In the early 19th Century, Singapore attracted an influx of immigrants, particularly those from Mainland China, to seek a better life. The late founder of Koko Tea, Mr. Wong Sum, then 18-years-old, reached the shores of the Malacca Straits after fleeing Guangdong province during China’s civil war then. A resourceful man, he became an entrepreneur and started his own trading business, dealing with all basic essentials like rice, sugar, and tea. In no time, his business began flourishing.
An avid musician and tea-drinker, Mr. Wong Sum was very keen to promote the Chinese culture in Singapore. Consequently, he started importing quality tea and conducted tea appreciation classes with a bunch of his buddies. Hence, Koko Tea was born!
Today, Koko Tea is a leading supplier of premium tea leaves to most established restaurants and hotels in Singapore – the Tung Lok Group of restaurants, Crystal Jade Group of restaurants, the Fullerton Hotel, Shangri-la Singapore, Four Seasons, Raffles, InterContinental, Marriott, and many more. Koko Tea’s stringent selection, focusing on quality tea leaves, as well as competitive pricing, Koko Tea is a No. 1 choice with the most discerning customers – local and international.
Koko Tea thrived on selling quality tea and source for new trends in the markets. The recent evolution* of tea has seen a surge in designer/ handicraft tea hitting our shores. It is a perfect blend of visual treat and yet not losing the essence of the traditional taste!
When the reigns to Koko Tea was handed over to Mr. Wong Sum’s son, Mr Wong Cheong Onn, he continued in his father’s footsteps and established himself as a respectable figure in the tea industry. With over 40 years of experience, Mr. Wong Cheong Onn took his father’s business to greater heights: Koko Tea has been featured in numerous articles in local newspapers and overseas magazines. Today, Koko Tea’s retail shop is situated in the heart of Chinatown, surrounded by a rich heritage over the years. The shop also carries an impressive display of over 30 different types of tea housed within traditional canisters. Now, these are all made available to you only at our Chinatown store and online.
The evolution of tea started roughly about 10 years ago when flowering teas – a kind of designer, handcraft tea – became the rage in Asia! These flowering teas were produced in Fujian and Koko Tea was the first to hand-pick the most well-received varieties that are still pretty popular to this very day!
KOKOTEA'S LOGO
Red is a popular color in Chinese culture, symbolizing luck, joy, and happiness. It also represents celebration, vitality, and fertility in traditional Chinese color symbolism.
Two is an auspicious number as the Chinese believes that “good things come in pairs” (好事成双 hǎoshì chéng shuāng). And, as the smallest even number, two typically means a double of, twinned, and again, also considered as auspicious too.
The dizi or bamboo flute is one of the most popular instruments in traditional Chinese music. The Chinese flute is played horizontally, much like a western flute, and is commonly carved out of a single piece of bamboo with a cork-lined blow-hole. The erhu is one of the most important Chinese instruments that has existed for more than 4,000 years. Though it has only two strings, it can convey a wide range of emotions.
Drinking tea is akin to enjoying the best that Nature has to offer. It is an uplifting experience that brings joy, health, and happiness to all who appreciate this time-honored tradition, particularly in the company of like-minded tea connoisseurs!
Drinking tea awakens the mind, body, and soul… Are you ready to embark on this journey?
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