The Republic of Tea facts for kids
| Private | |
| Industry | Beverage |
| Founded | 1992 in Novato, California, U.S. |
| Founders | Mel Ziegler, Patricia Ziegler, Bill Rosenzweig |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
|
| Products | Loose-Leaf Tea Tea Bags Tea-Related Products |
| Owner | Ron Rubin |
The Republic of Tea is a company in Larkspur, California, USA. They make and sell over 350 kinds of tea across North America. This company was one of the first to sell special teas like rooibos red tea and white tea to people in America.
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How the Company Started
The Republic of Tea was started in 1992. It was founded by three people: Mel Ziegler, Patricia Ziegler, and Bill Rosenzweig. The Zieglers had also started another famous company called Banana Republic.
In 1994, Ron Rubin bought the company. His son, Todd Rubin, joined the company in 2007. Todd became the president in 2015. Ron Rubin is now the Executive Chairman and "Minister of Tea."
The company has a fun way of naming things. They call their employees "ministers." Their customers are called "citizens." And their stores are known as "embassies."
How The Republic of Tea Works
The Republic of Tea sells its products in special stores. These include places like Whole Foods Market and Williams Sonoma. They do not plan to sell their teas in very large stores like Costco or Walmart. The company likes to grow slowly and steadily. They are proud to operate without owing any money.
Caring for the Planet
The company cares about sustainable agriculture. This means they try to farm in ways that protect the Earth. They get some of their teas from special farms called biodynamic farms. These farms use natural methods to grow plants.
The Republic of Tea also makes "Sonoma Teas." These teas are made from dried grape skins. These skins would otherwise be thrown away. The company works with farms that are fair-trade and organic. This means they pay farmers fairly and use natural farming methods. They want to help the places where their tea comes from. They also want to help the farmers.
Their motto is "Sip By Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp." This means they encourage people to enjoy tea slowly. It's about being mindful. They also test their products very carefully. This happens at the tea gardens and where the tea is packed. This makes sure all their products are safe to drink.
Keeping it in the Family
Both Ron and Todd Rubin have said they do not want to sell The Republic of Tea. Some people think the company could be worth a lot of money. But Ron Rubin has always wanted his company to stay family-owned. He wants it to remain a private business.
