Logo des 200 Jahre Jubiläum von Ronnefeldt

GIVE US 2 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME
We’ll give you 200 years of ours.


Ronnefeldt celebrates its 200th anniversary

An excellent reason to thank you for your loyalty. We are giving away an exclusive journey into the origins of tea with the Ronnefeldt Tea Academy®.

Get ready to join us on the historical journey of a family-run tea trading company – from its foundation by Johann Tobias Ronnefeldt in 1823 to the present day and into the next 200 years. 
 FAMILY BUSINESS

FAMILY BUSINESS

Long-term thinking, future-oriented decisions and personal relationships with partners and customers – these are the traits of a family-run business. Friederike Ronnefeldt knew this when she took over the tea trade from her late husband in 1845. And so did her sons and all their successors – up to the present day.  

Photo: Friederike Ronnefeldt with her children ca. 1847
Loser Tee in Form eines Herzen mit einer Bio-Flagge

COLLABORATION

Herwarth Westphal, the grandson of Carl Rudolf and Emma Ronnefeldt, was born in Shanghai in 1922. His father’s family had already been represented in China with their tea trading company for five generations. Herwarth’s parents worked in a joint venture with the firm King & Ramsay. Historical photographs of this partnership show what tea rooms looked like at the time. In this picture, you can see Mr King alongside the oldest ‘teaman’ of Hankou, one of the most important tea trading centres during that time.

Photo: Mr King with the oldest ‘teaman’ of Hankou

CONTAINER SHIPS

Since time immemorial, tea has been transported to Europe across the sea by merchant ships. In recent times, however, there has been an exception; the first Darjeeling harvest, which is aroma-sensitive, is usually transported by air. Since 2021, we no longer transport tea by air. This is an example of the future-oriented decisions that play an important role when it comes to fighting climate change and preserving nature.
Loser Tee in Form eines Herzen mit einer Bio-Flagge

FEMALE-RUN BUSINESS

Friederike Ronnefeldt, the wife of founder Johann Tobias Ronnefeldt, had five children, took care of their education and the household and became a widow at an early age. After the death of her husband, she led the then-still-young Ronnefeldt company to a successful future, as can be seen today, 200 years later. Friederike Ronnefeldt was thus one of the first female CEOs in history.

Photo: Friederike Ronnefeldt ca. 1890

WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU

Passion and visions of tea


The question of the recipe for success of a 200-year-old family business may be easier to answer than one might think. I am convinced that it is our passion for tea that has driven us tirelessly over generations.

When Johann Tobias Ronnefeldt set out in search of the finest teas from distant lands in the early days of the 19th century, he chose a challenging path. For me, this makes the task of continuing this traditional company with vision and pride all the more a matter of honour.
 
The ability to enjoy a cup of Ronnefeldt tea after two centuries is thanks to you as loyal partners and great customers. Together with you and our passionate employees, we have managed to become one of the world’s leading tea brands in the upscale hotel and catering industry. We are so proud. 

Thank you for our enriching partnership and the trust you have placed in us over the years. I look forward to continuously inspiring you with gourmet tea of the highest quality and to writing further chapters in the history of tea together.

Looking to the future with great anticipation: The Next 200 Years Of Tea Excellence
 
Sincerely,

Jan-Berend Holzapfel
 

TEA CONNECTS
and makes us grateful

Tea allows us to spend time together with the people that are closest to us. Devoting time to tea means reconnecting with oneself. Serving high-quality tea also means treating your guests to something special. 

We look back on two centuries of exciting tea history with formative partnerships: from the highest levels of the hotel and catering industry to the national tea trade and our international authorized dealers.

We highly value your feedback and always welcome the opportunity to exchange ideas. This is the only way we can continue to grow.
 

FINEST TEA ENJOYMENT
to toast 200 years of tea history

To mark Ronnefeldt's 200th anniversary, our tea tasters have selected a particularly delicious anniversary tea: The 1823 Anniversary Edition Royal White Tea & Cassis.
Ronnefeldt 1823 Anniversary Edition

1823 ANNIVERSARY EDITION

In honour of Ronnefeldt’s 200-year anniversary, our tea tasters have selected an especially delicious anniversary tea: The 1823 Anniversary Edition Royal White Tea & Cassis.


The 1823 Anniversary Edition Royal White Tea & Cassis is a noble flavored white tea that has been refined with a fruity-mild cassis aroma. In addition to its light yellow cup color, it seduces with a particularly fine taste, with a mild-sweet character and a pleasantly fresh note. It is available both as loose tea and pre-portioned in the Ronnefeldt LeafCup® for business customers.

It comes from the traditional tea-growing area of Yunnan in China, a special place that is considered the birthplace of Chinese tea culture. The excellent white tea Royal White Tea & Cassis underscores the long history and expertise of our company. White tea is celebrated worldwide as one of the most exclusive types of tea – it was once reserved only for the Chinese emperor and his court.

The leaves for the refined Royal White Tea & Cassis originate from the Bai Hao cultivar. The tea garden in which it thrives is located at an elevation of 1,200 metres in the mountainous region of Pu-Erh. Only the first tender tea leaf and the still-unopened leaf bud with its silvery hairs are gently harvested by hand and processed with the greatest care.

200 YEARS
A journey through time

Legendary stories begin as fairy tales
Tea has accompanied mankind for centuries. Wherever this amazing plant conquered new continents, it led people to cultivate its enjoyment. Owing to his fascination for tea, Johann Tobias Ronnefeldt founded Teehaus Ronnefeldt 200 years ago. And thus began the history of Teehaus Ronnefeldt.

So take a little break, enjoy a cup of tea and immerse yourself in the history of Ronnefeldt.

The NEXT 200 Years

Family business with tradition and a future

Tea brings with it centuries of tradition, diverse cultures and a promising future. What was initially celebrated in style in European tea gardens and tea houses is today enjoyed by connoisseurs in both private settings and upscale international dining establishments. Instead of the sommelier, the tea master comes to the table; instead of the wine list, an exquisite tea menu is presented.

We, too, have gained a great deal of experience over the past 200 years. As a family-run business, we have been able to pass this knowledge on from generation to generation. 

And we will take this knowledge with us into the next 200 years.

As a dynamic company, it is important to us to move with the times and anticipate current challenges – sustainably and responsibly. Our focus is always on the enjoyment of a special beverage in harmony with nature and our values.
Bernhard-Maria Lotz, Leiter der Ronnefeldt TeaAcademy

TEA EXPERTISE
for excellent service and advice

High-quality tea means commitment.  


 A clear commitment to quality, taste and hospitality at the highest level. 

I have been part of Ronnefeldt since 1992, and am full of conviction and passion for this wonderful product of nature. At the Ronnefeldt TeaAcademy®, I have met so many tea enthusiasts who share this passion. 

Even though tea is one of the oldest beverages in the world, it still requires good advice. This shows how diverse and multifaceted this unique product is. Not all teas are the same.

Alongside coffee, wine and the like, it still plays a secondary role on many menus. This makes the decision to offer high-quality tea in the hotel and catering industry a clear commitment and a trait that sets us apart. The quality of the tea is a sign of a true host – both in restaurants and at home.

Once you have introduced people to the world of tea, it quickly kindles a special kind of enthusiasm – one that can last a lifetime.

Talking about tea, tasting it in its diversity and bringing people closer to the product is truly enriching. It makes me proud to see the perfected expertise with which the graduates of the Ronnefeldt TeaAcademy® carry on the tradition of tea’s distinctive character.

You are our tea ambassadors to shops, to guests and among your family and friends.

Together, let us carry this wonderful tea culture and expertise out into the world.

Sincerely,
Bernhard-Maria Lotz


 

LET´S PARTEA
We’re celebrating – join us.

Musical accompaniment is part of every successful birthday! We’ve put together the right songs in a Spotify playlist to get you in the mood for the anniversary – to dance, celebrate or simply enjoy.