You light a fire in the hearth, pluck a dog-eared book from the shelf, and burrow into the couch beneath your softest blanket. Or, you welcome a friend over and settle in for a long chat. The only thing missing to make these the absolute coziest experiences possible is a hot mug of tea. Enter: Neek Tea Co.
Monique Himba founded Neek Tea Co. in 2022 on her belief that tea is a cultural anchor. It’s a treat, a mid-afternoon ritual, a medium to connect and to relate, and even an invitation to be present.
Power in the Pause
“At Neek, we believe there’s power in the pause,” said Hibma. “Tea is more than a beverage—it’s a bridge. It connects us to ourselves, to each other, and to the world.” That philosophy pervades the brand, from sourcing practices to community initiatives. This positions Neek as both a luxury tea experience and an accessible daily practice.
The roots of Neek Tea Co. trace back to Hibma’s childhood. During this time, she spent moments sipping peppermint tea from a simple cup and saucer in her grandmother’s apartment. This sparked a lifelong affection for the elegance and comfort of teatime. Years later, after a career immersed in wine culture and then a personal decision to abstain from alcohol in preparation for pregnancy, Hibma found herself longing for the sense of sophistication and connection that communal drinks once provided. The same thing that sparked her interest in wine became her avenue to sobriety: tea.
In 2013, Hibma and her husband began ending their evenings with tea. This ritual grew more meaningful during the upheaval of 2020 as motherhood, teaching, holistic wellness, and international bedlam intersected. Today, Neek Tea Co. honors teatime as a daily anchor for joy, peace, and intentional living. It accepts teatime’s invitation to create moments of calm in the midst of modern life and more upheaval.
Communi-tea Impact
Community impact is central to Neek’s mission, most notably through its annual “Tea for Teachers” initiative. Each May, during Teacher Appreciation Week, Charlotte-area elementary school PTAs can apply for the chance to receive a curated tea selection and gift bags designed to offer educators a moment of rest and recognition. Beyond the giveaway, Neek continues to support teachers year-round with discounts, gifts, and mindfulness experiences.
Although community impact is a motivating force, quality remains the brand’s foundation. Hibma’s sommelier-level training guides every selection. She sources teas through fair-trade partnerships and chooses them for both flavor and the experience they create. In fact, in the fall of 2025, Neek relaunched after a brief hiatus while the brand sought USDA Certified Organic status. Additionally, the recent rebrand reflects a deepened commitment to quality, transparency, and sustainability. Neek now offers customers third-party assurance that every loose-leaf tea and tisane meets the highest standards for purity and environmental responsibility.
With every carefully sourced blend and thoughtfully designed ritual, Neek reframes tea not as a luxury reserved for special occasions, but as a grounding practice available to anyone willing to stop long enough to steep a cup. Ultimately, in a city known for its rapid growth and ever-accelerating pace, Neek Tea Co. is asking Charlotte to do something quietly radical: slow down.
