Our story

The long journey

The Story of The Tea Centre of Stockholm began far from the Swedish capital. Many decades ago, a young boy was sent by his father from their home in northern Sri Lanka to the southern part of the island nation to spend the summer with his uncle on a tea plantation. The idea was simply to give the boy a change of scenery between school terms, but curious and observant as he was, he would get more out of his walks on the plantation and conversations with the workers than anyone, himself included, could have predicted.

Something strange that the boy noticed around the plantation were the large boxes with strange words on them – Amsterdam, London, Paris. He had no idea at the time what these words meant. Just how familiar he would become with the boxes, their contents and the journey that lay ahead of them, he could never have imagined.

The goal in sight

His knowledge of the Orient and his command of the English language made him an important employee at KF, which provided him with leadership training and gave him responsibility for importing coffee and tea. The circle was about to close.

During his eleven years at KF, Vernon had the opportunity to learn everything there was to know about the beverage industry. With countless tastings and plantation visits around the world, as well as a deep understanding of import operations, he was now ready to start his own business.
In 1978, East West Scandinavia AB was founded.

The store is open

The newly started company would import and sell wholesale quantities of high-quality tea from the world's leading plantations. Office space was rented on the so-called Hornsgatspuckeln, but the property owners and neighbors – mainly galleries and other creative businesses – objected to the fact that the fine premises would only be used for offices and demanded some form of retail activity.

Thus was born The Tea Centre of Stockholm.

Having started as a small shop by pure chance, The Tea Centre of Stockholm has become an icon on Södermalm and the jewel in the crown of East West Scandinavia AB. It is an old-fashioned, homely shop where a single product is in focus – namely tea. A passion for tea permeates the atmosphere of the shop where even the interior itself is a delight for a true tea enthusiast. Tea of the highest class, personal service and good ethical standards are what characterize The Tea Centre of Stockholm.

Wholesale is still an important part of the business, but the company is undoubtedly best known for direct sales to the many tea lovers from all over the world who visit the store on Hornsgatan.

The tradition lives on

Something strange that the boy noticed around the flat
The tradition lives on
The big boxes were the ones with strange words on them – Amsterdam, London, Paris. He had no idea what those words meant. He had never imagined how familiar he would become with the boxes, their contents, and the journey that lay ahead of them.