Our Story

Ci & Thee (瓷語茶心), inspired by the Chinese 瓷 & 茶, melds “瓷” (pronounced “ci”, which means ceramic) with “Thee,” the Dutch word for tea

Life 生活

The founders of Ci & Thee, after many years of embracing the diverse cultures of Asia and China, recently settled in the Netherlands, discovering it to be a land of comfort and multicultural acceptance, particularly in its culinary diversity. While coffee and black, green, and floral teas are beloved here, the high-quality teas and teaware once enjoyed in Asia seemed scarce. Our passion for tea and the philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature, which defines us, led us to establish Ci & Thee.

History 歴史

Historically, the Silk Road brought not only spices but also the rich traditions of tea and ceramics to Europe, influencing Dutch Delft Blue pottery significantly. The journey of tea, traced back thousands of years, initially spread widely via the Silk Road. Tea’s early significance in trade and cultural rituals across Asia helped shape its role as a central social practice, leading to its eventual introduction to Japan and Korea and later throughout Europe, fostering a rich aesthetic culture around tea drinking. This cross-cultural exchange laid the groundwork for Ci & Thee, our modern ‘Silk Road,’ delivering Asia’s finest teaware and teas to the Netherlands.

Today 今日

Reflecting on the serene moments spent savoring excellent teas with fine teaware, we felt inspired to bring Asia’s esteemed tea culture and ceramics to our beloved new home. At Ci & Thee, we aspire to blend the spirit of tea culture with local preferences and the vibrant youth culture here, making our carefully curated teas and ceramics as beloved here as they are across Asia.

City

The name Ci & Thee, echoing “City,” reflects our integration into urban culture—a culture shaped by its environment, lifestyle, and customs. We envision our tea and ceramic culture becoming a defining part of this city we love, where every sip and piece of teaware connects the ancient and modern worlds, inviting our community to partake in a global tradition right from their urban settings.

Join us at Ci & Thee, where every cup of tea is a step along a new Silk Road, weaving together histories, cultures, and the art of living well.