Bünting Tee-Museum

About the museum

The Bünting Tea Museum opened in 2001. It was meant to make visible the importance of tea for East Frisia and its people, and was deliberately set up in Leer's old town, just two houses away from where Johann Bünting founded a small general store for colonial goods in 1806. That shop for tea, coffee, tobacco, and spices later grew into the Bünting group of companies, the oldest private tea trading house in East Frisia.

More than 200 years ago, the museum building housed the shop's sales room, where customers bought raw sugar, chocolate, and other goods from crates and sacks while exchanging news. Today the exhibition, spread over several floors, tells the story of tea from the 17th century to the present: from cultivation and processing to blending, testing, and tasting, and on to the global trade routes. A large collection ranges from simple tea accessories to precious porcelain.

A large part is devoted to East Frisian tea culture, with its tea ceremony and the question of what makes a true East Frisian tea. The development of the "Grünpack" brand and of the company is also documented. The museum is supported by the Johann Bünting Foundation, founded in 2006, to which all revenues go.

Highlights

• History of tea from the 17th century to today
• East Frisian tea culture and tea ceremony
• Collection from tea accessories to fine porcelain
• Play offerings for children in the upper exhibition rooms
• Museum corner with tea books, souvenirs, and tea varieties

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung zur Teegeschichte – The collection covers tea cultivation and processing, the global trade routes, East Frisian tea culture, and the history of the Bünting company.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Johann Bünting-Stiftung

Director

Henning Priet

Admission & discounts

Admission is free with an ICOM card and with the Bünting Card (for the cardholder and one additional person). With the Moin Card, two people pay admission only once; for the tea hour, the cardholder pays €5.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is only partly accessible: entry is via a removable ramp or the Lohne next to the entrance, and the upper exhibition area can only be reached by stairs. There are seating areas and a wheelchair-accessible toilet.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The museum has been recognized as particularly child- and family-friendly (2018, "KinderFerienLand Niedersachsen"). In the upper rooms, the play ship "König von Preußen," the toy shop "Jokes lüttje Winkel," and the "Teezimmer für lüttje Lü" invite children to play; older children can take a quiz. Schools and kindergartens have their own programs, such as the creative activity "Mach mal Teekunst" (grades 1–4).

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in Leer's historic old town and cannot be reached directly by bus.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop (Museums-Winkel) with tea books, nostalgic souvenirs, gift ideas, and tea varieties.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit