For generations of Atlantic Canadians, the orange King Cole tea box has held a familiar place in the kitchen cupboard. It has appeared at breakfast tables, beside well-used kettles and between neighbours sitting down for a visit.
The design is unmistakable, but what it represents goes much deeper than colour.
An Atlantic Canadian Original
King Cole tea was introduced on South Market Wharf in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1910.
The King Cole Old English Blend box was already orange in the brand’s early years, creating a bold, recognizable presence in shops and cupboards. By the 1950s, King Cole tea could be found in homes throughout Atlantic Canada.
More than a century after its introduction, King Cole is still the number 1 black tea in Atlantic Canada, and is still made in Sussex, New Brunswick.
The Tea That Was Already There
For many King Cole drinkers, there was no first introduction to the brand. It was simply the tea their family had always served.
It was the box in a parent’s cupboard or a grandparent’s kitchen. It came out when visitors arrived and when someone said, “I’ll put the kettle on.”
Over time, that everyday presence becomes part of a family’s rhythm. The package may be simple, but it carries memories of conversations, celebrations, quiet mornings and ordinary evenings at home.
A Familiar Flavour
Nostalgia may bring people back to the orange box, but quality keeps it in the cupboard.
King Cole’s traditional black tea is blended using carefully selected tea leaves from estates around the world. We evaluate teas for flavour, aroma, and consistency to help ensure the finished cup tastes the way King Cole drinkers expect.
That dependable flavour matters. When a tea has been part of your routine for years, you want it to taste familiar every time.
Still Making Room for Something New
Orange Pekoe remains at the heart of King Cole, but the collection has grown to include black, green, decaffeinated, flavoured, and organic teas.
There are blends for early mornings, quiet evenings, cold winter days and pitchers of iced tea in summer. The choices have expanded, but the invitation behind them remains wonderfully simple.
Make yourself at home.
More Than a Box of Tea
The orange box stands out because it has never needed to chase every passing trend. It represents consistency, local pride and the comfort of a familiar cup.
It means someone is stopping for a moment. Someone is pulling out a chair. Someone has put the kettle on.
And after more than a century, it still feels like home.