One hundred and four years ago, Boston businessman Mark T. Wendell assumed ownership of his uncle’s business, a firm that imported luxury products from abroad. With a degree from Harvard University just completed, Mr. Wendell settled in the Beacon Hill section of Boston and set up offices on nearby State Street. For many years he imported port, sherry, snuff, olive oil, coffee and rare teas to sell to the upscale clientele of Boston, New York and Philadelphia. One of his most popular items was a smoky China tea that was simply called “XXX”. These three letters were a common symbol of excellence and high quality from this era.

During the decades that followed, Mr. Wendell decided to change the focus of his business and began importing only tea into his Boston waterfront offices. He wanted his smoky tea to stand out from other Chinese teas, so he changed its name to Hu-Kwa (who-kwaa), in honor of the Chinese merchant Houqua, with whom his uncle had traded. Houqua was known for his honesty when dealing with western merchants, and eventually goods bearing his stamp commanded higher prices because their quality was guaranteed. By renaming his tea after Houqua, he was telling his customers that he too was willing to guarantee the integrity of his products, a philosophy that is still practiced today by selecting only the finest teas available.

The Clipper Ship Houqua

Mark T. Wendell died in January of 1967 at the age of 85, and Mark T. Wendell Tea Company’s current owner, Elliot H. Johnson, purchased this prestigious Boston tea firm from Mr. Wendell’s successor in 1971. From an initial listing of only 5 teas (with early tins shown on the right), Elliot and Hartley E. Johnson have expanded to offer over 55 estate grown specialty teas, 6 signature tea blends, 6 herbal and fruit tisanes and 10 imported packaged brands. We also carry a wide selection of tea pots, brewing accessories and sugars. Since 1971, it has been our family’s goal to carry on Mr. Wendell’s tradition in the tea importing industry.