The German Tea Association

Welcome

Knowledge and Mission. The German Tea & Herbal Infusions Association
Welcome to the German Tea & Herbal Infusions Association in Hamburg!

Emerged from the German Tea Association and the German Herbal Infusions Association, we just started representing the interest of our members in 2020 as an association with an already long tradition in creating transparency in all aspects of tea and infusions.

What unites us is the fascination of an incomparable culture. What drives us is the potential of this unique food.

Let yourself be inspired by our passion for tea and infusions. On the following pages you will discover substantial information, current market data, scientific studies and a variety of tips for connoisseurs and infotainment.

Tea Report 2024

Tea: Nurture You, Nature too

Once a year, our association issues the Tea Report you are reading to give tea industry achievements and commitment, both in Germany and worldwide, the recognition they deserve.  

Germany’s tea lovers supped 68.2 litres per capita in total in 2023. The lion’s share of 40.5 litres was herbal and fruit infusions, while black and green teas made up the remaining 27.7 litres. The total was just 0.9 litres less than in 2022 – virtual parity – and continued to outperform pre-pandemic levels. And weather, namely the exceptionally mild autumn of 2023, is probably a key reason for this 1.3% blip. The colder the season, the more customers tend to reach for a warming cuppa.

So the country’s passion for tea remains in rude health, as the figures reflect. In each minute of 2023, over 34,000 cups of black and green tea and over 56,000 cups of herbal and fruit infusions were drunk. Over a year, that‘s almost 47.5 billion brews enjoyed nationwide.

Download Issue 2024

The report is available in the following versions:

Download Graphic

Download short graphic overview „All in one!”

Tea Report 2023

Tea: savoured by many. Trusted by all.

Once a year, our association issues the Tea Report you are reading to give tea industry achievements and commitment, both in Germany and worldwide, the recognition they deserve.  

In 2022, German sales of teas, fruit and herbal infusions not only remained healthy but continued to outperform pre-pandemic figures. Nationwide, tea drinkers consumed a total of 69.1 million litres of tea varieties overall, 27.8 million of which were black and green and the remainder, fruit and herbal. That equates to 59,929 tonnes of tea across the country: 132 million cups a day or around 5.5 million an hour.

In this Tea Report 2023, we focus on the latest Germany-wide trends and developments in all things tea.

Download Issue 2023

The report is available in two versions:

In the event of publication of our information, we request citation of the source www.teeverband.de and a specimen copy. Our entire pictorial and informational material is available solely for editorial purpose.

The Association

Competence in a nutshell. German Tea & Herbal Infusions Association
Emerged from the German Tea Association and the German Herbal Infusions Association our new association is the new competence centre for tea and infusions.

Based on our unique know-how about tea and herbal infusions, it is our goal as an association to approach, inform and inspire the public with the world of tea and infusions: an almost limitlessly diverse universe of enjoyment with its scientific facts and interesting backgrounds.

We see tea and herbal infusions as natural foods with a long history as well as part of a pleasure-oriented lifestyle – a unique combination of traditions and trends.

Global progress at the centre of interest
Located in Hamburg, the European tea capital, we act as a new association with a long tradition right at the heart of the latest developments and scientific findings. Here, we bring together what belongs together: the knowledge about tea and infusions of the German Tea Association and the German Herbal Infusions Association.

Our common goals are to expedite quality assurance, consumer protection, progressive standards in the countries of origin, thereby to positively influence the entire market from the producer to the consumer – in Germany, throughout Europe and worldwide!

Please contact us. Just like good tea and herbal infusions, we are happy to share our knowledge and enthusiasm with you!

List of our members (Mitglieder) and associate members (Förderer)

Code of Conduct

Sustainability is part of our core business
Sustainability in all its facets is inseparably linked to the products and services of our member companies. Only if our industry lives up to its ecological, social and corporate responsibility with full commitment on a permanent basis, we can provide tea, as well as herbal and fruit infusions reliably, safely and in the highest quality. For this reason, sustainability is one of the central themes of our association’s strategy and supporting our members in this area is one of our most important tasks.

The foundation of our commitment to sustainability is the unconditional respect for human rights in accordance with the United Nations Charter and its Principles for Business and Human Rights, as well as our commitment to its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). We support the concerns of current European and national laws (e.g. the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act or the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive of the EU) and are committed to their implementation. At the same time, we know the challenges that our members face when implementing the new regulatory framework in business practice. As an association, it is our task to work together with our members on possible industry initiatives and solutions and to remain in dialogue with the legislative institutions.

Commitment to sustainable company and association governance
Many of our member companies can look back on a long tradition. Many of them have always felt committed to the model of the Honorable Merchant and the so-called good governance is a matter of course for them. However, new topics such as digital security and data protection keep challenging companies. As an association, we stand by in an advisory capacity and gradually provide our companies with assistance to help them solve special issues. Thus, our industry has given itself its own Code of Conduct. In order to make it easier for members to comply with new laws (e.g. the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act) we provide them with information material.

Transparency, fairness, a considerate approach to people and nature as well as a sustainable management have a long tradition amongst the member companies of the German Tea & Herbal Infusions Association. In order to safeguard these values, the members have committed themselves to complying with this Code of Conduct.

Downloads

Executive Board

Members of the board from left to right
Robert P. Scheibler, Christian Lange, Mathias Koop, Annemarie Leniger, Ralf Janecki, Frank Braun, Frank Schübel, Marco Sinram

Frank Schübel (Chairman)
Teekanne GmbH & Co. KG, (Düsseldorf)
C.E.O.

Christian Lange (Vice Chairman)
Martin Bauer GmbH & Co. KG (Vestenbergsgreuth)
Managing Director

Annemarie Leniger (Vice Chairlady)
Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft GmbH & Co. KG (Seevetal)
Managing Director

Ralf Janecki (Treasurer)
Hanseatic Tea Export GmbH (Bremen)
Managing Partner

Frank Braun
Hälssen & Lyon GmbH (Hamburg)
Director of Tea Purchasing & Quality

Mathias Koop
interTee Handelsgesellschaft mbH (Norderstedt)
Managing Director

Robert P. Scheibler
J. Fr. Scheibler GmbH & Co. KG (Hamburg)
Managing Partner

Marco Sinram
Wollenhaupt Tee GmbH (Reinbek)
Head of Tea Trading & Sustainability

 

 

Office

Dr. Monika Beutgen

Secretary General

Maximilian Wittig

Secretary General

Kyra Schaper

PR-Officer

Cordelia Kraft

Manager Scientific Affairs

Farshad La Rostami

Manager Scientific Affairs

Nicole Krämer

Office of the Secretary General

Pia-Doreen Lau

Office of the Secretary General

May we help you? Contact our press office or office for further information.