An excellent hand-rolled black tea from the province of Guangxi, where a large population of the Zhuang People resides. Guangxi is not as well-known in the tea world as the surrounding provinces, yet produces some great tea. I love to watch the tea leaf unfurl in the water, it resembles a dragon tail but that is not what it was named after. It simply takes its name after the translation of its maker. The reason it’s a good starter black tea is that it tastes so good even without milk and sugar, removing the need to load up with distractors to cover the taste of a tea that is lacking. 

We recommend this to hard-nosed Earl Grey drinkers. We like to help you spread your wings and yet your taste buds still feel at home. There are several companies who put out a type of Monks blend and yet I have found none to compare to this recipe Which is why we order it specially blended in Germany from a company that has been in the tea business for over 100 years. The recipe itself was derived from a century-old treasured secret recipe. It is said to free the mind, engage the spirit and calm the soul (however we might say that about all truly good tea) This tea has noble elements such as soft vanilla and floral notes combined with select black teas.

Powerhouse is an in-house blend developed out of the requirement to make a strong caffeinated ‘pick me up’ and ‘keep me going.’ It has everything going for it! This is a great transition tea for longtime coffee drinkers as it is the best of both worlds. It starts with a strong blend of black teas, cocoa pieces, coffee beans, the rich taste of pu-erh which helps digestion, and maté which adds vitamins and something akin to a slow-release caffeine that crosses the brain barrier and helps focus. With all this going on, you might think this is too trendy to work but it really is a dark, rich smooth taste that is great hot or iced. Drink with sugar and lemon, or add a splash of sweet cream. 

The world of Pu-erh is in a tea class all its own. Pu-erh is a tea grown in a specific region of southern China, considered to be the birthplace of tea– where many ancient tea trees still flourish. This tea is processed differently than tea that we are more familiar within the west. It undergoes an aging and fermenting process whereby microbes on the tea cause biological changes. Pu-erh has unique flavor profiles, unlike anything I had experienced before. Like wine, varieties differ from regions, elevations, rainfall, and processing techniques. Some cakes of Pu-erh have been known to sell for over $50,000. Chinese Pu-erh in the past became highly sought after by royalty, high officials, and later tea connoisseurs, not only for its unique taste but also for its medicinal qualities. But, no worries, you don’t have to travel the world or pay a fortune to experience this unique leaf. If you would like to try this intriguing tea full of history, myths, and flavors, we have some very affordable Pu-erh to begin your tea adventure with.

If you have had a less-than-memorable tea time experience in the past, Sweet Almond may just be your knight in shining armor. So many flavored teas promise a taste that ends up sadly deficient, but Sweet Almond delivers. Filled with chunks of almonds, coconut rasp, and blended with great black teas it will fill your cup and please your taste buds. One of the house favorites, it often becomes a core blend in our customers’ tea cupboards. We like it for Afternoon Teas because it has traditional, comforting flavors yet surprises guests enough to feel like they have had a new tasting experience. Bonus: it brews easily and is delicious hot or iced.