225)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), 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), Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ), Coffee & Tea Service Supplies Wholesale (AFAIALAH), Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates) (CRADAHAE)
Keywords
Where Le Parti du Thé is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Le Parti du Thé business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Tea Sales (B2C): Direct-to-consumer sales of premium teas and tea accessories through e-commerce platform and physical boutiques. Products include loose-leaf teas, matcha, scented teas, and tea accessories. Revenue generated through one-time product purchases with volume-based discounts (5% for 500g, 10% for 1kg orders).
- Professional/B2B Tea Supply: Wholesale supply to hospitality businesses including restaurants, hotels, and catering companies. Customized offerings adapted to professional client needs and preferences.
- Workshop and Experience Revenue: Tea making workshops and educational experiences offered at €60 per person, hosted at company atelier in Paris. Limited to 8 participants per session.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for loose-leaf teas |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volume discount tier |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Workshop experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories and teaware |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Le Parti du Thé product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Le Parti du Thé is a Parisian tea house (operating since 2005 under the legal entity UNION TEA SARL) that curates and sells premium loose-leaf teas, matcha, infusions, and tea accessories directly imported from producers across China, Japan, India, Taiwan, Rwanda, Nepal, Africa, and Sri Lanka. It serves individual consumers through an e-commerce platform and two physical boutiques in Paris (Faidherbe and Canal Saint Martin), and operates a dedicated B2B/Espace Pro division supplying restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses with bespoke tea offerings, complemented by paid tea-making workshops.
Product overview
Le Parti du Thé is a Parisian tea house and e-commerce platform offering a curated portfolio of loose-leaf teas and tea accessories. The core product lines include teas by type (green, black, white, oolong, Pu Erh, Rooibos, scented teas), organic teas, seasonal collections (spring harvests, Christmas), and infusions. Accessory offerings encompass tea preparation tools (teapots including Degrenne insulated and Iwachu cast iron, Japanese kyusu), drinking vessels (Kinto cups, mugs, travel tumblers), storage solutions (tea boxes), and matcha bowls. The company operates two physical boutiques in Paris (Bastille/Faidherbe and Canal Saint-Martin) while primarily serving customers through its e-commerce platform with direct-to-consumer bulk tea sales, professional B2B distribution, and workshop experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Thés en vrac (Loose-Leaf Teas) Loose-leaf teas sourced directly from producers worldwide across green, black, white, oolong, Pu Erh, smoked, and scented varieties; origins include China, Japan, India, Taiwan, Rwanda, Nepal, Africa, and Sri Lanka. Sold by weight (50g to 1.5kg) to individual consumers and B2B hospitality clients.
- Infusions (Herbal Infusions) Caffeine-free herbal infusions including rooibos, fruit infusions, and wellness/detox blends marketed for everyday consumers.
- Matcha Matcha products including ceremonial-grade matcha from Kagoshima, Hoshino organic varieties, and culinary matcha for patisserie use.
- Coffrets de thé (Tea Gift Boxes) Curated tea gift boxes and themed collections (e.g., Coffret du Soir with classic origin and signature black teas plus caffeine-free infusions and Rooibos) marketed for gifting and seasonal purchase.
- Théières (Teapots) Teapots including cast iron (Iwachu), insulated stainless steel (Degrenne Salam), and Japanese kyusu styles.
- Tasses à thé et thermos (Tea Cups & Thermoses) Tea cups, mugs, and travel tumblers including Kinto brand (Ripple, Fog, Pebble, Travel Tumbler series), Viva mug collection, and Kinto Day Off thermoses with 6-hour heat/cold retention.
- Infuseurs et préparation du thé (Tea Infusers & Prep Tools) Tea infusers and strainers for loose-leaf tea preparation.
- Bols Matcha (Matcha Bowls) Matcha tea bowls for traditional Japanese tea ceremony preparation.
- Boîtes à thé (Tea Storage Boxes) Tea storage boxes including Washi paper tea boxes.
- Espace Pro (B2B Tea Supply Service) Dedicated professional services division supplying restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and specialty venues in Paris with premium teas and bespoke blends for service; company claims to supply 'the best tables in the capital'.
- Ateliers de fabrication de thé (Tea Making Workshops) Paid tea-making workshop experiences hosted at the Le Parti du Thé atelier in Paris, led by certified tea producers and technicians, where participants create their own exceptional green tea; priced at €60 per person, limited to 8 participants per session.
Companies that use Le Parti du Thé
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Le Parti du Thé technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Le Parti du Thé partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Le Parti du Thé competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- La Maison du Thé: French specialty tea e-tailer offering curated loose-leaf and flavored teas. Overlaps directly with Le Parti du Thé's D2C proposition and assortment depth, with similar target customer (French tea enthusiasts, gifting).
- Betjeman & Barton: French specialty tea brand offering single-origin and flavored loose-leaf teas through e-commerce and select retail. Comparable assortment strategy and target consumer, though smaller scale and less developed physical retail than Le Parti du Thé.
- Dammann Frères: Historic French tea company offering packaged loose-leaf teas, flavored blends, and accessories through retail and online channels. Direct competitor in the French specialty packaged-tea category, with comparable assortment breadth and B2B penetration in hospitality.
- Mariage Frères: Iconic Parisian tea house founded in 1854, with salons de thé, retail boutiques worldwide, and direct sourcing from tea plantations. Competes with Le Parti du Thé for premium Parisian tea drinkers and offers a similarly curated loose-leaf assortment and bespoke blending service.
- Palais des Thés: French specialty tea retailer founded by tea sommelier Damien Huang. Operates both physical boutiques (Paris and other French cities) and a strong e-commerce platform with a similar catalog of single-origin loose-leaf teas, accessories, and educational workshops. The most direct head-to-head competitor to Le Parti du Thé in the French specialty tea market.
Emerging players
- T2 Tea: Australian-origin premium tea retailer with strong boutique retail presence and signature packaging. Comparable positioning (curated loose-leaf, accessories, lifestyle branding) and emerging in European markets via wholesale and online channels.
- Harney & Sons: US family-owned premium tea company with wholesale distribution to hotels and restaurants and direct online sales. Comparable B2B hospitality model and assortment of premium loose-leaf and flavored teas with strong brand storytelling.
- Tea Forté: Premium tea brand known for pyramid tea bags, signature packaging, and hospitality gifting. Competes for the same premium gifting and B2B hospitality accounts as Le Parti du Thé, particularly with hotels and restaurants.
Broad incumbents
- Twinings: Mass-market tea brand owned by AB Foods with broad retail distribution including supermarkets, hotels, and foodservice. A larger incumbent with overlapping presence in the hospitality B2B channel where Le Parti du Thé supplies top Parisian restaurants.
- Kusmi Tea: Premium tea brand with significant retail footprint in France and internationally, owned by Orientis/Galgus. Competes across loose-leaf, bagged, and flavored teas with broader distribution including supermarkets and concept stores, making it a larger incumbent rather than a like-for-like specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Le Parti du Thé social profiles
Digital presenceLe Parti du Thé financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Le Parti du Thé leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Le Parti du Thé funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Le Parti du Thé 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 Le Parti du Thé
What does Le Parti du Thé do?
Le Parti du Thé is a Parisian tea house (operating since 2005 under the legal entity UNION TEA SARL) that curates and sells premium loose-leaf teas, matcha, infusions, and tea accessories directly imported from producers across China, Japan, India, Taiwan, Rwanda, Nepal, Africa, and Sri Lanka. It serves individual consumers through an e-commerce platform and two physical boutiques in Paris (Faidherbe and Canal Saint Martin), and operates a dedicated B2B/Espace Pro division supplying restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses with bespoke tea offerings, complemented by paid tea-making workshops.
Is Le Parti du Thé a public or private company?
Le Parti du Thé is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Le Parti du Thé founded?
Le Parti du Thé was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Le Parti du Thé based?
Le Parti du Thé is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Le Parti du Thé make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Tea Sales (B2C) is the primary driver. The others are professional/B2B Tea Supply and workshop and Experience Revenue.
Who are Le Parti du Thé's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are La Maison du Thé, Betjeman & Barton, Dammann Frères, Mariage Frères and Palais des Thés. Emerging players are T2 Tea, Harney & Sons and Tea Forté. Broad incumbents are Twinings and Kusmi Tea.
Does Le Parti du Thé have an API?
No public API is recorded for Le Parti du Thé.
What industry is Le Parti du Thé in?
Le Parti du Thé's product category is Specialty Tea Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAGAI, Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories), with a secondary code of THAFAKAD, Specialty Tea Shops (Loose-Leaf, Tea Bars). Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 5810.