Holland America Line Teams Up With Art of Tea for Bespoke Dutch Tea Time Blend

Holland America Line is partnering with Art of Tea to elevate its Royal Dutch Tea, Regional Afternoon Tea and Standard Afternoon Tea services with a custom blend that celebrates the cruise line’s Dutch heritage. Handcrafted with the finest botanicals, this blend captures the warmth, authenticity and flavor of a classic Dutch tea experience, bringing together history, craftsmanship and indulgence.

The Dutch Tea Time Blend will be the featured item during every afternoon tea service in the main dining room on board all Holland America Line ships, making it an experience too good to hurry through. Royal Dutch Tea is served on the first sea day of each voyage. A regionally themed afternoon tea is offered on the second sea day. For voyages lasting seven days or longer, a standard afternoon tea service is also available on the third sea day. Guests can also enjoy this bespoke blend at all coffee and specialty dining outlets while sailing.  

Additionally, it will be part of the cruise line’s tea sampler pack, available for purchase in the ship gift shops, allowing guests to take home a taste of their voyage. This sampler pack also includes Art of Tea’s Earl Grey Crème and Pacific Coast Mint teas. Guests can also purchase the tea set online through Art of Tea’s website.

When Drew Foulk, Holland America Line's senior manager of beverage and dining operations and innovation, and Art of Tea founder and CEO Steve Schwartz set out to create this custom blend, they wanted to honor Holland America Line's roots. To achieve this, they traveled to Amsterdam to answer the question: What is an authentic Dutch Tea Time blend? 

During their trip, the two experts tasted various local blends, visited the famous outdoor Albert Cuyp Market to explore Dutch flavors and florals, and spent time with Tess Posthumus, one of Holland America Line's global beverage program partners. Posthumus provided a comprehensive history of Amsterdam's drinking culture, including the Netherlands' role in introducing coffee and tea to the world through the Dutch East Indies Company.

"Along the journey, one particular expression that really resonated with us is that there are two Dutch words used across the globe and are present in almost all languages in one shape or form--these words being coffee and tea," said Foulk. “Steve and I spent a lot of time uncovering the history and influence that Amsterdam has played in the spice trade and have thought about how this history can be translated into a tea blend for all our guests to enjoy.” 

The final blend is a traditional robust black tea with notes of orange, bergamot, marigold, and rose hips. It’s now available to guests fleetwide.