Traditional

We offer an exceptional range of traditional teas from the world’s most famous growing regions. From the grassy, umami-bomb teas of Japan, to the world-famous smooth, complex high-mountain oolongs of Taiwan, to bright and intense teas of India’s Darjeeling and Assam regions, and across the wide spectrum of Chinese teas, we bring you a collection of the best teas available on earth, from some of the top gardens.

Although it all comes from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis, different teas can vary remarkably in flavor and quality. Whether the tea becomes white, green, oolong, black, or dark (Pu-erh) depends on how the leaves are processed and oxidized. Within each category of tea, hundreds of traditional styles are differentiated by factors including growing region (climate, water, soil, elevation), plant cultivar, harvest time, and crafting technique. Artisan tea masters coax specific flavors from the leaf through various cultivation and manufacturing techniques, ranging from methods passed down through generations to cutting-edge modern. Centuries of selective cultivation also enhance the desirable characteristics of unique cultivars (cultivated varieties) of the tea plant. The synergy of the environment surrounding the tea plant factors into its flavor to a remarkable degree. Even if you transplanted the same exact tea plant from one country to another, the taste would be completely different, largely explained via the French wine term “terroir” or “sense of place.” With practice, tea connoisseurs can often recognize the country-of-origin, region-of-origin, or even time-of-harvest just by a tea’s unique flavor profile.

We rejoice in the complexity that tea offers. The tea plant has a unique capacity to yield wide range of dramatically different flavors, enhanced by generation of skilled producers. We are amazed by the combination of art and nature to produce such an amazing beverage and encourage you to appreciate a high-quality cup of tea just as you would a fine, regional wine.