Thanks to the London Tea House, now on Facebook, by clicking on www.londonteahouse.co.uk you can buy many different types of original English teas and infusions. Their service is also available to professionals.
The idea was born in 2009 and from the imagination of Roberta Borsotti, originally from Piacenza, but she moved to London soon after her university studies.
“It all started in 2009 when I was at home on maternity leave with my first son. I wanted to make use of the “dead” time when he took his naps and I wanted to do something that had nothing to do with housework or childcare. Something for me but something that wasn’t as demanding as a full time job.”
How did the idea come about?
“Every time I went back to Italy, relatives and friends asked me to bring them back some tea so I thought that, maybe, there was a niche in the market waiting to be filled and so I opened a “shop” on e-Bay basically, however it wasn’t a full time job.”
Why exactly eBay?
“Because it’s a site that operates on a world level and offers complete visibility without the high costs. If business goes well in the future then maybe I will create my own website.”
The initial results?
“The idea has certainly turned out to be a good one, because I have had a lot of orders and in the first year I have already got a good client base. One of the things I said to myself (and still do) is that even if some of the teas I sell are available abroad, those that come from the UK have a different taste.”
What does the London Tea House offer?
“The teas that I supply are those of the most famous brands in the UK and range from the most well known brands like Twinings to the most exclusive of Ahmad Tea of London and Harrods.
It is a wide range with about a dozen different brands and qualities available. But when I speak of tea I’m not only referring to the classic black and green teas, but also to every other type infusion. Also, there are different gift boxes and assorted boxes on offer. Basically, I try to offer something for every taste and price. I mainly sell tea in tea bags, but on request it is possible to buy it as the leaf or to buy specific products which I maybe don’t offer regularly at the moment. The service is also open to bars and cafes, to which I offer different prices to the public depending on the order.”