Tea equipment and supplies are every bit as important to a food and beverage business as coffee is. Today, tea rivals coffee as the morning drink of choice and rivals soft drinks as a thirst quencher.

Subsequently, tea means big business for restaurants, cafés, fast food chains and even convenience stores, where tea brewing equipment and well-stocked tea stations often sit alongside self-serve coffee stations.

Tea supplies range from self-service items such as air pots and paper cups, to table service items, including:

1. Tea pots;

2. Tea cups;

3. Tea diffusers.

The tea market offers food and beverage operators with the right tea brewing equipment to increase sales and profit margins. An increasing demand for herbal teas and imported brands has led to a rapidly expanding market for wholesale tea suppliers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Lose the ball and chain with wholesale tea equipment

Serve tea in style with wholesale tea equipment. Fine china tea sets are pretty but very delicate and cannot withstand the rigors of commercial service in a restaurant or cafe. Durable tea equipment doesn't have to be boring.

I recommend: Gala Source is a leading tea equipment supplier that carries everything from teapots to tea diffusers. Find more wholesale tea supplies at Libbey, which offers a wide assortment of sturdy, high quality china.

Expand your tea selection with wholesale tea supplies

Today there is a demand for exotic teas from all over the world. There is also a growing emphasis on organic, sustainable farming methods. Select a variety of eco-friendly teas from across the globe. Your customers are sure to appreciate the many choices available.

I recommend: Buy all varieties of loose tea leaves through Coffee Bean Direct. They also sell tea approved by the the Fair Trade Federation. TeaGschwendner is a European company that now works out of the United States and offers a variety of different teas from around the globe. It is a wholesale tea distributor and also has retail stores throughout the United States. Arbor Teas has a large selection of USDA certified organic loose leaf teas. Download a catalog from Stash Teas.

Think outside the teapot with commercial tea equipment

Go beyond serving the standard cup of hot tea. Today tea is a popular chilled beverage at restaurants and in stores. Many places offer tea in the same manner they offer soda or other cold drinks, right through a drink fountain.

I recommend: Qwik Stock offers one-stop online shopping for all your hot and cold beverage paper supply needs. They also offer eco-friendly wholesale tea accessories such as biodegradable cups and lids. Adagio Teas offers menu ideas and many other helpful hints for preparing and serving tea.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Tea supplies aren't much good if no one knows how to use them. Increase sales by educating your staff on the different types of teas you serve and the proper method of serving both hot and cold tea.