Blog

China is the country that, at the start of our journey, simultaneously excited us whilst filling us a feeling of slight trepidation.  China is the historical birthplace of the use of the tea plant over 4000 years ago. Many myths exist of this time, the most widely used is that of the emperor Shennong. He is said to have discovered tea itself, although many believe the tea plant was used thousands of years before this. More of this in the book! Whatever the timings are, it is known that the bushes of today are descendants of wild trees that grew in a giant primeval tea forest stretching...

Our first taste of Sri Lankan hospitality was a meeting with the great man of Ceylon tea - Merrill Fernando - who you can see below with Rob on the right [at this first meeting] and Michelle on the left [at a later meeting in Colombo]. Merrill started Dilmah tea in 1988 and it is now an internationally renowned company - if you have time we would really recommend reading more about all the work that they do - there are many articles widely available through a simple search.   Having returned from India with a determination to start our...

Re-fill. Re-Use. Respect Tea & our planetTransitioning to new compostable packaging We take great care in sourcing distinctive, flavourful teas from partners we know, trust and respect. Spending time with these par.tners, understanding their motivations, methods, relationship with their community and the land is a top priority for us. Making sure their teas reach you and your cup in top condition is also a top priority for us. Considering the environmental impact of our business is a strand that runs through all of the above.For months now we have been considering the change to our packaging. Quality tea needs to...

60 Days : 60 Partners : Introducing India We have long had a love affair with India.  It is hard to think of a country and a people that make you feel more alive.  From the minute you step onto the streets of Kolkata, Mumbai you are met with a contagious mix of life, colour and culture that extends to every corner of the country.  If, like us, you seek adventure, human connection and are relaxed enough to take the journey as it comes then India is for you!  The map below is a sneak peak of the beautiful map illustrations in our...

People and partnerships are the backbone of our business. As Tea Merchants we are part of a wonderful ecosystem of growers, ceramicists, tea experts and of course our wonderful tea drinking customers. To celebrate the launch of our book “Tales of the Tea Trade” on 25.4.19, over the next 60 days we will be introducing you to 60 of our partners.⁣ Stories of all these partners and their place in the tea trade are woven in to the book, and in every turn of the page we hope you will appreciate our tale and share in the joy of the wonderful people...