Rare Tea Company is a tea company based in London, England, UK with 43 teas in stock in our catalog. Last updated October 1, 2026 by My Tea Explorer.
Rare Tea Company in numbers
About Rare Tea Company
Rare Tea Company was founded in London in 2004 by Henrietta Lovell, a former finance worker known as the Tea Lady. It sells online from 35 Eyre Street Hill, EC1, with no walk-in shop. Much of its reputation comes from restaurant work: it has supplied Noma in Copenhagen, Momofuku in New York and Claridge's in London.
The company buys harvests directly from farmers who set their own prices, rather than through auctions. Estates on its list include Satemwa in Malawi, Jun Chiyabari in Nepal and Amba in Sri Lanka. The range is short: Earl Grey, a single-estate Malawi breakfast tea, Silver Tip Jasmine, wild rooibos and whole-leaf Chinese green. Start with the Lost Malawi English Breakfast, an unusual origin for a breakfast tea.
Founded in 2004 in London
- Headquarters
- London, England, UK
- Founded
- 2004
- Founder
- Henrietta Lovell
- Known for
- Direct-trade single-estate tea; Malawian and Nepali tea; Earl Grey; Restaurant tea programs
- How they source and sell
- Direct trade: buys harvests from farmers who set their own prices, including Satemwa in Malawi and Jun Chiyabari in Nepal, rather than through auctions or brokers.
Rare Tea Company catalog snapshot
- 43 of 46 listed teas in stock
- Median $0.56 per gram of leaf
- Listings run $5.31 to $167.40 (USD per listing, any pack size)
Listed prices on October 1, 2026, not live. Rare Tea Company prices in GBP; we converted them to USD, so expect small differences at checkout. Compare per-gram prices across brands in the Tea Price Index.
Signature teas (5)
Where to start with Rare Tea Company. The full catalog has 43 teas in stock; these are the ones the brand is best known for.
Rare Earl Grey Tea
Silver Tip Jasmine Tea
Single Estate Lost Malawi English Breakfast
South African Wild Rooibos Tea
Chinese Whole Leaf Green Tea
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Rare Tea Company?
Henrietta Lovell founded it in London in 2004.
How does Rare Tea Company buy tea?
It buys harvests directly from farmers who set their own prices, including Satemwa in Malawi and Jun Chiyabari in Nepal, rather than buying at auction.
Does Rare Tea Company have a shop?
No. It sells online from its London base at 35 Eyre Street Hill.