The business began with founder Vincent Chen, who told the Waikato Herald in May that his Taiwanese heritage gave him an early appreciation of tea.
After noticing a Waikato neighbour trimming a camellia hedge, Chen wondered whether tea, part of the same plant family, could grow in New Zealand.
Founded in 1996, Zealong began with 1500 tea cuttings imported from Asia; just 130 survived quarantine.
Today, the Gordonton-based estate spans 48ha and is home to more than 1.2 million tea plants, producing about 20 tonnes of tea each year.
Zealong Tea employs 60 permanent staff and 40 additional seasonal staff during peak harvest.
The company, which celebrated its 30th birthday in May, exports its tea to markets including Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Zealong general manager Sen Kong said in the statement that the two companies had built their relationship around a shared appreciation for quality and craft.
Lady Gatsby, a blended tea from Zealong. Photo / Tom Eley
“Both Zealong and Mojo share a passion for quality, craft and creating exceptional experiences around every cup,” he said.
“After 10 years of friendship, we are excited to bring Zealong even closer to our customers through these new Tea Studios.”
Mojo Wellington general manager Massimo Capellino said the company was proud to serve New Zealand-grown products.
“We are proud to be serving quality New Zealand-cultivated products. We always support NZ-made and owned operations who strive for the same values as ours,” he said.
Tom Eley is a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. Before he joined the Hamilton-based team, he worked for the Weekend Sun and Sunlive. He previously worked as a journalist at Black Press Media in Canada and won a fellowship with the Vancouver Sun.