Introducing Mr & Mrs Websters

If you've ever visited our Mount Maunganui showroom, it's likely you've sampled a delicious Websters brew while you browse. Part of our showroom experience is offering up a cup of tea for our customers, we love the act of sharing a cuppa with our visitors.

We are pleased to now be stocking Websters Tea in store so you can enjoy at home. We sat down over a brew with husband & wife duo Ash & Mark to give some insight into their business & what goes into running a tea brand.

Hi Ash & Mark, tell us a bit about yourselves, who are you & what roles do you play at Websters?

[Mark] Hey! I’m Mark and I founded Webster’s around 7 years ago. Owning a small business I’m across a lot, though, my main responsibilities are sales/marketing and growth. I’m lucky enough to work with my wife, Ash, who is creative where I’m more analytical. We compliment each other nicely, and have lots of fun over plenty of cups of tea.

[Ash] Good question! Officially I am the National Account Manager, working with our incredible cafés and retailers around New Zealand. Unofficially, I spend each morning in the tea shop packing each order over a cup of English Breakfast, I’m the hand model for many of the campaign shoots, the Social Media ‘manager’, and also execute a lot of the graphic design for Webster’s - my favourite to date being the new packaging redesign. Small business life, right?

What inspired the creation of the Webster's brand, and how did it get its start?

[Mark] I got the idea while travelling and working for a tea company in the Rocky Mountains in Canada. This was where I truly fell in love with tea and I was hit with the realisation - the standard for many Kiwi’s has become crumby tea bags, filled with low-grade tea dust. Determined to improve the standard of tea in NZ I set up a small operation in a shed on the outskirts of Tauranga. We’ve grown considerably since, but the mission is still the same.

What sets Webster's Tea apart from other tea brands on the market?

[Mark] Put simply, taste. I’ve spent the last 7 years perfecting our tea blends to offer a quality product worthy of taking a moment to pause and enjoy. Our range of premium, organic loose leaf teas promise better taste, vibrant aroma, and an experience that stands out.

Past the product we pride ourselves on service, which is where Ash really comes into her own.

[Ash] For me we offer so much more than premium tea; we focus on creating an experience that leaves you feeling great. Whether that be from opening your latest delivery to a thoughtful personalised note or brewing your favourite cup of delicious Webster’s.

As tea enthusiasts, what are some of your personal favourite blends, and why?

[Ash] My love for tea started coincidently around the time I met Mark - who knew drinking tea each and every day together can become a form of love language? For me, English Breakfast is the classic staple I can’t live without. But for fun, I like to mix it up with a Mãnuka or Turmeric.

[Mark] I’ll always go back to our Earl Grey. It’s our best seller and for good reason! It’s more desert-like compared to traditional blends with tasting notes of vanilla. It’s seriously so good. If I’m straying from black tea you might find Kawakawa or Lime Ginger in my mug.

Can you describe the process involved in creating a new blend or flavour?

[Mark] For sure! It all starts with some sort of inspiration. This may come from a customer's recommendation, a key ingredient we want to feature, or perhaps a classic tea that we want to elevate and put our own spin on.

Once we have the desired outcome in mind we’ll come up with a list of ingredients that will work and I go about sourcing them.

When it comes to finalising the tea blend there’s LOTS of trialling and it really needs to answer three questions: Is it visually stunning, does it smell delicious, and of course, is it delicious.

What role do you think tea culture plays in creating a welcoming and comfortable space?

[Mark] It’s everything! The simple question ‘Tea?’ is how you welcome a loved one into your home, or perhaps how you get to know someone a little better. It removes barriers so that you can relax. Tea is unique in that it has a rich history across many cultures with the constant being hospitality, warmth and comfort.

[Ash] Much like other wellness rituals like Yoga or Meditation, taking the time to brew a beautiful cup of tea for yourself is putting yourself first and allowing you to sit for a moment of pause. Whether it’s in the sun, alone with a book, or with someone you love, you never regret the time spent sipping.

Do you see seasonal trends in teas?

[Ash] For sure! We have our all year round heroes, but come summer it’s all about iced teas and cocktails - if you’re a sucker for a Negroni like me, we have a winner of a recipe. For winter, it’s all about comfort and we love to experiment with Turmeric or Chai Lattes.

You have your own beautiful retail space & showroom, what key things do you focus on to create a memorable experience for your customers?

[Ash] Thank you. We absolutely love our little Tea Shop out in Te Puna. For us, it’s all about a consistent experience. Each customer, whether they’re a regular or a fresh face, gets the same warm welcome and is offered tea. Either a small sample or we’ll even make them a cup if they have the time. It’s a nice way to invite people in and have a chat. It’s amazing the people we’ve met and the relationships we’ve formed through our community of supporters at the Tea Shop.

What's the future looks like for Webster's?

[Ash] I think we’re hitting our stride. We are a small husband and wife team, along with two extra key members and we hand on heart come to work each and every day with so much love for what we do.

Each week, we are inspired and come up with creative new ideas and we try to be as reactive to our customers as possible without taking our eyes off the prize - deliver to New Zealanders great tea each and every day.

Shop our range of websters tea here
Imagery: Supplied