Single Origin, Farm Direct, Whole Leaf Teas. I happened to walk by this store in Berkeley, California and loved it immediately. It completely changed my ideas about tea. “We celebrate this time-honored craftsmanship of the artisanal tea farmers of China, Taiwan, India, and Japan. Every harvest for the past 15 years we have traveled to the finest tea growing regions of Asia to visit family-owned farms to select our handcrafted teas. Each tea in our collection is carefully curated for its complexity, exceptional taste, and spirit. We do this because we are committed to helping sustain these traditional communities and to sharing the treasures of the tea arts with you. And we truly believe that tea can change your life.” Their mission is “to seek out the most skilled tea farmers and producers in each region, and support their craft by bringing their teas to the Western world.” You can meet each farmer on their website. Teas are picked during the peak season and sold as fresh harvests. They even have a questionnaire to help you choose the perfect tea for you. I wish I could live next door.
