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Tea Ceremony

In every culture where tea is served, one finds that a certain degree of hospitality or ceremony accompanies the presentation of this fine beverage. Often, certain foods are offered with tea such as sweet breads, cookies, or light snacks of some kind.
In Japan, flowers, colors, poetry , the correct teapot and cups are all chosen to achieve a spiritual balance. The long tradition of tea can enter into your tea-time if you add a graceful expression to the process of having or serving tea.

Commercial Tea

Commercial teas account for about 95% of the current world's tea – the vast majority of which go into teabags. Mixed leaves are machine-picked along with some stems and twigs, then machine-processed by the CTC (cut, tear, curl) method into small particles. Small particles go stale faster and brew strong, but don't have nearly the flavor of premium teas.

About Tea Storage

Black and Oolong teas retain their flavor for many months if stored properly. Tea is affected by heat, odor, moisture, and light.
We recommend storage in a cool, dry place away from strong odors. Any glass jar with a sealed lid is great. At home we use opaque stoneware kitchen canisters with sealing lids, which you can find at most kitchen supply or department stores.
Green teas are usually best drunk within a few weeks of purchase. Store them the same way as Black or Oolong tea, or for best results (according to a Japanese tea grower) put the tea in a sealed jar in your refrigerator or freezer.

Notes From Our Customers

"We all LOVE this Lemonscent tea. The kids had some in little cups while finishing their homework after dinner. Peggy and I drank from clear tea cups. The color of the tea is a beautiful yellow; I wanted to photograph the cup to frame on our wall."
-Jim O. Franktown, Virginia

Tribute teas got their name in ancient China because they were the best product of the Tea Master’s art, and were presented to the Emperor as a "tribute." Sometimes called "rare teas" in modern times, these wonderful teas are characterized by extraordinary flavors, limited seasonal availability, being in the top rank of their class, or having unique tastes.

Bai Lin Gongfu - Organic

Bai Lin Gongfu - Organic

Special Grade – An amazing tea and a great find. When you’ve learned all the rules about Black Tea, here is an exception. It is brewed at a lower temperature (like Green Tea) for longer …

$3.95

Flowering Bud Tea -'Double Happiness'

Flowering Bud Tea -'Double Happiness'

Large globe grape shaped Premium Green Tea handcrafted to bloom into a 2 ½”  "flower" with a three blossom center of  Osmanthus, Lilly, and Jasmine Blossoms.  Thi…

$4.95

Formosa Super Fancy – Amber Oolong

Formosa Super Fancy – Amber Oolong

The long, delicately twisted leaves with many silver budsets produce a very smooth taste with the peach flavors and flowery aromas Which linger on the palate.  This is the kind of tea one experie…

$9.50

Gyokuro Jade Dew – Japanese Ceremony Grade Tea

Gyokuro Jade Dew – Japanese Ceremony Grade Tea

This is the tea used for the Japanese Tea Ceremony & is usually considered the highest grade of Green Tea available in Japan – the Gyokuro Jade Dew leaf is ground into a powder to become &ld…

$7.95

Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls

Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls

This is an exquisite Jasmine made from only the finest Green Tea. The two top leaves and bud are hand-rolled around a Jasmine flower into a tight ball or "pearl." When steeped, the leaves un…

$8.50

Jasmine White Needle - Yin Zhen

Jasmine White Needle - Yin Zhen

Jasmine Yin Zhen White Needle Tea is a rare find.  It is a very limited production tea made only once a year - and one of the teas we sell out  fairly quickly in the year.   Pure silver…

$7.95

Keemun Hao Ya A ''Imperial Court'' Tribute Tea

Keemun Hao Ya A ''Imperial Court'' Tribute Tea

The Hao Ya A is always rated by tea professionals as the top Keemun made. It has an amazing depth of taste, with toasty notes and superb mouth feel. A must try for the tea lover.

$6.50

Leopard Snow Buds Green Tea

Leopard Snow Buds Green Tea

China Wuyi Mountain Green Tea is made from only the bud and first leaf of new shoots picked from selected tea plants. The delicate top leaves are pale green on top with silver downy hairs on the botto…
OUT OF STOCK

$6.50

Nine Dragons White Tea

Nine Dragons White Tea

Rare Silver Buds make an exquisite tea.  This is the best white tea we’ve come across in years – a gold standard.  Most expensive, but oh what a tea! This tea can be infused seve…

$6.95

Pu-Erh - Brick (Shu)

Pu-Erh - Brick (Shu)

TRIBUTE TEA. 6-7 year old compressed brick. Enjoy now or let age. 250 gram (8.8 oz) Factory Wrapped Brick.

$16.95

Pu-Erh Tuo Cha 3 Gram

Pu-Erh Tuo Cha 3 Gram

This Pu-Erh is 12-13 years old and is supplied in individually wrapped 3 gram compressed “bird’s nests” or Tuo Cha. You unwrap each Tuo Cha, put it in the cup, and in 6-7 minutes hav…

$4.50

Pu-Erh Tuo Cha 4 Gram

Pu-Erh Tuo Cha 4 Gram

In China Pu Erh is considered a TRIBUTE TEA, a tea of such exceptional taste it is used for 'gifting' or paying tribute to someone.  A true specialty tea, this Pu-Erh is 10-11 years old a…

$5.50

Ti Kuan Yin Super Fancy Jade Oolong

Ti Kuan Yin Super Fancy Jade Oolong

Jade Oolong from Anxi County, South china.  This is a lightly oxidized, true Tie Guan Yin with layers and layers of complexity and flavor.  It has a nice balance of floral aromas and melon l…

$7.50

Yunnan ~ Golden Heaven

Yunnan ~ Golden Heaven

TRIBUTE TEA. This is one of the best Yunnan teas made, Small, lightly rolled leaves loaded with gold tips produce a rich smooth cup which is flavorful without astringency or bitterness. One of the bes…

$6.95