How to Choose the Right Wholesale Tea Supplier in Australia

Whether you're running a café or offering a drinks option when customers visit your premises, a tasty warming cup of tea goes a long way to making a good impression. Especially with prices rising consistently, you'll want to protect your bottom line while also providing a great product.

That's where wholesale tea suppliers come in, allowing you to access quality products at affordable prices. In this guide we'll give you some tips on finding the right supplier for your needs.

What to Consider With the Supplier

When making this decision, you should be able to request samples from suppliers. This lets you make sure you're happy to serve the product. When you receive the samples check for:

• Intact Leaves: This proves you've got a quality product on your hands. Whole leaves and buds are packed with the nutrients and oils that make a tasty, flavourful cup of tea. Broken, dry, dusty leaves, buds and petals indicate a product that's been picked poorly or allowed to sit in storage for a long time, so you won't get a good taste.

• Bright Tea: If the leaves & buds are colourful and vivid, this shows freshness and a good harvesting process which will result in a tasty cup.

• Strong Smell: Again, this indicates a fresh product and a nice smell tends to translate to a good taste.

• Fresh, Rich Taste: Even if you're not a tea person yourself it's best to make a cup and ensure it's a nice drinking experience for your customers. Black teas have an earthy bold taste while herbal teas have a light floral palate.

Next, check the testimonials for suppliers. This gives you an indication that the company has delivered a quality product to customers like you consistently. If you attend networking sessions, you could also ask other business owners who their suppliers are and whether they're happy to help you make your decision.

What to Consider From Your Side

When deciding on a wholesale tea supplier, it's best to consider your needs first. When you start your search answer these questions:

• Do I Need Loose Leaf or Tea Bags?: Bagged tea can be easier to store and serve but loose tea creates a visual spectacle. If you're looking to have a wide range of herbal or fruit teas, storing loose leaf in glass jars behind your counter can draw in customers. Most wholesalers will offer both options but knowing your needs upfront can help you narrow it down.

• How Much Tea can I Store Properly?: Teas should be stored in airtight containers in a cool space out of direct sunlight. This preserves the taste and ensures you get maximum shelf life from the product. If you don't have a lot of space to keep tea before serving or don't serve tea every day, this can narrow down your search. For example, if one supplier only supplies large bags that would spoil before they were used you could discount them.

• What Teas Should I Choose?: This isn't a decision you need to make immediately but make sure you've considered a range of options. While black teas are popular across the globe so you should have a supply of them, the popularity of lower caffeine options such as green, herbal, and fruit teas is on the rise. Choosing a supplier with a wide product range will ensure you can provide great choice to your customers and can mix up your offerings by season if you choose. It's also a good idea to monitor which options your customers are enjoying the most and make new choices based on that. For example, if you've trialled a new orange tea and it's been a hit, does your supplier have any other options which orange or citrus notes to try?

Should you Choose Organic?

Australian consumers are becoming increasingly aware of what they put in their body and their impact on the environment. Organic teas appeal to those seeking a more natural product and environmentally friendly growing methods:

• No Chemicals: Traditional tea farms often use fertilisers and pesticides for rapid growth. With organic teas, no synthetic fertilisers or pesticides are used, supporting a more natural approach to farming. The run-off from these chemicals can also damage wildlife and taint water supplies if not used cautiously. With organic teas, no chemical fertilisers and pesticides are used so there's no need to worry about this toxic residue.

• Perceived Benefits: Some consumers believe organic teas offer a purer and more natural flavour due to the absence of synthetic additives.

• Better Taste: Without anything masking the flavour, organic teas taste richer, and many consumers find they can't go back to regular tea once they're used to the taste.

When choosing an organic supplier make sure you look for one that proudly displays their 'ACO' label. This stands for Australian Certified Organic and is the only way to ensure that the product is regulated. With this label, the whole supply chain from growth to transport has been checked and no use of synthetic chemical or irradiation has been found so you can buy with confidence.

Why you can Trust Teavision for Your Wholesale Tea Needs

We've been supplying businesses like yours for more than 10 years and we have built a strong global network in that time allowing us to source quality products, including a certified organic range. Browse our range now and sign up for a wholesale account to access our best prices.

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