Legend has it that tea was first discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong in 2737 BCE, when a leaf from a nearby Camellia sinensis plant fell into a pot of water the emperor was boiling. Traditional Chinese tea has been an important part of China's culture and history ever since, and Chinese loose leaf tea can be classified into five major categories: white, green, oolong, black and post-fermented China tea.


Season's Pick China Sencha Organic
Processed in the style of a Japanese Sencha tea, this selection is an excellent value for an everyday green tea. The golden cup is aromatic with floral hints and a sweet, buttery mouth feel.

Pi Lo Chun (Green Snail Spring)
The most tender buds are picked under carefully controlled conditions in the spring. One of the most prized of China green teas, only a limited amount of this special grade tea is available.

Chung-Hao Special Grade Jasmine
Chung-Hao Jasmine belongs to the same series of China Jasmine tea as Yin-Hao, but is less expensive. Delicate silver tips adorn the well-made leaves, producing a light, refreshing cup redolent with the heady fragrance of jasmine blossoms. A rich sweetness blooms and lingers into the finish.

Chung-Hao Jasmine Imperial
This fine Jasmine selection produces an amber gold cup with a rich, full mouth feel. The flavor showcases a perfect balance between the base tea and its meticulous jasmine scenting. Light floral notes are highlighted by a hint of sweetness that lingers into the finish.

Yin-Hao Special Grade Jasmine
The choicest of the standard grades of Jasmine tea. Delicate flavor with a natural sweetness that is enhanced by the sublime aroma of the finest jasmine flowers.

Guangdong Province Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl
Select fine pluckings (two leaves and a bud), scented with the finest jasmine flowers and tightly rolled into pearl-sized spheres. A rare treat for Jasmine tea lovers.


Organic Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl
This rare offering is produced from carefully selected leaf sets, consisting of buds and tender first-leaf sets. It is then scented with the highest quality jasmine blossoms, which are later painstakingly removed to ensure that the quality of the leaf is represented in the cup.

China Keemun First Grade
With its rich flavor profile and smooth mouth feel, this standard grade Keemun represents a great value for a China black tea. Hints of wine and a suggestion of smoke round out the earthy, full-bodied cup.


Organic China Black FOP
Well-twisted leaves with golden tips, producing a liquor that has the character of a non-smoky Keemun. The Burgundy-like flavor notes end with a sweet, clean finish.

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.

Magnolia Blossom Oolong
This Guangdong province specialty is a lovely Oolong tea, scented with magnolia flowers. Alternately known as Orchid Oolong or in Chinese Yu Lan, this selection is a must try for those who appreciate a fine scented tea. The flavor nuances are unique, but hints of jasmine lend a recognizable character.

China Oolong Buddha's Palm
A special grade of Fujian province Oolong, with superior flavor, aroma, and leaf style. The tightly rolled leaves unfold to reveal the fine plucking, yielding a smooth cup with a toasty, spicy flavor.

Tie-Guan-Yin Oolong Special Grade
The loosely rolled leaves of this finest grade of China Tie-Guan-Yin Oolong produce a pale golden cup with a full, buttery mouth feel. A sweet, floral fragrance introduces notes of dried fruit and a hint of honeysuckle in the flavor. The finish lingers with a light toastiness.

China Yin Zhen Bai Hao Downy White Pekoe
Very rare, this exotic tea is the most distinguished of all white teas. The silver-leaf tea buds yield a naturally sweet, complex, and delicate tea.


Organic White Silver Needle
This special production is composed entirely of unopened leaf buds. The cup has a delicate, sweet aroma. The light liquor is refreshing with a sweet hint and a lightly nutty/fruity finish. An outstanding organic white tea.

Yunnan Black Dragon Pearls
Large, dark brown leaves have been carefully rolled into uniform pearl shapes to create this unique offering from Yunnan province. Both the dry pearls and the infused liquor are fragrant with the scent of chocolate, hinting of its delicious flavor. The golden-amber cup is rich and earthy with notes of sweet cocoa and hints of stone fruit. The finish is smooth and lingering.

Lapsang Souchong Black Dragon
Restock available soon! Blended especially for Upton Tea Imports, this tea is a pleasing and subtly complex variation on a rich, smoky classic. The perfect gift for the Lapsang Souchong drinker who seeks a less smoky cup.

Introduction to Fine Tea Sampler
A tin (approx 35g) each of the following: TP12: Premium China Keemun, TD50: No.1 Tippy Orthodox GFOP Darjeeling, ZY51: China Yunnan TGFOP, and TB51: East Frisian BOP Assam Tea. Representative of a wide range of fine black teas. Please note that Sampler Sets cannot be personalized.

Gao Ji Lapsang Souchong
A smooth mouth feel and delightful bright quality are showcased in this fine Lapsang Souchong selection. Rich smoky notes balance with a light, lingering sweetness in the whiskey-colored liquor.

Keemun Xiang Luo
From An Hui province, home of the famous Hao-Ya Keemun teas, this selection offers a bright character with a suggestion of sweet tobacco in the aroma. The medium-bodied cup has warm toasty notes and a honey sweetness that blooms as the tea cools.

Yunnan GFOP
High-grown Yunnan of excellent quality. Sold by some as the best available, this grade is actually the best of the commonly available grades. Brisk flavor without the harshness of lesser Yunnan teas.

Floral Tie-Guan-Yin Oolong
An outstanding Tie-Guan-Yin Oolong selection, with an appealing floral intensity. The attractive, olive-green leaves produce a fragrant, pale gold infusion with a buttery smooth mouth feel. Orchid/lilac notes are prominent in both the flavor and aroma, as well as a hint of honey sweetness.

Floral Huang Jin Gui
With a light oxidation level of less than 20%, this premium Oolong is produced in Anxi county of Fujian province. The name Huang Jin Gui translates to golden osmanthus,referring to the cup's light gold hue and osmanthus-like aroma and flavor.

China Keemun Hong Cha
The fragrant, dark brown leaves yield a deep amber liquor with a light smoky aroma, hinting of earth and wine. The smooth cup is rich and full-bodied, accented with smoky/earthy nuances. The finish lingers with a hint of spice.