Our Tea Buyer continually searches the world for premium teas that we are proud to offer to our customers. On occasion, we find teas that are so special that we have them shipped to us by the fastest method today – the airplane – so we can share them with our customers as soon as possible. This is very similar to the nineteenth century when tea merchants would ship their precious cargo by the swift tea clippers, ensuring the fastest arrival times. In honor of this great tradition, we offer this collection of the highest quality teas - The Great Tea Race Collection. This carefully curated collection is named in honor of the Great Tea Race of 1866, when five of the fastest tea clippers set sail from Foochow, China bound for London with their cargo holds filled with tea chests. Ninety-nine days and over 15,000 nautical miles later, the Taeping and the Ariel docked first in London, only twenty-eight minutes apart.

Bulang Mountain Sheng Pu-Erh Cake (2016)
With a tea growing history of over 900 years, the Bulang Mountain range of Yunnan province includes some of the most prized Pu-Erh production regions. In the pale rosy-amber cup, a complex aroma introduces notes of earth and fleeting whispers of fruit and smoke. The flavor is rich with pronounced stone fruit notes of plum and apricot wrapped in honey sweetness, a mouth-filling nectar-like quality. Produced from a large-leaf varietal, this 4 ½ inch diameter round tea cake weighs approximately 95-100 grams and comes packaged in our silver packet.

Bulang Mountain Shou Pu-Erh Cake (2016)
With a tea growing history of over 900 years, the Bulang Mountain range of Yunnan province includes some of the most prized Pu-Erh production regions. The aroma reveals a woody/toasty/sweet earthy complexity, complemented by hints of cocoa. The velvety smooth, rounded cup is dark and rich with notes of molasses, chestnut and a hint of spice. The clean finish lingers with nuances of cinnamon and clove. Produced from a large-leaf varietal, this 4 ½ inch diameter round tea cake weighs approximately 95-100 grams and comes packaged in our silver packet.

Fuding China White Tea Cake (2016)
The Fuding tea region of northeast Fujian province is well known for its preeminent white tea production, and this white tea cake is an outstanding example of its premium quality teas. The pale golden-amber liquor is smooth and silky with pronounced honey notes in both the aroma and the flavor. Hints of stone fruit linger in the finish. Produced from a large-leaf varietal, this 4 ½ inch diameter round tea cake weighs approximately 95-100 grams and comes packaged in our silver packet.

Selim Hill Estate Second Flush BPS (2019 DJ-59) Darjeeling
An aroma hinting of muscatel and oak introduces the smooth, ruby-amber liquor of this 2019 second flush Darjeeling. A syrupy mouth feel wraps around notes of stone fruit, leading to a bright, crisp finish. Add a splash of milk to enhance the rich quality of the cup.

China Tie-Guan-Yin Oolong
The dark olive, neatly rolled leaves exude a fresh buttery fragrance with hints of flowers. The pale straw-colored liquor invites that first sip with its delightful floral aroma. A nectar-like sweetness complements notes of chestnut and mineral in the light toasty cup. The finish lingers with hints of honey.

Giddapahar Estate Second Flush SFTGFOP1 (2020 DJ-51) Darjeeling
A pronounced toasty aroma with a lovely honey sweetness introduces this 2020 second flush selection. Upon first sip, a vibrant burst of fruity flavor dances across the palate. The dark amber liquor is smooth and rich with prominent peachy notes, hints of muscatel and a lingering toasty finish. This outstanding cup is sure to please Darjeeling aficionados.

Special Purchase Hao-Ya "A" Select
A fine complement of golden tips sets this stylish selection apart. The flavor has classic Burgundy-like Keemun notes, with subtle smokiness and a hint of cocoa. This one comes close to the Hao-Ya 'A' Keemun of days past.

Tie-Guan-Yin Imperial Oolong
The dry leaves of this top-quality Oolong offering are fragrant and expertly rolled, producing a sparkling gold liquor with a sweet floral aroma. Notes of orchid are complemented by a buttery mouth feel in the silky smooth cup. Hints of honey lend a richness to the lingering finish. This tea is a great choice for multiple steepings.

Pre-Chingming Gu Zhang Mao Jian
Hunan province has an auspicious history of producing superior green teas and this early spring harvest carries on that tradition. Bold, handcrafted leaves, threaded with downy silver tips, steep a pale yellow-jade liquor with a fresh vegetal aroma that hints of melon. The cup is silky smooth with gentle vegetal notes complemented by a light toastiness. Sweet hints of sugarcane bloom and linger long into the crisp finish.

Yunnan Golden Tips Supreme
Elegant, downy gold tips are showcased in this superb black tea offering from Yunnan province. A sweet cocoa aroma pairs well with toasty/biscuity notes in the thick, rich cup. A silky smooth mouth feel envelops hints of cocoa that linger long into the finish.

Arya Estate Second Flush SFTGFOP1 (2020 DJ-22) Darjeeling
Sprinkled with downy golden tips, the dark brown, well-made leaves of this 2020 second flush tea yield a deep copper-amber liquor with a sweet, complex fragrance that portends the richly layered nuances in the cup. An ambrosial honey sweetness wraps around ripe fruity notes and floral/herbaceous hints, complemented by a full mouth feel. The finish is smooth and lingering.

China Mandarin stuffed with Shou Pu-Erh
Tiny mandarin oranges are dried and stuffed with Shou Pu-Erh leaves, creating this unique tea treat. The opaque, deep brown liquor is fragrant with hints of citrus zest and earth. A whisper of cocoa joins the citrus-earthy flavor in the cup, finishing on a brisk, lively note. Each 1.5" mandarin will yield approximately 4 cups of tea. This selection is perfect for multiple steepings.