Punjana

In the late 19th century, Robert S Thompson trained in the art of tea tasting and soon became known for his uncompromising devotion to quality. Soon after joining the tea industry in 1887, he was made a partner at McArthus and Willis in 1896. Thompson subsequently led the company for 51 years, and the association of the company with the Thompson family was only strengthened when, in the post-war years, James and Tony Thompson also became partners. Today Thompson's Teas, which made Northern Ireland's best-selling tea, Punjana, have been blending and packing their award-winning range in Belfast for over 120 years.

It was the introduction of the second generation of the Thompson family to the tea industry that brought with it the birth of the Punjana brand in the early 1950s. The now household name, Punjana, was dreamed up by second generation James Thompson and his wife, Lillias, the inspiration coming from an inscription etched on the famous Gillespie statue in Comber.

Now led by the third generation of Thompsons, Ross and David, the family continues to retain the local, family run ethos of previous generations as well as keeping high levels of quality assurance. Together, Ross and David carry on the traditional skill of tea tasting and blending in much the same way as when the company was founded.

• 60,000 cups of Punjana tea are drank every hour of the day, 365 days a year.[1]

• Official website