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Da Hong Pao, or "Big Red Robe," is a famous Chinese Oolong tea with a colorful pedigree. The very large leaves are perfect for multiple infusions. Subsequent steepings will produce varying levels of stone fruit and honey notes. The aroma is fruity and fragrant with a hint of sweet spring flowers. A lingering vegetal sweetness is noted in the finish, along with a crisp, clean hint reminiscent of dry white wine. Very limited lot.

This organic competition grade Matcha produces a bright jade-green liquor with a silky smooth mouth feel. The fresh, clean flavor is outstanding, with sweet vegetal notes. Packed in a small, matte silver tin.

Please note that the tin label cannot be personalized.

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.

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.

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 corn silk. 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.

Grown on Chaozhou Phoenix mountain in Guangdong province at an altitude of 4,000 feet, this esteemed Chinese Oolong tea, also known as “Mi Lan Xiang,” is plucked from a Dan Cong cultivar only once a year in the spring. The ultra-bold, hand-twisted leaves yield a velvety smooth, full-bodied cup with a pronounced stone fruit character. The complex aroma weaves layers of fragrance — floral, honey, citrus, nutty, toasty/biscuity — with a whisper of smoke. The clean finish lingers with an appealing fruity sweetness. This staff favorite creates a memorable tea experience.

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.

From Yunnan province, this outstanding Chinese black tea offering has long ebony-brown leaves that steep a velvety smooth cup. The sweet aroma of this Yunnan tea, hinting of rose petals, is balanced with pronounced spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. The dark amber liquor exhibits exceptional complexity with layers of earth, spice, brown sugar, and a whisper of floral essence. The finish lingers and comforts with hints of warming spice. A staff favorite.

This beautifully handcrafted Ceylon white tea showcases downy, silver-sage buds. The pale champagne-colored liquor has a fresh, inviting fragrance. A silky smooth mouth feel complements sweet notes of melon and apricot. A clean finish completes an outstanding tea experience.

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 exquisitely crafted Formosa Oolong is very fragrant, with pronounced peach notes in both the aroma and the tawny-gold cup. An abundance of downy, silver tips adorns the large beautiful leaves, yielding a liquor bursting with flavor and a smooth, creamy mouth feel. Notes of dried fruit as well as hints of warm spice and honey lead to a clean finish with a lingering sweetness.

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.

Harvested on February 3rd, the very first plucking of the 2025 first flush season at Rohini Estate, this outstanding selection displays bold, handcrafted leaves in shades of green, decorated with delicate, silvery tips. The aroma is fresh and fragrant, with sweet floral hints and notes of corn silk. The cup glows with rich golden highlights, the first sip blooming with honeyed floral notes, complemented by hints of fresh spring greens. A full buttery mouth feel embraces the classic first flush flavor profile, leading to a lingering, silky finish. Savor each sip of this stellar offering.

This premium Jasmine Silver Needle white tea is made entirely of the tender buds of a large leaf cultivar from the spring harvest in Yunnan province. These young buds are then naturally scented with fresh jasmine flowers over five consecutive nights. The sugar-sweet aroma of this loose leaf Chinese silver needle tea is redolent with a sublime jasmine/osmanthus fragrance. The pale golden cup is light and airy with a pronounced jasmine scent, reminiscent of a lush garden’s fragrance at the height of summer. A silky smooth, refreshing finish completes a memorable tea experience. The perfect choice for a winter uplift!

In this 2023 first flush Darjeeling loose leaf tea offering, flecks of spring green brighten bold, dark-olive leaves, redolent with a fresh herbaceous aroma. With its pronounced sweet floral fragrance and flavor, the golden amber cup invites that first sip. A buttery smooth mouth feel leads to a clean finish that lingers with a honey sweetness. A superb selection from Jungpana Tea Estate, creating a memorable tea moment with every sip.

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.

First planted in 1852, the Puttabong Tea Estate is notable as one of the first tea gardens in Darjeeling. With a sweet floral aroma reminiscent of a blooming spring meadow, this 2023 first flush Darjeeling tea selection invites you to take your first sip. Bold, dark-olive leaves, sprinkled with downy silver tips, produce a light amber-gold liquor that delights the palate with its fresh, buttery smoothness and classic, honeyed floral flavor. A smooth, clean finish completes a memorable Darjeeling tea experience.

Attractive, well-made leaves are adorned with a complement of silver and gold tips in this exemplary second flush selection from the esteemed Castleton Estate. A pronounced muscatel bouquet is supported by a warm toasty fragrance. The sweet, ambrosial flavor is rich with muscatel and stone fruit notes, enhanced by a hint of honey. The smooth finish lingers with subtle hints of spice.

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.

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.

Located near the border of Sikkim, the North Tukvar Tea Estate has been producing superior teas since it was first planted in 1884. This outstanding 2023 first flush Darjeeling tea offering was plucked on March 11th at an elevation of 2,000 feet. An abundance of downy silver tips decorates bold leaves of variegated olive greens, which produce a rich golden amber cup with a sweet floral/fruity aroma. A smooth, round mouth feel supports a flavor profile bursting with notes of tropical fruit and melon. This loose leaf Darjeeling tea's finish lingers with a palate-awakening crispness reminiscent of biting into a red apple.

Named after Queen Victoria, the Victoria’s Peak garden is a division of the renowned Steinthal Estate. In this 2023 first flush Darjeeling tea offering, premium loose leaf black tea leaves in rich tones of olive green are laced with silvery tips. A full, lively mouth feel enhances the sweet floral character, which is complemented by juicy notes of pineapple and tropical fruit. Nuances of corn silk and honey linger long into the crisp finish.

A pronounced aroma and flavor of rich melted chocolate distinguishes this outstanding black tea selection from Yunnan province. A profusion of downy golden buds yields a dark amber cup with a rounded, velvety smooth mouth feel and caramel-like sweetness. The finish lingers with dark, bittersweet notes of malt and cherry, reminiscent of a Porter beer. A staff favorite. Small lot with limited availability.

Produced from the unique Ruby #18 cultivar, developed by cross breeding a wild Formosa tea plant varietal with a Burmese/Assam strain, this outstanding black tea hails from the Sun Moon Lake region in Nantou County, Taiwan. The long, dark, wiry leaves yield a complex, hearty liquor with a velvety smooth mouth feel. The fragrant aroma reveals layers of cinnamon, raisin, fig, vanilla, and plum, which harmonize with notes of bread pudding, baked apple, and a subtle malty hint in the full-bodied cup. A lingering caramelized brown sugar note provides a complement to a crisp snap of clove in the finish. Steep longer for deeper flavor and a stronger cup. Created in celebration of Upton Tea Imports' 35th anniversary in 2024, this delightful Formosa black tea is a staff favorite.

Nestled along the southeastern slopes of the Himalayas, the Selimbong Estate flourishes at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 5,500 feet. This 2025 second flush selection offers a rich, full-bodied cup with a pronounced muscatel flavor. Muscatel notes also emerge in the warm, toasty aroma, harmonizing with hints of apple and brown sugar. Notes of oak and nut pair gracefully with a nuance of earthy citrus, all lingering into a sweet, crisp finish.

Established in 1869, the Seeyok Estate rests at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, near the border with Nepal. Outstanding muscatel notes, present in both the fragrance and the smooth, rich cup, set the tone in this 2025 second flush Darjeeling offering. With a light sprinkling of golden tips, the attractive, chocolate-brown leaves yield a dark amber liquor imbued with a stone fruit sweetness that accentuates hints of spice and a nutty, toasty whisper. The finish lingers with a light, sweet quality that harmonizes perfectly with a crisp, dry wine-like nuance at the very end.

The bold, meticulously crafted leaves of this 2023 first flush Darjeeling yield a lively cup with a rich, silky mouth feel. The candied floral aroma whispers of orange blossoms and a light herbaceous nuance. With notes of tropical fruit and flowers, the flavor profile epitomizes “springtime in a cup.” This exceptional offering finishes on a crisp citrus-like note, balanced with a lingering sweetness. A staff favorite.

First planted at the turn of the 20th century, the south-facing tea slopes of the Jungpana Estate are located in a remote area in Darjeeling near Kurseong, a misty land of rolling hills where the average elevation is 4,000 feet. Plucked on March 20th, this 2025 first flush offering displays bold leaves in variegated tones of olive green, laced with delicate, silver tips. A pronounced tropical fruit fragrance sets the stage for the lively golden cup, where herbaceous notes of spring flowers bloom. A refreshing nuance of citrus zest balances with a hint of pineapple sweetness that lingers in the crisp finish.

Carefully handcrafted, this exceptional 2025 first flush Darjeeling displays bold, olive-green leaves, accented by delicate, silver tips. The lively aroma introduces the sun-warmed scent of fresh corn silk, sweetened by soft floral hints. The pale golden cup offers a silky mouthfeel, which supports crisp notes of spring herbs, a whisper of flowers, and a rich tropical sweetness that becomes more pronounced as the tea cools. The finish balances a bittersweet pungency with a lingering floral aftertaste.

The Dooars region lies south of the Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling and north of the Brahmaputra River basin. This lovely 2023 offering from Putharjhora estate exhibits a lively citrus-like mouth feel and inviting tropical fruit notes, reminiscent of pineapple. A pronounced stone fruit sweetness enhances notes of corn silk in the champagne-gold cup. The finish is silky smooth and clean.

Tamaryokucha, literally translated as "coiled tea", is a superb, handcrafted green tea that has a full, complex flavor. Vegetal notes and a pleasing pungency are accentuated by hints of dark berries and a sweet aftertaste. This organic offering was produced in Takachiho, Miyazaki, from the Yabukita cultivar.

With elevations ranging from 3,500 to 5,500 feet, the esteemed Sungma Estate was first planted in the 1860s. This 2025 first flush selection offers a creamy, mouth-filling cup with a sugary-sweet, toasty aroma that hints at almond and anise. The amber-gold liquor presents a classic floral bouquet, enhanced by a tropical fruit sweetness. The refreshing finish lingers with a floral aftertaste that adds depth to the flavor profile.

Originating from the Dongting mountains in Jiangsu province, this renowned Chinese green tea boasts an auspicious history as a tribute tea to the imperial court. Named for its unique appearance, Bi Luo Chun—meaning “Green Snail Spring”—is expertly crafted into tight spiral curls, which are covered in silver-white tea down (hao mao). The pale yellow infusion of this 2025 early spring, Pre-Qingming selection is fresh and fragrant, offering sugarcane-sweet vegetal notes complemented by toasty hints of chestnut. A full, silky mouthfeel sets the stage for the delicate vegetal flavor, enriched by a honeyed sweetness and subtle whispers of melon. The smooth finish lingers with a refreshing, crisp clarity.

Originally planted in 1869, the venerable Seeyok Estate is located near the India-Nepal border and sits at an altitude averaging 4,700 feet, with a scenic view of Kanchenjunga Mountain, the third highest peak in the world. In this superlative 2024 first flush Darjeeling offering, flecks of bright green leaves and silver tips thread through bold, olive-green leaves, which produce a mouth filling cup of golden sunshine. The sweet aroma is fragrant with notes of honey and meadow flowers, complemented by a fresh vegetal hint. The smooth liquor exhibits a lively, spring-like character, with floral notes that are accented by a nuance of oak. The crisp, pungent finish is well balanced with a lingering honey sweetness. A staff favorite.

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.

From its enticingly sweet fragrance to its smooth-as-silk mouthfeel, this unique 2025 Darjeeling Oolong selection has many fine points to consider. Prominent honey notes bring a richness to the light golden cup, harmonizing with hints of melon and a vegetal whisper. The crisp finish balances with a pleasantly sweet aftertaste that lingers on the palate. A truly delightful cup.

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.

Extra rich flavor. A Tung-Ting style Oolong, oxidized at approximately 18 percent to retain a greener character. Very sweet and aromatic, this is the style of Oolong that is favored by Taiwan tea connoisseurs.

Grown on Tianzi Mountain in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the beautifully crafted leaves of this “black peony” selection produce an exemplary cup with a ripe peach fragrance that hints of honey, spice, and vanilla. The light golden-amber liquor is smooth and medium-bodied, with a full mouthfeel and complex flavor profile. Notes of juicy stone fruit are complemented by spicy floral hints and vanilla sweetness. A nutty undertone leads to a clean finish that lingers with hints of earth. Exclusively selected for Upton Tea Imports by our Chinese tea specialists to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Perched at elevations ranging from 4,500 to 5,200 feet, the Giddapahar Estate thrives in the cool, mist-laden air — perfect for producing premium Darjeeling teas. This 2025 second flush selection beckons that first sip with a rich ambrosial aroma full of muscatel and honey notes. With notes of toasted almond, honey, and ripe apple, the dark amber cup is smooth and full-bodied. The finish lingers with a light effervescence and a whisper of Burgundy.

The Castleton Estate is known for crafting top-notch Darjeeling teas. This 2023 second flush Darjeeling tea offering is true to their reputation. The chestnut-colored liquor has a lively fruity bouquet in both the aroma and flavor, with hints of muscatel and a ripe stone fruit sweetness. The smooth, full-bodied cup has a rich mouth feel and honey nuances, which linger in the finish alongside a whisper of wildflowers.

From Miyazaki prefecture, this organic selection is crafted from the Yabukita cultivar and usually reserved for the domestic market. The mouth feel has a decidedly brothy character, and the flavor has a classic "umami" aspect. A superb specimen of this style and grade.

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.

An inviting aroma—fragrant with muscatel and jam-like notes reminiscent of sweet plum cake—introduces this 2025 second flush offering from Gielle Estate. Nestled on the cold, sunlit slopes above Takdah village, the estate lies approximately four miles from the Darjeeling railway station. The dark amber cup is rich and full-bodied, its mouthfeel as smooth as silk. Pronounced muscatel notes are complemented by toasty hints and a subtle nuance of oak. The dry finish lingers with whispers of caramelized sugar and spice.

This impressive 2024 first flush selection is from the Thurbo Estate, which is located in the verdant Mirik Valley of Darjeeling. The well-made, attractive leaves yield a golden-amber liquor, aromatic with a floral essence, a pronounced sweetness, and a fresh vegetal hint. The medium-bodied cup has a lively character, bursting with rich floral notes, a tropical fruit whisper, and a hint of mineral. The subtly crisp, lingering finish leaves a pleasant sweetness on the palate, completing an enjoyable tea experience.

Silver downy tea buds have been expertly scented with jasmine, lending a sweet perfumed essence to this distinctive selection from Fujian province. The white tea base adds a light savory body to the pale straw-colored infusion. Gentle floral notes in the cup complement the herbaceous melon notes of the white tea. Hints of honey lead to a delicate, lingering finish.