Pre-Chingming Green Tea

We are excited to offer this outstanding black tea selection as most teas of this superior quality do not leave China. Less than 9 kilograms was produced in Tong Mu, located high in the Wuyi Mountains (formerly Bohea Hills) of northern Fujian province. The large wiry, ebony-brown leaves yield a dark ruby-amber liquor with an inviting caramel aroma hinting of marzipan. The exquisitely smooth cup fills your mouth with a rich depth of flavor – toasted almond notes, hints of warming spices and honeyed apricot, a whisper of earthy smokiness – all embraced by a sweet syrupy quality. The finish lingers with a whisper of spice. This stellar selection is truly a joy to savor.

An impressive mélange of silver-sage buds and light olive-green leaves are showcased in this special lot of “White Peony” China white tea. The pale straw-gold liquor is redolent with pronounced honey notes and buttery floral hints, which spill over into the mouth-filling flavor. The silky smooth cup hints of melon, which lingers into the finish, complemented by a refreshing crispness reminiscent of dry white wine.

Small, light-green tips yield a very pale golden liquor in this white tea offering from Mim Estate. The mouth feel is silky smooth and delicate yet the flavor reveals a rich complexity with hints of corn silk, light buttercup notes and a floral sweetness. A crisp, lingering finish completes an exceptional tea experience.

Harvested on March 3, 2022, this stellar first flush Darjeeling intoxicates with its fresh floral fragrance. Upon first sip, the vibrant gold liquor fills your mouth with a buttery smooth feeling like golden cornsilk. Enlivened by a rich honey sweetness, the classic floral character conjures a stroll through a lush spring garden. Vegetal hints linger in the crisp finish, completing a delightful tea moment.

Produced at a small family tea garden in Shizuoka, Japan, this unique black tea is smoked for 6-8 hours using wood chips from a Japanese cherry wood whisky barrel. With layers of smoke, Burgundy and hints of floral sweetness, the aroma is reminiscent of a warm charcoal fire. A buttery mouth feel and hints of toffee complement the pronounced smoky notes in the smooth, rich cup. That smoky character is joined by a prevailing sweetness that lingers long after the last sip.

Produced at a small family tea garden in Shizuoka, Japan, this unique black tea is smoked for 6-8 hours using wood chips from an oak whisky barrel. A sweet, savory aroma, reminiscent of an autumn bonfire, introduces the velvety, full-bodied cup. A rich smoky/oak flavor takes center stage in the ruby-amber liquor, and is supported by a rounded fruity sweetness. The bold smokiness lingers long into the smooth finish, complemented by sweet whispers of amaretto and rose.

Long, thin needles of lustrous dark emerald produce a yellow jade liquor exhibiting a wonderful balance of complex sweet and savory notes. A very sweet, buttery mouth feel complements rich umami notes and a fresh vegetal quality that lingers into the finish.

This superior selection is the second plucking of the first flush season at the Upper division of Namring Estate, one of the oldest tea gardens in Darjeeling district. Ultra-bold leaves, in shades of olive green accented with silver tips, produce a pale amber-gold cup, fragrant with hints of tropical fruit. A smooth buttery mouth feel complements pronounced floral notes and hints of corn silk, enfolded in a rich honey sweetness that lingers long into the finish.

From Aichi prefecture, this organic Matcha offering produces a superlative, dark jade cup with a pronounced vegetal character and full mouth feel. Packed in a small, matte silver tin.

Please note that the tin label cannot be personalized.

This superlative first flush offering is the very first plucking at the Rohini Estate, located in the Kurseong valley of Darjeeling district. The exquisite leaves display full leaf sets, crowned with downy silver tips. Accented by notes of honey and corn silk, the sweet aroma evokes the freshness of early spring. The delicate amber-gold cup is buttery smooth with classic floral notes, complemented by light vegetal hints. A lively crisp quality lingers in the finish, completing an unparalleled tea experience.

Harvested on February 24, 2022, this outstanding first flush Darjeeling is referred to as ‘Jethi Kupi,’ an auspicious title given to the earliest first flush harvests at the Rohini Estate. The bright golden liquor is light and refreshing with a buttery smooth cornsilk mouth feel. The fresh aroma is delicate and floral with gentle vegetal hints. The classic floral cup is embraced by tropical fruit and sweet toasty hints. A crisp, lingering finish completes an exemplary tea experience, imbued with sunshine and felicity.

Harvested on March 8, 2022, this is the very first plucking of the first flush season at Tindharia Estate. A profusion of downy silver tips decorate the olive-green leaves, which produce a fragrant golden liquor redolent with buttery floral notes suggestive of honeysuckle. The silky smooth cup fills your mouth with a lively feel that awakens the palate. Classic floral notes pair with a fruity sweetness reminiscent of juicy pineapple, which linger into the crisp finish. A truly delightful way to enjoy a tea moment at any time of day.

This classic Chinese Oolong was grown in the Wudong area of the Phoenix Mountains in Guangdong province. “Da Wu Ye,” meaning “big dark leaf,” refers to the elegantly long, dark green leaves of this most prized of Phoenix Oolong offerings. A gentle roasted aroma introduces the light amber liquor. Pronounced stone fruit notes and hints of honey highlight the rich ambrosial character and full mouth feel of this stellar selection. The finish is smooth and lingering.

From the “Four Season Spring” cultivar, this unique Formosa Oolong exhibits premium, loosely rolled leaves that produce a pale gold liquor with the heady scent of lilacs. A smooth, rich buttery mouth feel provides the perfect complement to the pronounced honey notes and intense floral character. The finish lingers with light hints of melon.

The beautiful, handmade leaves of this unique Oolong tea are created under the guidance of tea masters from Taiwan. The pale golden liquor is fragrant with a light floral aroma. The silky smooth cup is light and flavorful with a pronounced floral character. A lingering whisper of spice completes an outstanding tea experience.

Darjeeling white tea leaves are expertly rolled into medium pearl shapes, which produce a pale-gold liquor with a sweet tropical fruit aroma. A buttery smooth mouth feel and gentle character pair well with a pronounced nectar-like sweetness that lingers long into the finish. Each 'moondrop' pearl weighs approximately 3-4 grams and is perfect for multiple steepings.

This exquisite organic Oolong selection showcases handcrafted full-leaf sets, produced from a fine plucking. The pale straw-colored cup has a honey-sweet character, fragrant with notes of dried fruit. A silky smooth mouth feel introduces notes of apricot, complemented by a green grape crispness that lingers into the finish.

This outstanding selection displays beautiful leaves in shades of green, sprinkled with delicate, silvery tips. The fragrance is fresh and sweet, with hints of corn silk. The sparkling amber-gold cup is bursting with honey sweetness and rich floral notes reminiscent of a spring garden. A buttery smooth mouth feel supports light vegetal hints and a crisp, lively quality that lingers long into the finish. Savor each sip of this stellar offering.

This organic first flush Darjeeling selection offers bold leaves accented by a plethora of downy silver tips. The amber-gold cup exhibits a bright, refreshing character, which accentuates notes of honey, tropical fruit and melon. A crisp, clean finish completes a delightful tea experience.

The bold, attractive leaves of Balasun Estate’s very first plucking are sprinkled with a fair complement of silvery tips. The fresh aroma is delicate, with honeyed floral hints. The amber-gold cup is exceptional, with rich floral notes enhanced by a silky smooth mouth feel. A tropical fruit sweetness leads to a crisp, lingering finish.

Downy golden tips have been carefully handcrafted into beautiful spiral shapes to create a unique leaf appearance in this special, limited production China black tea from Yunnan province. Notes of cocoa, Burgundy, dried stone fruit, malt and warming spice weave together in a rich mosaic of vibrant flavor. A dark sugar sweetness blooms and lingers in the smooth finish.

In this premium selection, a bounty of small golden tips provides a stunning contrast to the dark brown leaves. The medium amber cup is rich and full-bodied with a classic brisk character and honeyed fragrance. Burgundy notes join hints of spice and raisin, lingering in the finish.

This is the finest Jade Oolong tea we’ve ever sampled. Orchid, honey, and buttery notes weave together to create a complex aroma and flavor with a creamy smooth mouth feel and long, lingering finish. For those of you looking for the best of what Taiwan can offer, this outstanding Oolong selection is highly recommended.

A bounty of golden tips provides an impressive contrast to the ebony-brown leaves of this exemplary Assam selection. The complex aroma is fragrant with hints of malt, red wine and honey. The full-bodied cup is silky smooth and well balanced with a constellation of complementary flavors — notes of Burgundy, amaretto and oak, hints of cherry and rose. The lively finish is long and lingering.

Spread across the rolling hills of the Mirik area of Darjeeling, the Singbulli Estate is well known for crafting top-notch Darjeeling teas. This 2022 second flush offering is true to their reputation. The lively cup begins with a toasty/woody aroma, accentuated by hints of caramel. The dark amber liquor exhibits a rich fruity bouquet, complemented by an excellent pairing of muscatel sweetness and crisp citrus-like notes, which linger into the finish. Steep longer if a splash of milk is desired.

Named after a river that flows through the tea garden, the Balasun Estate has been producing premium teas for 150 years. In this first flush Darjeeling, a light pungency adds a lively aspect to the sweet, floral fragrance. Rich notes of flowers and honey, accented by warm toasty hints, are supported by a buttery smooth mouth feel in the golden amber cup. The finish lingers on a crisp, clean note.

In this first flush offering from Singbulli Estate, bold, well-made leaves in variegated tones of olive-green, sprinkled with silver tips, steep a golden amber liquor with a vibrant aroma hinting of sweet flowers and buttery corn silk. The cup is rich and smooth with a delectable honeyed floral flavor that fills your mouth upon first sip. The finish lingers with a crisp “bite.”

With elevations ranging over 6,000 feet, the Thurbo Estate has been producing premium Darjeeling teas for over a century. In this first flush offering, silver tips decorate attractive leaves in a colorful display of olive greens. A rich toasty aroma introduces an amber-gold cup with an assertive character that enhances its full, lively mouth feel. Fresh floral/herbaceous notes and a honey sweetness are complemented by notes of stone fruit, which lend a gentle crispness to the lingering finish.

Decorated with downy silver tips, the bold olive-green leaves of this first flush selection produce a refreshing, amber-gold cup filled with tropical fruit sweetness. A light stone fruit aroma is complemented by crisp hints of white wine that linger in the smooth finish.

First planted at the turn of the 20th century, the south-facing tea slopes of the Jungpana Estate are located in a remote area near Kurseong, where the average elevation is 4,000 feet. This first flush offering displays dark olive leaves that are laced with a fine complement of downy silver tips. A sweet tropical fruit aroma sets the stage for the buttery smooth, amber gold cup. Rich notes of honey and spring flowers are complemented by a refreshing astringency that settles around the edges of the palate. A honey sweetness tempers the crisp, lingering finish.

Harvested at the height of the 2022 second flush season, the dark brown leaves of this exemplary offering yield a smooth, full-bodied cup with a complex character. Rich toasty notes are embraced by a dried fruit sweetness reminiscent of a ripe apple. Hints of warm mulling spices add to the depth of flavor, finishing with a pleasant dryness that lingers as in a fine red wine. Enjoy this delightful tea, neat or with a touch of milk, at any time of day.

This first flush offering is noteworthy for its eminently smooth character and pronounced honey sweetness. The light amber-gold cup is fragrant with an inviting aroma hinting of stone fruit and flowers. Tropical fruit hints and a gentle whisper of toastiness lead to a crisp, refreshing finish.

An inviting floral fragrance introduces this first flush selection from the Arya Estate, which has been producing premium Darjeeling teas for over 100 years. The amber gold cup is lively and bursting with mouth-filling complexity. Notes of sweet flowers, buttery corn silk, juicy tropical fruit and creamy almond create a rich harmony of well-balanced flavor that lingers long into the crisp finish.

This outstanding Yunnan black tea selection is composed of handcrafted golden tips with a beautiful downy appearance. The russet-amber liquor is fragrant with hints of molasses. Layers of cocoa, spice, and earth weave together to create a rich flavor that is complemented by a caramelized sugar sweetness. A whisper of spice lingers in the finish.

Smooth and rich, this second flush Darjeeling offers pronounced muscatel notes in both the fragrant aroma and the dark amber cup. Nutty/toasty nuances and hints of honey lead to a dry, lingering finish that hints of spice. Another sublime selection from Victoria’s Peak, a division of the renowned Steinthal Estate.

Harvested during the second flush season, this top selection showcases dark brown leaves accented with gold and silver downy tips. A toasty aroma introduces a smooth, rich dark-amber liquor with a honey sweetness and ripe muscatel notes that become more pronounced as the tea cools. The finish lingers with hints of stone fruit.

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.

The bold, dark brown leaves of this 2022 second flush selection infuse a smooth, full-bodied liquor with classic muscatel flavor. A pronounced sweetness in the aroma complements a rich earthy quality reminiscent of a fall walk in the woods. Mouth-watering fruity notes and a sweet character make this exceptional Darjeeling a great choice for your next cup.

Those who appreciate the finer grades of Tung-Ting style Oolong will find this one an exceptional value. The flavor is surprisingly more refined than item TT86.

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.

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.

A profusion of silver tips enhances the bold, handcrafted tea leaves of this unique Oolong tea selection from Vietnam. Fragrant notes of apricot, peach, and honey introduce the smooth, rich cup, which fills your mouth with its buttery mouth feel. An ambrosia-like sweetness lingers long into the finish.