An enterprising Ramsgate couple are on a mission to introduce loose leaf teas into people’s everyday lives.
Windfarm worker David Box and partner Jacqui Browne, who is a freelance graphic designer, are launching Postea – an online business selling curated tea boxes with a range of some 34 tea varieties.
David’s change of direction from his former role as crew on super yachts to advocate for a top brew is prompted by a desire to see the market grow and diversify in the same way as the coffee industry.
David, 35, said: “We have seen the evolution of coffee over the last 10 years. People have gone from being happy with instant coffee to brewing coffee at home with different beans and different styles.
“We think tea is set to follow the same trajectory with people moving away from the generic teabag in a cup to loose teas.
“There are environmental benefits as there are microplastics in teabags, so that’s not good for the environment as they do not fully compost. There are also health benefits and taste benefits.”
Loose leaf teas are said to offer health benefits because whole, unbroken leaves retain higher concentrations of natural antioxidants, vitamins, and essential oils as opposed to chopped dust found in many tea bags.
There are also a huge range of flavours, from black and green teas to fruit, herbal and chai teas, which are delivered to your door.
David says he wanted to start a business and saw a gap in the market for good quality but affordable teas.
He said: “We have 34 varieties of tea and 16 different boxes, including all black, all green, boxes for new mums, and capacity for customers to build their own boxes.”
David and Jacqui, who is expecting, are currently running the business alongside their main jobs but hope to expand.
The pair, who were sweethearts aged 17-18 and then met up again after a 15 year gap, are both from Ramsgate and say they feel the town is the right place for independent businesses.
David said: “We’re both big believers in the future of our hometown, Ramsgate. Having grown up in the area and now living here, we feel the town is turning a corner, with more independent businesses, creative projects, and local energy helping to shape what comes next.
“We believe entrepreneurship has an important role to play in that progress — not only as a driver of the local economy, but as a way for people to create opportunities, build community, and contribute to wider social advancement.”
The pair hope Postea will show people that loose leaf tea is not complicated and can be easy to make a part of every day life.
David added: “Postea is built around making good tea feel simple, accessible, and enjoyable — whether someone is trying loose-leaf tea for the first time, looking for a calming everyday ritual, or sending a gift to someone.
“One of the things we’re trying to challenge is the stigma around loose-leaf tea being too complicated or intimidating. We want to show that it can be easy to make part of everyday life, often offers better quality than standard tea bags, and can be a more considered choice for people who are thinking about their wellbeing and daily habits.”
The Postea website is online now.
Find Postea at: https://postea.co.uk/
We often use tea leaves in a pot, so much cheaper!
Nice idea – hopefully they have some lovely chai and some decaf options. What is the name all about though? I don’t really get the branding and the significance of the small ‘s’ as well on the packaging. I think a brand name that people can pronounce without feeling confused as to whether they’re saying it right is a good start. I guess it’s not aimed at me if I don’t ‘get’ it!
I’m guessing it’s pronounced “post tea”, though I might be wrong!
Why has this article been reposted to the front of the page (27th June)?
In case anyone fancied a cuppa.
Quiet news day?
Was a tea shop in Margit old town some years ago.. Went bust I think.
Yorkshire bags all the way… Proper