Introduction

We believe the world needs vibrancy, indulgence and inspiration. We believe people should never stop discovering, never stop being surprised. We see our role as bringing together the best the world has to offer; to create unique goods that help people to explore and experience what’s out there. Products that help people see their world in a different and better light. Products that have the power to amaze and astonish.

  • The Company Today
  • Philosophy
  • Remarkable Connections
  • Pioneering Spirit
  • Merchant's Mark

eic-today_2 The East India Company Today

 

When you hear our name you will probably already have a sense of who we are. Deep within the world’s sub-consciousness is an awareness of The East India Company, powerful pictures of who we are. You’ll feel something for us; you’ll have a connection to us, even if you don’t know us.

The East India Company made a wide range of elusive, exclusive and exotic ingredients familiar, affordable and available to the world; ingredients which today form part of our daily and national cuisines. Today we continue to develop and market unique and innovative products that breathe life into the history of The Company. We trade foods crafted by artisans and specialists from around the world, with carefully sourced ingredients, unique recipes and distinguished provenances.

eic-today_3 Our Philosophy

 

Over three hundred years ago, The East India Company’s pioneering merchants were the leading traders of luxury goods of their time, forging trade routes across the tumultuous oceans between the East and the West and trading a range of products including tea, coffee, spices, gold, silver and porcelain.

Today, we continue to stand for quality and innovation in each and every area of trade. We scour the best of manufacturers from all over the world to develop a range of foods that are exclusive and unique to our brand.We insist that our lines are made to the highest specifications with the finest of ingredients we can find, researching historic recipes till this very day as well as maintaining a close working relationship with the artisans that produce the innovative recipes in the true spirit of The East India Company.

eic-today_5

Remarkable Connections

 

The East India Company’s reputation is one of many dimensions. Its footprint extends across the world; spanning a wide range of countries and a diversity of cultures. Its presence transcends time, with a history encompassing of over 400 years of changes in kingdoms and rules, revolutions and innovations. Its trading activities encompassed an array of merchandises, materials and crafts.

The reputation and rich heritage of The East India Company give us the ability today to continue forging new and remarkable connections between various geographies, cultures, techniques, products, ingredients and points in time. It is these remarkable connections and influences that shape our brand and products today.

eic-today_6

A Pioneering Spirit

 

We are pioneers, explorers and innovators.

We are idealists, dreamers and traders.

We are sensitive to the cultures and beliefs of others. We seek to enrich and enliven the world and increase our positive impact through our corporate and personal actions.

At the heart of it all, we are adventurous, honourable merchants; traversing the oceans to forge new connections, to set up trading relationships, to discover the exotic and elusive.

The Merchant’s Mark

 

Soon after receiving royal approval from Queen Elizabeth in 1600, The Company began to use an identifying mark called The Merchant’s Mark or the ‘Chop ‘ on all its goods and cargoes. Derived from the Hindi word, ‘chap ‘, meaning stamp, this mark was considered by many to be the first commercial trademark and soon became a global symbol of excellence recognizable across all of The Company’s trading territories.

Initially a simple mark, it evolved by the 1700 ‘s into a heart shaped figure surmounted by a figure four, or sail, and containing the initials of The Company, EIC. It is this same symbol today that we carry forward today to mark the quality and exclusivity of each and every one of our products.