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 The Gertrude H. Ford Tea Company was begun in 1907 by an enterprising woman, well ahead of her time. Gertrude H. Ford arrived in New York City from her native Toronto determined to enter the business world by selling pastries to fine hotels. Her polished self-assurance, and delicious products soon earned her the trade she sought, so much so that when the demand for her “dainties” threatened her ability to maintain the high quality for which they were known, she sought another product.
Her father had been a rare tea importer and she recognized that tea was more of a staple than sweets. Tea had been a part of her family’s tradition and culture for generations, and she could think of no better way to make a living. She loved the aura surrounding tea and the genteel nature of the ceremonies that came with it. But most of all, she longed for the civilizing effect in which the enjoyment of tea seemed to possess and desired to introduce it to the masses.
Armed with centuries old family recipes and with her own extraordinary ability as a taster and blender, she experimented for 2 years developing her own blends and perfecting the older ones, approving only those that suited her own taste. When finished, samples were delivered to the customers already purchasing her “isques” and from their universal acclaim, the Gertrude H. Ford Tea Company was born.
Credited as one of the inventors of the “teaball,” Miss Ford built her company from 1909 until 1965. She not only imported (we believe that Gertrude was the only female tea importer in U.S. history until her death in 1965), selected and blended fine teas, but formerly even made deliveries to the discriminating kitchens of the Plaza, Hotel Pierre, Yale Club, Ritz and Barclay hotels in New York City. She was the talk of the town as she would present herself with her maid in tow to make a delivery. She soon tired, however, of the family imposed servant and continued to make the deliveries on her own.
The Purple always associated with Gertrude and her company was not chosen arbitrarily. On a visit to an Indian tea plantation in the 1920’s (from which we still purchase tea from today), a wise Indian sage told Gertrude that purple was “her color” and would bring her much success. His wisdom and her industriousness initiated a style that would become her signature. Not a day went by that she did not wear a shade of purple or lavender and the company logos and packaging followed suit. Her brownstone in Manhattan was decorated in purple and, according to Gertrude lore, she had a purple open Rolls Royce and her driver dressed in lavender velvet. Inevitably, it became synonymous with her success.
A mystic and a vegetarian who drank as many as 14 cups of tea a day, Gertrude directed the steady growth of her company for 56 years until she was incapacitated by an automobile accident and died in 1965. Upon her passing, many longtime customers assumed the company had ceased operations. In 1995 the Company was purchased by a consortium of legendary tea connoisseurs and was infused with new life. An aggressive sales approach to the food service industry followed along with retail sales to tea lovers throughout the world. The company offers more than 33 blends and flavors utilizing original blending formulas and all natural flavorings. Herb teas and blends have been a welcome addition to the product line. While producing nations have been raising prices in their efforts to upgrade their standard of living (we agree), tea remains the least expensive beverage next to water. While one pound of coffee will yield approximately 45-50 cups, an equivalent amount of tea will produce 200 cups.
The Gertrude H. Ford Tea Company continues to operate on the belief that “there is always room for quality.” It is the only company still known to produce the high quality “teaball". Gertrude believed that her “teas carry their own message.” Once tasted and enjoyed, it becomes clear that she was absolutely correct! |
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