The Russian colouring of Kusmi Tea
Have you ever wondered why Kusmi Tea tins are so richly decorated and available in all the colours of the rainbow? To discover this mystery, we have to go back to the time of Tsarist Russia, to a small tea shop in St Petersburg, whose owner had just hired an errand boy.... The boy's name was Pavel Michailovitch Kousmichoff and, as it later turned out, the world had big plans for him.
The young Kousmichoff quickly discovers a love for tea. Little does he know yet that his passion will change his life forever ... and the tea industry. The 14-year-old constantly cultivates his passion, which does not escape the attention of the owner, who finally decides to introduce the young man to the secrets of aromatic compositions. Years later, Pavel's boss becomes his father-in-law and offers him a small shop. This is how the Kusmi brand was born in 1867.
The golden years of Kusmi Tea
The thriving business was very profitable - by 1901 Pavel already owned ten outlets in Russia. Encouraged by his success, he sends one of his sons, Viatcheslav, to conquer the English market. Six years later Kusmi Tea are also tasted in London. In 1908, Viatcheslav takes over his late father's inheritance. His persistence and ambition helped the family business, which by then could be called an empire, to grow to 51 shops in 1917. This idyll is interrupted by the unexpected outbreak of the October Revolution in Russia.
In 1946, Viatcheslav dies and his son Constantin takes over the war-weakened business. Unfortunately, he is far from matching the entrepreneurial skills of his ancestors - year by year, the condition of the business, which was impressive until recently, deteriorates. Finally, in 1972, Kusmi Tea faces the prospect of bankruptcy.
The second life of Kusmi Tea
After numerous problems and attempts to save the family business, Constantin makes the difficult decision to sell it. It passes into the hands of the Orebi brothers, who are delighted with the originality of the wonderfully fragrant blends. Thanks to their efforts, the dilapidated company once again hits the market. Today, Kusmi Tea, under the watchful eye of the same owners, is the leading brand among French teas and celebrates triumphs all over the world.
Today, we can choose from a variety of unique flavours, enclosed in distinctive, fabulously colourful tins. The original packaging and names of the blends, which were given to them by the first owner of the company inspired by places and people close to his heart, have been preserved unchanged. Therefore, teas with names such as Prince Vladimir and St. Petersburg could not be missing from the range.
The colourful world of Kusmi Tea
Kusmi teas escape the usual patterns. They are not among the flavoured teas that offer nothing more than colour and a strong fragrance. Kusmi Tea blends have been refined over several decades - bringing out flavours that are missing in other teas. Unusual combinations have won the hearts of tea connoisseurs and some have become global bestsellers - an example is the iconic BB Detox, a blend of mate, green tea, rooibos, guarana, dandelion and grapefruit. At FormAdore, you can compile your favourite Kusmi flavours yourself or choose a ready-made tea set.
