A 100+ Year Love Affair with Tea and Canadian Tea Lovers

Our tea leaves come from around the world, but King Cole is as Canadian as it gets. We are one of very few companies that blend and produce our teas right here in Canada at our facility in New Brunswick. For us, tea is not just a beverage, it’s a legacy. Every cup of King Cole is a cup of Canadian pride, a cup that supports local jobs and the economy, and a cup that helps create new memories and stories from coast to coast.

1867 Confederation, and brothers George L. and William Barbour establish a food wholesaling business in what is now Market Square, Saint John, NB. 1895 George Barbour’s son G.E. Barbour becomes owner, adding the tea and coffee offerings of newly acquired Dickason & Armstrong. 1908 A New York tea merchant sends samples of tea to his customers in small silk pouches. They mistakenly assume the bags are to replace their metal infusers. Unintentionally, the tea bag is born! 1910 The King Cole Tea brand is introduced on South Market Wharf in Saint John, New Brunswick 1930 The King Cole Old English Blend Tea box has always been orange! 1940 Tea bags start to catch on as a convenient and reliable way to brew a delicious cup of tea. 1950 King Cole Teas can be found in most Atlantic Canadian cupboards. 1967 Barbours, and Canada, celebrate 100 years. 2010 The King Cole brand turns 100! 2013 King Cole introduces new packaging and tea flavours. Our History Steeped in
Tradition Here’s a brief overview of the high points in our tea history. The great part is we’re still going strong and brewing up new highlights along the way. SEE OUR HISTORY King Cole Orange Pekoe

The Crafting Journey Starts at the Source

Wherever you find the best tea growers in the world, you’ll find us exploring, sampling, and sourcing the tea leaves that make King Cole the king of quality and taste. Our leaves come from world-famous tea gardens in India and Africa where the tea is sustainably grown, responsibly harvested, and carefully packaged and shipped. Some of our tea relationships go all the way back to the beginning of our tea business. We’ve stuck to what works, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Straight from the Source to Canada Freshness matters. That’s why we waste no time getting tea leaves from the field to our facility. The leaves don’t spend time sitting in warehouses or taking the slow route from wherever. The fastest path delivers the freshest leaves. And the freshest leaves deliver the freshest cup of tea possible. Sustainability Brewed In Canada Responsible growing and harvesting practices, fair trade principles, respecting the growers and the land. Sustainability is brewed into what we do, and it extends beyond the tea leaves to areas like shipping and responsible manufacturing practices at our facility such as planning to switch to an even more environmentally friendly tea bag material in the not-too-distant future. Consistency is King 100+ years of blending experience has taught us that consistency is king. Every year, growing conditions vary a bit, and so does the tea crop. Our master blender expertly takes what nature gives us and makes tiny adjustments with every batch blended to ensure the characteristic flavour profile King Cole drinkers know and love never changes. Rise to Every Occasion One tea does not fit all, but all teas must meet our high quality and consistency standards. So, whether you’re starting your day with a bold orange pekoe, relaxing with a green tea, or sipping one of our flavoured teas, whatever the occasion in your day, you won’t be disappointed.

The Art of Crafting

Meet Our
Master Tea Crafter

Steve is our Tea Master, and he lives for tea. He grew up around it and learned the art of tasting from his father and grandfather. You could say it’s a family tradition, and as part of the King Cole Family, he does a lot including sourcing and buying teas, blending for production, experimenting with new products, and quality assurance. Did we mention he tastes up to 100 cups a day?