Sign up for our Email Newsletter
For Email Marketing you can trust

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.

Assam Mokalbari Estate

Assam Mokalbari Estate

(FTGFOP1). An excellent high grown Assam, one of the favorite Assams at Strand Tea. Rich malty notes with layered flavors and low astringency.

$5.25

Bai Lin Gongfu

Bai Lin Gongfu

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

Dragon Well – Lung Ching  Super Grade

Dragon Well – Lung Ching Super Grade

This is one of the best Dragon Well Teas outside of China.  A smooth, sweet cup full of flavor.  It is one of our staff’s favorite teas.…

$7.95

Ginseng Oolong - Southern China Coast

Ginseng Oolong - Southern China Coast

A medium oxidized Ti Kwan Yin (Tie Guan Yin) Amber Oolong which is tightly curled and dried, then rolled in Ginseng and Chinese Sweetgrass (Stevia) Powder.  This tea is unique, interesting, leave…

$4.50

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

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

Keeman 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

Leopard Snow Buds

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…

$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 Tou Cha

Pu-Erh Tou Cha

TRIBUTE TEA. A true specialty tea. Currently the most talked about and sought after tea in China and abroad. It has always been considered a “tribute” or gift tea--the exception to the rule, in …

$4.50

Super Fancy – A Fabulous Formosa Amber Oolong from Taiwan

Super Fancy – A Fabulous Formosa Amber Oolong from Taiwan

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

Toda Tea ™

Toda Tea ™

Natural Herbal Blend. We surprised ourselves with how good this blend came out. It has the most interesting blend of tastes and enticing aromas. Imagine the best of New Orleans with a hint of Bomba…

$3.95

Tribute Teas Sampler

Tribute Teas Sampler

Golden Heaven Yunnan
Keeman Hoa Ya A
Tung Ting Premium Oolong
Jasmine Dragon Pearls

$19.95

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