Tea Merchants in 19th century

Tea Merchants in 19th century
Not only international traders benefited from the wild popularity of tea, but domestic merchants as well.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, tea was still sold in bulk, but in 1826 a merchant by the name of John Horniman packaged and sold tea leaves in small boxes or tins.

People loved this, particularly since Horniman guaranteed the quality of the product.

Throughout the long history of tea in England, grocers who sold bulk in tea were often tempted to add the dried leaves of other, less expensive plants to stretch out the costly Chinese tea.

Prepackaged tea from a reputable merchant was a more dependable product, and Horniman’s company prospered until it was finally bought out by Lyons in 1918.

As the nineteenth century progressed and teas as being produced in India and other places, several merchants began tor specialized in tea.

In England there were four major brands that dominated: Lyons, Brooke Bond, Ty-phoo (which produced just one blend and sold it at a single price as a digestive aid), and the Co-op Wholesale Society in Manchester.

The Co-op was established in 1863 and served as wholesaler to five hundred co-operative societies across Britain.

Of all the names associated with team Lipton is perhaps the best known. Sir Thomas Lipton was born Glasgow in 1850 and worked in family grocery store during his early years.

When he was fifteen years old, he went to America and worked in the food section of a New York department store, where she fell in love with American advertising and merchandising.

When he returned to Scotland, he opened his first small grocery store in Glasgow in 1871. By 1880, he owned and operated a chain of twenty general stores.
Tea Merchants in 19th century