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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 70 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.

 

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 acres in four locations – Youngam, Jangsung, Haenam and Boseong. 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 in nature and free of pesticides, 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 Suncheon.
1964  Relocated to city of Gwangju. In addition to green tea and black tea, start production of 
 duchung and kyulmyung (cassia seed).
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". Export to Japan.
1995  Official sponsor of the "Gwangju Biennale 1995". Export 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 Malcha (powdered green 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  Established of Hankook Tea USA, Inc. in the United States.
2008  Appointed as the 34th "Grand Master of Traditional Korean Foods" by the Republic of Korea
 awarded for superior production of Hwang Cha and Malcha (powdered green tea).
2009  Acquired organic certification (Korea) and ISO22000 certification.
2010  Acquired USDA and EU organic certification.
2013  Succession of second generation, appointed as the 54th "Grand Master of Traditional Korean Foods"  by the Republic of Korea, awarded for superior production of Hwang Cha and Malcha (powdered green tea).
2015  Renovation of Hankook Tea's main tea factory in Gwangju
2016  Acquired HALAL certification.
2017  Acquired HACCP certification.
2019  Acquired Kosher 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

*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.

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