In the Fall of 1999, brother and sister Ahmed and Reem had a vision-to revive
the serenity, creativity, and comfort that is inspired by the simple art of tea.
Both artistic souls and world explorers, the two siblings have combined their belief
in the transcendental properties of tea with their individual passions for photography,
art, and culture. The result of this blend was Numi Tea, a refreshing and innovative
selection of teas and teasans that awaken the palate, inspire the soul, and
gracefully enhance water's unique potential.
Ahmed, the master alchemist behind Numi's blends, discovered the calming
simplicity of tea and herbal teasans while living in Prague, Czech Republic,
where he co-owned and ran two teahouses. A distinguished photographer,
Ahmed used his artistic and intuitive nature as a foundation for his
innovative and artisan approach to the blending of teas.
Fluent in English, Arabic, French, German and Czech, Ahmed is a citizen of
the world; each pot of Numi tea is an amalgamation of his worldly cultural
knowledge, his in-depth understanding of teas, and his appreciation for quality.
Ahmed's sister Reem has a background that is almost as diverse as the
selection of Numi teas. Before the advent of Numi, Reem, a Biomedical
Engineer, moved to Italy to nurture her artistic aspirations.
Reem has exhibited her artwork around the world in San Francisco,
New York City, Melbourne, and Florence. But you don't need to be a
globetrotter to admire her artwork-Reem's original paintings are also
exhibited on each one of Numi's packages. Inspired by her brother's
photos and by the meditative nature and timeless essence of tea, Reem
painted Numi's artwork using oil on small tin plates, with imagery
that evokes a slower, more contemplative way of being. Reem believes
that tea, like art, has a universal essence and is a portal for self-reflection.
What started as a dream in Reem's small Oakland apartment moved to a lovely
25,000 sq. foot space on the Oakland waterfront, and has progressed into an
exciting and delicious journey. Since its beginning, Numi has carved a
distinct path in the US tea world by introducing exotic teas such as Rooibos
(Red Tea), Lemon Myrtle, Honeybush, and Dry Desert Lime, and also by offering
full-leaf tea in teabags, without added oils or flavorings. Numi continues
to pave the way and set new tea trends, most recently with its creation of
the hand-sewn and handcrafted "Flowering Teas."
With its creative roots, innovative flavors, dedication to quality,
and sustainable values, Numi has captured the imagination and palate of
tea drinkers worldwide. Reem and Ahmed invite you to take
the tea transformation.
