My Stories with China Tea(Fujian)(IX) : The Tales of Fujian Tea Import & Export Co., Ltd. and Merilin International Trading Inc.

Hand in hand for 20 years, sharing glory together

China Tea(Fujian) celebrated its 75^th Anniversary in 2025, which marks a significant milestone. Since its establishment in 1950, as a state-owned tea manufacturer, it has always been  committed to inheriting tea culture and revitalizing tea industry. The materials to process their tea products are mainly sourced from the Fujian tea-producing area, which is located in southeast China. With the steady advancement and growing prosperity, at this special moment, as the one of the earliest and largest wholesale suppliers of groceries in Canada, and a long-term global partner, Mr. Yu, GM of Merilin International Trading Inc. and all employees sincerely congratulate on the  75th anniversary of China Tea(Fujian). Mr.Yu also looked back with deep affection how the two companies have worked together to go through difficulties and evolution in the past 20 years.

Deep friendship through tea

 

In 2005, Merilin Trading, newly established in Toronto, was actively seeking suppliers of quality Asian commodity. With a deep insight into the market and a persistent pursuit of quality, Merilin Trading set its sights on the long-standing Chinese tea industry. At an Expo associated with Chinese tea, Merilin Trading had a contact with China Tea(Fujian). During that time, China Tea (Fujian) was actively expanding the oversea market, while Merilin Trading was also eager to build up cooperative relationship with a reliable upstream supplier.

After negotiations, the two sides reached an agreement. China Tea(Fujian) agreed to provide some samples of olong tea, jasmine tea, and green tea to Merilin Trading, Meanwhile, Merilin Trading act as an agent to promote Fujian tea in the North American market. From then on, a collaborative journey spanning the Pacific ocean began.

 

Adhere to quality and win the market together

 

Over the past 20 years, Merilin Trading and China Tea(Fujian) have always been adhering to the cooperation concept of "Solid win-win through mutual trust and benefit,", and continuously deepening cooperation in product quality, logistics efficiency, market development and some other aspects.

As a well-known enterprise in the Chinese tea industry, through strict control in tea selection, production process and export inspection, China Tea(Fujian) has provided Merilin Trading with quality tea products that meet North American food standards. This reflects Fujian tea’s ultimate pursuit of quality.

Merilin Trading, on the other hand, fully leverages its sales network and channel advantages in the North American market to sell Fujian tea to major supermarkets and restaurants in Canada. A lot of oversea Chinese there get relieved from homesickness by drinking Fujian tea. Some of our tea are popular within Western families. Over the past two decades, the annual sales of Fujian tea in the North American market have been increasing year on year, becoming one of the most well-known Chinese brands in the Asian community.

 

Collaborative innovation to meet challenges

 

Over the past 20 years of cooperation, the global tea market has undergone many changes:

growing demand for personal cares and personalized products, rapid expansion of e-commerce channels, and increasingly complicated international trade situation. With these new challenges, Merlin Trading and China Tea(Fujian) have worked together in seeking changes and exploring new opportunities.

Since many years ago, the two companies have already tried to promote high-end products such as Fujian white tea, Da hong pao, and JinJunmei among Canadian tea consumers. New images were launched with orienting local aesthetics and concepts, changing to modern-design packages, using local language telling Chinese tea stories. To facilitate our fast response of service, we had set specific person in charge of North American area.

At the same time, Merilin Trading also render supports to build more friendly and vivid ways in Fujian tea cultural promotion among the main tea consumers in North America. During the time of Covid-19, both sides have overcome a lot of difficulties,  ensuring the stable tea supply in the North American market, and thus winning widespread confidence from customers.

 

Vision for the Future, Sharing Glory Together

 

In 2025, China Tea(Fujian) celebrated its 75th anniversary and also achieved the second decade of the cooperation with Merilin Trading. Looking back, we have seen tea as a bridge, and as a trust basis, been witnessing the rooting and growth of Chinese tea brands in Canada, as well as a good practice of Sino-Canada business cooperation.

Looking ahead, deepened cooperation will continue over the changes from traditional trading pattern to high-level strategic synergy. China Tea(Fujian) is planning to jointly develop some easy-to-carry and functional tea beverage products targeting young consumer groups, while Merilin Trading will further expand its sales network and logistics system, and provide more supports in "Fujian tea going abroad".

With deep trust, robust mechanism, and shared vision established in the past 20 years, Merilin Trading and China Tea(Fujian) will continue to write a wonderful chapter of "sharing glory together" in the global tea market. Let the Chinese tea fragrance spread in every city and every tea place in North America.

 

Tales of Merilin International Trading Inc.

Sources: China Tea (Fujian), May 12.2025