Traceable Source
We know exactly where our tea comes from, and we want you to know this information too. Instead of opting for any nebulous supply chain, we value our sources as they indicate to us how quality and sustainable farming practices are maintained. We honor the work of our farmers, artisans, harvesters, and partners and their impact –
Dong Chang Cai and family – Chang Bai Mountain, China [Wild Schisandra Herbal Tea]
Yang Xue Fang and family – Wu Liang Mountain, China [Aged Mengku Rich Valley Raw Puer Tea]
Kai Wei and family – Da Li Wu Liang Mountain, China [Ancient Artisan Baked Heart Green Tea]
Tian Zhi and family – Yunnan Province, China [Ancient Artisan Moonlight White Tea, Wild Artisan Moonlight White, Ancient Artisan Yunnan Black Tea]
Quality
Tea quality is widely measured by a number of factors including leaf integrity, liquor clarity, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel. Keeping these factors in mind, you may begin to notice the difference between one’s average supermarket tea and one’s imported luxury loose-leaf tea. When evaluating your own tea, ask yourself these questions –
Before brewing – how intact are the tea leaves? Are they dusty, broken, or whole?
Once brewed – how clear is the tea liquor? Murky, glassy, or something in between?
Now take a good whiff – what does the tea smell like? Stale or rich? Perhaps grassy or nutty?
And sip – what does the tea taste like? What notes might there be (floral, honey, fill-in-the-blank)?
Finally – what does the tea feel like? Buttery, fuzzy, or harsh?
We ensure that only the favorites of all our considered teas make it onto our products list. It makes sense to share with you the very best!
Sustainable
Let’s be real – what does ‘sustainable’ even mean? There is no hard-defined standard for what ‘sustainable’ really is – a hundred people could give you a hundred different answers. The truth is that it’s complicated and researchers are learning more each day. However, most can agree that the abstract goal of sustainability is to sustain the Earth’s ecological balance and responsibly maintain our relationship with our environment for generations to come. How we do that is the question.
We believe ‘sustainable’ to be a state of mind. We’re here to learn, and we invite you to do that with us. We hold a posture of continuously improving our understanding of the Earth and our care for its inhabitants. Humans, creatures, and plants alike rely on the give-and-take cycle that we all live in.
With this perspective, we work with farmers who prioritize biodiversity and resource management within their surrounding ecosystem. The direction we choose to walk in is one where tea production benefits all parties involved – our plant and creature friends, farmers, vendors, consumers, and everyone in between.
