Tea & Hot Chocolate

Why Washington State Is Home to Some of America's Finest Specialty Tea Companies

From the bustling stalls of Seattle's historic Pike Place Market to artisan tea blenders crafting small batches across the state, Washington has earned a reputation as one of America's premier destinations for exceptional tea.

While Seattle may be best known for coffee, tea has been part of Washington's story for well over a century. Today, the state is home to respected tea companies that source the world's finest leaves, create distinctive handcrafted blends, and continue a tradition of quality that has made Washington a favorite destination for tea lovers.

A Pacific Gateway to the World's Great Teas

Washington's tea story begins with geography.

For generations, the Port of Seattle has served as one of America's most important gateways for trade across the Pacific Ocean. Tea from renowned growing regions—including China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and other parts of Asia—has arrived on Washington's shores before making its way to homes and businesses throughout North America.

This long history of international trade helped foster a deep appreciation for premium tea and introduced Washington consumers to an extraordinary variety of teas from around the world.

Over time, local entrepreneurs transformed that appreciation into thriving businesses focused on sourcing, blending, and sharing exceptional teas.

A Legacy That Began in Pike Place Market

No company better represents Washington's tea heritage than MarketSpice Tea.

Founded in 1911, MarketSpice has been part of Seattle's famous Pike Place Market for more than a century. Originally established as a spice merchant, the company became internationally known for its signature Cinnamon-Orange Tea—a distinctive black tea blended with natural cinnamon and orange flavors that has become one of the Pacific Northwest's most beloved beverages.

Walk through Pike Place Market today, and one of the first aromas visitors notice is the warm, inviting fragrance of MarketSpice Tea. For generations of Seattle residents and visitors alike, that unmistakable scent has become part of the city's identity.

Many travelers make it a tradition to bring MarketSpice Tea home as a reminder of their visit to Washington, while countless local families have made it a staple in their kitchens for decades.

A Culture That Values Craftsmanship

Washington has long celebrated artisan food and beverage makers.

The same culture that helped elevate craft coffee, artisan chocolate, award-winning wine, small-batch spirits, and handcrafted foods has also created an ideal home for specialty tea companies.

Rather than producing commodity teas, Washington tea makers focus on carefully selecting premium leaves, herbs, botanicals, fruits, and spices to create blends that deliver exceptional flavor and aroma.

Many companies blend their teas in small batches, allowing greater attention to consistency, freshness, and quality.

The result is a remarkable diversity of teas—from classic English Breakfast and Earl Grey to herbal infusions, wellness blends, green teas, chai, rooibos, fruit teas, and uniquely Pacific Northwest-inspired creations.

Quality Begins with Exceptional Ingredients

Like coffee, tea reflects where it is grown.

Washington's specialty tea companies source premium tea leaves from many of the world's finest tea-growing regions, including:

• China
• Japan
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Nepal
• South Africa (for rooibos)

Each region contributes its own distinctive flavor profile, influenced by climate, elevation, soil, and traditional growing methods.

Once those teas arrive in Washington, experienced blenders combine them with carefully selected herbs, spices, flowers, citrus, berries, and other natural ingredients to create blends that are both distinctive and memorable.

More Americans Are Discovering Premium Tea

Tea is one of the world's most widely consumed beverages, second only to water.

In the United States, tea continues to grow in popularity as consumers seek beverages that offer variety, wellness benefits, and lower caffeine options. According to the Tea Association of the U.S.A., Americans drink well over 80 billion servings of tea each year, with specialty and premium teas representing one of the fastest-growing segments of the market.

Washington's specialty tea companies have been well positioned to meet this growing demand by emphasizing quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship.

Tea That Reflects the Pacific Northwest Lifestyle

Tea fits naturally into life in Washington.

Whether it's warming up after a hike in the Cascade Mountains, relaxing during a rainy afternoon in Seattle, or gathering with friends on the Olympic Peninsula, tea has become part of the rhythm of everyday life throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Many Washington tea companies create blends inspired by the region itself, incorporating flavors that evoke forests, mountains, orchards, berries, lavender fields, and the changing seasons.

These uniquely local interpretations help distinguish Washington teas from those produced elsewhere.

Why Choose Tea Blended in Washington?

When you purchase tea from a Washington company, you're supporting businesses that combine global ingredients with local craftsmanship.

Many Washington tea makers carefully blend and package their products close to home, ensuring attention to detail while supporting local jobs and small businesses.

Whether you're looking for a comforting cup of black tea, a refreshing green tea, a naturally caffeine-free herbal blend, or an unforgettable gift, Washington's specialty tea companies offer something for every taste.

Discover Washington's Rich Tea Tradition

For more than a century, Washington has welcomed the world's finest teas through its ports, celebrated the artistry of blending, and introduced generations of tea lovers to exceptional flavors.

From the iconic aroma of MarketSpice Tea drifting through Pike Place Market to today's innovative artisan tea companies crafting premium blends across the state, Washington continues to build on a rich tradition of quality and craftsmanship.

At Made In Washington, we're proud to feature teas created by Washington makers who carry this tradition forward. Whether you're discovering the legendary taste of MarketSpice Tea for the first time or exploring new handcrafted blends from local tea companies, every cup offers a delicious connection to the Pacific Northwest and the people who have made Washington one of America's great tea destinations.

By far the most popular tea at Made In Washington, year after year, is MarketSpice Original Cinnamon-Orange. People love it's delicious natural sweetness from the cinnamon.

Founded in Seattle in 1911, MarketSpice Tea has become one of Washington's most iconic tea companies. Located in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market, MarketSpice is best known for its signature Cinnamon-Orange Tea, a flavorful black tea blended with natural cinnamon and orange.

For generations, the warm aroma of freshly brewed MarketSpice Tea has welcomed visitors exploring Pike Place Market. Many people consider it one of Seattle's signature flavors, alongside fresh seafood, artisan foods, and locally roasted coffee.

Today, MarketSpice Tea continues to be handcrafted in Washington and remains one of the Pacific Northwest's most popular gifts, offering tea lovers around the country a taste of Seattle's rich culinary heritage.

Washington is not a major commercial producer of traditional tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), which are primarily grown in warm, humid climates such as China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. Instead, Washington's tea companies import exceptional tea leaves from these world-renowned growing regions and then expertly blend, flavor, and package them locally.

This allows Washington tea makers to focus on what they do best: selecting outstanding teas, developing unique recipes, and creating memorable flavor combinations inspired by the Pacific Northwest.

Some companies also incorporate locally grown ingredients—such as lavender, peppermint, berries, honey, and herbs—into their blends, giving many Washington teas a distinctive regional character.

Most traditional teas come from a single plant: Camellia sinensis. The difference between tea types comes from how the leaves are processed after harvest.

• Black Tea – Full-bodied and rich, making it one of the world's most popular teas.
  
• Green Tea – Fresh, grassy, and lightly vegetal.
  
• White Tea – Delicate, smooth, and minimally processed.
  
• 
  Oolong Tea – Falls between green and black tea, offering remarkable complexity.
  
• 
  Herbal Tea (Tisanes) – Made from herbs, fruits, flowers, or spices rather than tea leaves, and naturally caffeine-free in most cases.
  
• 
  Rooibos – A naturally caffeine-free herbal tea from South Africa with a smooth, slightly sweet flavor.
  

Washington tea companies offer exceptional examples of all of these styles, making it easy to find a tea for every taste and every occasion.

Specialty tea begins with higher-quality tea leaves that are carefully grown, harvested, and processed to preserve their natural flavor and aroma. Rather than focusing on mass production, specialty tea companies emphasize craftsmanship, freshness, and thoughtfully developed blends.

Many Washington tea companies source premium teas from the world's leading tea-growing regions and combine them with natural ingredients such as citrus, berries, lavender, peppermint, cinnamon, ginger, and other botanicals. The result is tea with greater complexity, richer aroma, and more distinctive flavor than many conventional supermarket teas.

Whether you enjoy black tea, green tea, oolong, white tea, herbal tea, or rooibos, choosing specialty tea allows you to experience the unique character of carefully selected ingredients.