Our Story
Tea, Thoughtfully Made. Purposefully Shared.
Tea Ideas is a Singapore tea brand bringing together exceptional leaves, considered design and meaningful inclusion.
About Tea Ideas
Founded in 2012 by tea enthusiast Jacinta Ong, Tea Ideas began with a simple belief: exceptional tea should feel special, without being complicated.
We curate whole-leaf teas and premium Gyokuro, alongside Japanese matcha, for contemporary lifestyles. Each tea is selected for its character, quality and ability to transform an everyday pause into a more considered experience.
Our patented Tea Wand makes whole-leaf tea remarkably effortless. Designed to let the leaves open fully within the wand, it produces a clean, flavourful infusion that can be enjoyed over two to three steeps. When placed flat, it remains neat and drip-free.
From the beginning, our purpose has extended beyond the cup. Tea Ideas creates meaningful employment, training and enterprise opportunities for seniors, renal patients, caregivers and persons with disabilities.
For us, premium quality and social purpose are not separate ideas — they are both part of creating something of lasting value.
Our Pioneering Spirit
Tea Ideas has always approached tea differently:
- Co-inventor of the patented, non-drip Tea Wand
- A pioneer in introducing ultra-premium Gyokuro tea powder to the ASEAN market
- Making high-quality Japanese tea more accessible through contemporary formats
- Combining premium tea experiences with inclusive employment and enterprise opportunities
From Humble Beginnings
Tea Ideas began in 2012 with the invention and patenting of the Tea Wand. Producing it also created some of our earliest employment opportunities for seniors, renal patients and persons with disabilities who were often overlooked in conventional workplaces.
What began as one product gradually grew into a wider tea experience.
From there, we established the Tea Art Gallery, bringing together tea appreciation, design, culture and storytelling. Around the same time, our retail outlet at Tan Tock Seng Hospital became a familiar presence for healthcare professionals, caregivers, patients and visitors navigating long and demanding days.
In 2023, we opened our café at Orchard Central. As demand grew, we expanded our seating and welcomed guests from Singapore and around the world, who came for the tea and stayed for the story behind it.
Today, our journey continues through Sippy Mug Café, our social franchising café model located at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Here, seniors, caregivers and persons with disabilities work alongside one another, developing practical café skills and taking progressive steps towards greater independence. For some, it may also become a pathway towards co-managing or co-owning a future café or kiosk.
Our story continues to unfold through every person we train, every opportunity we create and every cup we serve.
More Than a Tea Brand. A People Brand.
Being a people brand means placing people at the heart of how we operate and grow.
Individuals of different ages, abilities, health conditions and life experiences are welcomed into our team and entrusted with meaningful responsibilities. Each person brings distinct strengths, perspectives and contributions.
To us, inclusion doesn't mean lowering expectations. It means understanding people more deeply, providing the right support, and creating an environment in which they can contribute with confidence.
As our people grow, Tea Ideas grows with them.
Recognition and Trust
Our journey has been recognised through the Brands For Good Distinction Award, the NKF Certificate of Appreciation and the Steward Leadership Award.
Our teas and corporate gifts have also been selected by organisations including Hilton, DBS, Meta, Procter & Gamble and Marina Bay Sands.