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About Our Company
About Our Company
A family run business, we build close relationships by providing personal attention to all our customers. We invite you to share your interests and passion for tea with us.
In the past 60 years, the art of drinking water has been cultivated to graceful perfection.
The pristine essence of our heirloom teas has been preserved as each leaf is meticulously nurtured and harvested with patient determination and expertise. With our stringent standards and dedication, we have continued our rich heritage and defined the modern history of exceptional teas.
"The Philosophy of the Art of Drinking Pure Water"
We learned to delight in the refined arts of friendship and shared tea.
We would like to warmly invite you to leisurely explore our website, www.hankooktea.com. Whether you are planning for a special occasion, a casual gathering of friends, or simply a time to relax, stop by our shop and let us help you. To perfectly complement your teas, we offer an extensive collection of artisan tea ware and accessories.
Cherishing the Exquisite Art of Tea and the Philosophy of Friendship
The modern history of Korean artisan tea is rooted in the grounds of Hankook Tea Company and Honam Tea Estate. In the early 1950’s, before the coming of age of green tea in Korea, the first Honam Tea farm was started at the foot of Mudeung Mountain. As green tea gained popularity in Korea, the company expanded the farm to encompass several hundreds of acres in four locations – Bo Seong, Youngam, Jangsung and Haenam. Each tea estate was carefully chosen for its ideal climate and geographic location for tea bushes.
Within the idyllic surroundings sprouts the most elegant cup of green tea defined by its incredible combination of lightness and intensity. Grown free of pesticides and free trade, our family run company upholds the strictest standards to take quality to new levels, creating a taste of integrity with each sip.
History of Hankook Tea
| 1951 | Established "Hankook Black Tea" in the city of Soon Chon. |
| 1964 | Tea plantation relocated to city of Gwangju. In addition to green tea and black tea, production of duchung and kyulmyung (cassia seed) started. |
| 1975 | Following revision of law, received Tea Product Manufacture Permit No. 52 from the Minister of State of the Department of Labor. |
| 1994 | Name changed to "Hankook Tea Company". Duchung Tea exported to Japan. |
| 1995 | Official sponsor of the "Gwangju Biennale 1995". Jaksul Green Tea exported to Canada. |
| 1996 | Elevated status of Korean green tea by participating in the International Tea Competition sponsored by board of Shizuoka in Japan as the Korean representative. |
| 1997 | "Woon-Cha Cultural Center" opened to public, with free workshops on tea culture. |
| 1998 | Selected "Promising Medium & Small Business" of the city of Gwangju. |
| 1999 | Erected statue of Master Choeiu at the Daeheung Temple in Haenam. |
| 2000 | Appointed Traditional Cultural Succeeded Business by the National Tax Service. Awarded “Tea of the Year” by the Federation of Korean Tea Masters Society. Awarded Honor Certificate and International Famous Tea Honorary Medal at The 2nd Chinese International Tea Festival. |
| 2002 | Received Excellence Award for Matcha tea, Ujeon Gamro Jaksul Green Tea and Gamro (Green) Tea at the Korean International Tea Competition. |
| 2004 | Received Honorary Doctorate Degree of Food Product Education from National University of Korea Mokpo. |
| 2005 | Establishment of Hankook Tea USA, Inc. Opening of Chasaengwon in Los Angeles, California. |
| 2008 | Founder Yang Won Suh appointed as the 34th "Grand Master of Traditional Korean Foods" by the Republic of Korea, awarded in superior production of Hwang Cha and Matcha. |
| 2009 | Acquired organic certification (Korea) and ISO22000 certification. |
| 2010 | Acquired USDA organic certification. |
Awards
|
Type |
Title |
Date |
Reason/From |
|
Commendation |
Minster of Agriculture / Jong Mun Park |
Dec. 5, 1984 |
Development of innovative tea farming methods |
|
|
Mayor of Gwangyeok, Gwangju / Un Jong Song |
Dec. 29, 1995 |
Contribution to community economic development |
|
|
Director of General Affairs of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism |
Oct. 29, 2000 |
Construction of statue of the first tea master |
|
Award Certificate |
Execution Committee of the First Culture Exhibition |
Oct. 30, 1995 |
Contribution to popularization of tea culture in Korea |
|
|
Chosen “New Intellectual*” of Korea |
Nov. 22, 2001 |
Content: Superior Tea Manufacturing Company |
|
|
Dachon Tea award from the Korean Tea Association, Inc. |
July 8, 2002 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
Korean Dado Association, Inc. –Master of Tea Award |
May 13, 2003 |
Awarded Master of Tea Manufacturing |
|
|
Merit of Excellence at The Second Tea World Festival |
May 30, 2004 |
Merit of Excellence |
|
|
Director of Rural Development Administration / Jung Soo Son |
June 17, 2005 |
Contribution to development of tea manufacturing |
|
Merit Award |
President of Korea Tea Culture Association, Inc. / Woun Hong Lee |
Feb. 23, 1997 |
Contribution to development of tea and tea manufacturing |
|
|
Federation of Korean Tea Masters Society, Inc. / Kwon Heum Park |
Jan. 20, 1999 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
Tea Culture Center, Inc. / Seung Hee Kam |
Oct. 29, 1999 |
Contribution to development of tea and culture |
|
|
The Korean Tea Society |
Oct. 29, 1999 |
Contribution to development of tea and culture |
|
|
Korea Tea Culture Association, Inc. |
Oct. 29, 1999 |
Construction of statue of first tea master of Korea |
|
Plaque of Thanks |
Minister of Home Affairs / Kyung Woun Park |
Feb. 20, 1971 |
Contribution to development of community |
|
|
Mayor of Gwangju / Shi Chae Jung |
Feb. 15, 1971 |
Contribution to development of community |
|
|
President of Korea Tea Culture Association, Inc. / Ji Young Song |
May 25, 1986 |
Contribution to development of tea and tea manufacturing |
|
|
Director of Donggu, Gwangju / In Sub Seo |
June 2, 1986 |
Contribution of development of traditional tea |
|
|
Federation of Korean Tea Masters Society, Inc. |
Jan. 20, 1989 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
Executive Director of Myungwon Foundation of Culture |
May 18, 1997 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
Korea Tea Culture Association, Inc. |
May 23, 1998 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
Mok Pyo Tea Masters Association |
Oct. 29, 1999 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
The Korean Tea Society |
Oct. 29, 1999 |
Contribution to development of tea and tea manufacturing |
|
|
Kyungwon University |
June 17, 2000 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
Executive Director of Korea Tea Culture Association, Inc. |
Aug. 19, 2001 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
|
The Korean Tea Society |
Oct. 22, 2004 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
Commemoration |
Korea Tea Culture Association, Inc. - Branch in district of Honam |
Oct. 29, 1999 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
Selection |
Chosen “New Intellectual*” of Gwangyeok, Gwangju |
Aug. 29, 1999 |
Contribution to development of tea culture |
|
Certification of Authenticity |
The Second Chinese International Tea Competition – Certified as “Excellent Tea” |
Oct. 2000 |
Honor Award at International Tea competition |
|
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|
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|
*Starting in Feb. of 1999, the Korean government has chosen individuals and/or groups to be named “New Intellectual” (Shin Jishik In in Korean). Regardless of their academic background, individuals and groups that make valuable contributions to the common, “active” knowledge of society get chosen for this award. This includes individuals and groups that think outside the box to create innovative, more efficient ways to improve the way work is done.
