About Us
About Us
The Tetley Story
In 1837, two brothers, Joseph and Edward Tetley started selling tea. A partnership with Joseph Ackland in 1856 resulted in the trio forming Joseph Tetley & Company, Wholesale Tea Dealers.
Since the 1960s, we’ve developed and nurtured people’s love of drinking tea by releasing new and exciting products like the round tea bag introduced in 1989 which quickly became a recognizable brand trademark.
A truly global brand, our teas are enjoyed in over 40 countries and are available in a variety of flavours and formats made to accompany all of life’s moments.
Tetley Today
We’re proud of being Canada’s #1 tea brand. With over 185 years of experience, tea is totally our thing.
Our goal is simple: we make teas that help Canadians live better every day. Whether it’s kickstarting your mornings with a cup of well-loved Orange Pekoe, making it easier (and tastier) to get your daily vitamins and minerals with Super Teas, or helping you live in the moment with Live Teas. There’s a tea for every moment.
Cheers to tea time however you enjoy it most.
Sustainability
We’re committed to ensuring a better life for our farmers, better tea for you, and a better environment for everyone.
Ethical Tea Partnership
We’re one of the founding members of the Ethical Tea Partnership who are committed to improving the conditions of farmers growing our tea around the world. The Ethical Tea Partnership’s vision is to create a socially just, environmentally sustainable, and thriving tea industry.
Rainforest Alliance
100% of our black, green, and rooibos teas are Rainforest Alliance certified. The green frog seal on our packs indicates that our farmer’s plantations have been audited against rigorous certification standards that require meaningful steps toward long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability. By purchasing our teas, you're helping support the livelihoods of farmers and contributing to positive change.
Tea 2030
We’re proud to be a part of Tea 2030, a partnership between some of the largest tea companies, sustainability organizations, and academics. Together members identify long-term challenges of the tea industry and work together to develop solutions and ensure a sustainable global industry.
Social Responsibility
Helping to make life better for the farmers, families, and communities that help make our tea.
Canadian Cancer Society
We’re longtime supporters of the Canadian Cancer Society and the breast cancer cause, a disease that impacts many individuals and communities across Canada. Being a supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society is our way of providing a bit of warmth for the many Canadians and their families affected by breast cancer.
Since 2001, we’ve contributed over $850,000 to the breast cancer cause.
Lighting Lives in Malawi
We’re proud to support the Kuwala project for the third year in Malawi with our friends at the Ethical Tea Partnership.
The program supports families on the estates of two of our biggest suppliers in Malawi in two important ways.
Solar Lamps
Just 4% of the rural poor in Malawi have access to electricity so candles and paraffin lights are often the only source of lighting for tasks after dark.
We with our friends at the Ethical Tea Partnership are giving solar lamps to as many families on the estates. So far lights have been given to 6,600 families.
Now, children can do their homework and people can meet outdoors and do a range of other tasks after dark that they couldn’t do before. Jobs are also being created. So far 45 people were trained to service and repair the lamps, so they have as long a life as possible.
Image Credit: Karel Prinsloo
Saving Together
We’re proud to support the Kuwala project for the third year in Malawi with our friends at the Ethical Tea Partnership.
The program supports families on the estates of two of our biggest suppliers in Malawi in two important ways.
Saving Together
As part of the Kuwala project, tea communities are being supported to set up and run their own ‘banking system.'
Called Village Savings Loans Associations (VSLAs), it’s like a community bank where workers get together and save in small groups. Each group has a leader who is trained on the rules of how to run the VSLA and the group are given tips on ways to grow their income. Once set up, savers get interest on their savings, they can access their own money like a normal bank, and request loans.
They are proving a big hit. 5,613 workers have become involved and 320 VSLAs have been formed. 51% of savers are women 41% have been able to use savings to buy a cell phone and 50% have been able to add iron sheeting to their houses for the first time.
Image Credit: ETP