At Waterloo Tea, we believe that something extraordinary can happen when great tea meets thoughtful hospitality. Established in 2008, our journey began with a simple aim - to create spaces and offer products that celebrate quality, connection, and community.
Our Story
Our first teahouse, Waterloo Gardens Teahouse, opened its doors in the Cardiff suburb of Penylan in 2008. Within a year, it was named Best Café in the UK at the Beverage Standards Awards - recognition of our focus on excellence in tea, coffee, and food, and our dedication to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces.
Since then, Waterloo Tea has grown into three interconnected arms: Teahouses, Wholesale, and Online. Though each serves a different audience, all share the same philosophy - attention to detail, respect for provenance, and a belief that quality products are a vehicle to bring people together.
Teahouses
Our four teahouses are at the heart of who we are. Designed to feel part of their local communities, each space has been created with care by local teams and suppliers. Chef-led kitchens serve breakfast, brunch and lunch made from locally sourced ingredients. Our cakes are baked to our own recipes and include vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options.
Beyond food and drink, each teahouse is a space for creativity. We host monthly art exhibitions showcasing a mix of first-time and established artists, donating 20% of each sale to charities chosen by the artists. We have supported the arts since our launch as we believe that the nicest things can't necessarily be measured, but you certainly miss them when they are gone.
Wholesale
We source exceptional loose leaf teas from fresh harvests across Asia, focusing on small farms and growers who share our commitment to quality and sustainability. Our long-standing relationships span India, China, Japan, and Sri Lanka, as well as occasional guest origins when we find something truly special.
By importing directly and in large volumes, we ensure consistency, traceability, and freshness for our wholesale partners - from independent cafés to coffee roasteries, hotels, and distributors.
Our teas have been found in cities including Cardiff, Bristol, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Dubai. We’ve also been proud to collaborate with TEDTalks and The Do Lectures, helping to fuel meaningful connections through tea.
Online
Our online store allows you to brings the Waterloo Tea experience into your home and office. Here, you’ll find the same carefully curated selection of teas that we serve in our teahouses, along with exclusive online releases and small-batch finds.
Beyond retail, our online space acts as a hub for learning and discovery. You’ll find collections for coffee, accessories and gifts and access to our public courses and events, helping people learn and connect through tea and coffee culture.
We also use our journal to share insights from brewing guides to origin stories it aims to give our community the tools to brew exceptional tea at home.
Waterloo Tea Bags
2025 marked a significant milestone for Waterloo Tea: the launch of our own tea bag collection.
For years, our community had asked for a convenient way to enjoy Waterloo Tea without sacrificing quality. We were hesitant to move into tea bags until we could guarantee a brew that met the same standards as our loose leaf teas. After years of development, we created a range of eight fully food-compostable tea bags made using the exact same leaves served in our teahouses.
Each tea bag is plastic-free and made from corn starch, ensuring the material never interferes with flavour. The result is convenience without compromise - a modern expression of the same craftsmanship that defines every tea we source.
Our Philosophy
At its core, Waterloo Tea is about connection - between people, places, and producers.
We believe that great tea is more than a drink; it’s an experience shaped by the landscape it comes from and the care it receives along the way.
Underlining this, it is our belief that tea is a gift from the East to the West, and the simple addition of water unfurls something magical.
By combining thoughtful sourcing, creative spaces, and genuine hospitality, we aim to make tea culture approachable, engaging, and sustainable - one cup at a time.
