$ 20.00
*The 2023 harvest is back to its full juiciness after the 2022 harvest, which had a bit more heat in its processing. Enjoy all those flavors!*
Made from a blend of two Taiwanese oolong cultivars, grown in Pu-er and processed as a black tea, this tea has a growing and dedicated cult following.
The family who tends to these plants operates a small organic farm and grow mostly Taiwanese cultivars. Red Dragon comprises leaves hand plucked from Ruanzhi and Jinxuan cultivars, grown at nearly 2000 m elevation.
This tea offers up a complex cup that is both wholesome and seductive. Enticing aromas of juicy lychee and smokey cedar give way to a full-bodied cup with the perfect balance of sweet and tart plum and toasty barley.
Process: Organic
Harvest: 2023
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
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These Baby Cakes are the perfect option for tea drinkers on the go! Easy to pack and portion, and cute as heck too. Each tong is wrapped and tied in bamboo and contains seven individually wrapped 7g cakes. Great for gifting, steeping and even flipping for making important life decisions.
Made from a blend of two Taiwanese oolong cultivars, grown in Pu-er and processed as a black tea, this tea has a growing and dedicated cult following.
The family who tends to these plants operates a small organic farm and grow mostly Taiwanese cultivars. Red Dragon comprises leaves hand plucked from Ruanzhi and Jinxuan cultivars, grown at nearly 2000 m elevation.
This tea offers up a complex cup that is both wholesome and seductive. Enticing aromas of juicy lychee and smokey cedar give way to a full-bodied cup with the perfect balance of sweet and tart plum and toasty barley.
We also offer this tea loose leaf.
Process: Organic
Harvest: 2021
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
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For those of us who are avid tea drinkers, we know tea is more than just a taste. It is an experience that permeates all of our senses, and the aroma is key.
Red Dragon Tea Essence is a pure hydrosol captured from our Red Dragon tea leaves. The aroma is soothing and warm and sweetens over time. It offers hints of juicy, fresh baked pie and nectar. It isn't heavy or overbearing, it just offers a subtle yet intense infusion of absolutely alluring aromatherapy.
For years I have longed to capture that intense smell that clings to the empty vessels and seems to grow sweeter and sweeter as it site. It's one of my favorite parts of drinking tea, and I have always wanted to live in a world that smells like an empty teacup, still warm from the brew.
Well, we've started capturing that sweet, alluring aroma from several of our highest grade teas and condensing the steam into liquid form. With these hydrosol spritzers you can literally surround yourself in tea essence.
The process is 100% natural and the only ingredient is pure tea hydrosol, no additives. You can spray it on your skin to refresh and hydrate during your cleansing routine, spray it around the house, in the car, or just on yourself whenever you need a pick-me-up.
$ 16.00
Grown at the base of the Luye mountains in Southern Taiwan, this highly oxidized oolong is produced by a mother and son team who grown exceptional teas on their organic farm. The tightly rolled leaves unfurl to beautiful deep, black red and impart an aroma of sweet maple. The tea itself has notes of tangy red wine with an equalizing undertone of toasty cedar. Pro-tip: Don't miss out on the aroma of the pot when you pour the tea out, it intensifies as the ceramic cools.
Process: Organic
Harvest: 2023
Origin: Taitung, Taiwan
$ 86.00
These classic teapots are ideal for any puerh lover. Holding roughly 110ml, their squat, wide shape is perfect for allowing compressed cakes to expand. The thicker sides hold more heat, keeping the steeping conditions as hot as possible for puerh brewing. The size is great for solo or paired tea sessions. Because these pots are used to steep with boiling water, the covered vent hole makes a simple way to hold the lid without covering the slot or burning your finger. These are best for brewing shou cha or aged sheng puerh.
Each pot comes in it's own fitted box with a certificate of authenticity.
Yixing pots are iconic and are known as being the first teapots in the world. The clay is uniquely porous and will "drink" the tea that is made with it, allowing the consecutive steeps to absorb into the clay and enhance future steeps. For this reason, it is recommended that each pot be dedicated to one type of tea to prevent the crossover of other flavors. Over time, your pot will become more seasoned and make each pot of tea more aromatic and flavorful.
To care for your pot, rinse with hot water immediately after each use and allow it to dry completely before applying the lid. Never use soap or abrasives.
It is important to properly care for your pot to ensure it's longevity. When you first bring it home, rinse it with hot water and then cold water. This should wash away the clay smell.
It is then important to season the tea before steeping with it. Gently lower the teapot into a clean pot of boiling water. Keep the lid separate and do not let it touch the bottom, as the bubbles might jiggle it too much. Allow it to sit in the boiling water a few minutes, then remove and let it cool completely. You will need to decide which type of tea you would like to dedicate your pot to.
To season, add tea to the pot and steep. Pour the tea into a small bowl after about 30 seconds and steep the leaves again. Repeat this process until the bowl is full. You can then remove the leaves and soak the pot and lid separately in the brewed tea. Let it soak until it has cooled.
Always let the pot and lid dry completely before putting the lid on. Over time, your pot will develop more color and aroma, but it will not be unpleasant. When properly cared for the clay will prevent any bacteria from forming.
$ 70.00
These classic teapots are the perfect addition to any teaware collection. Holding 115ml, they are ideal for solo or paired steeping. The simple design and shape makes it easy to handle and the short spout reduces the potential to chip the clay. These pots can be used for a variety of styles of tea, but once you choose one be sure to keep it dedicated to that type.
Each pot comes in it's own fitted box with a certificate of authenticity.
Yixing pots are iconic and are known as being the first teapots in the world. The clay is uniquely porous and will "drink" the tea that is made with it, allowing the consecutive steeps to absorb into the clay and enhance future steeps. For this reason, it is recommended that each pot be dedicated to one type of tea to prevent the crossover of other flavors. Over time, your pot will become more seasoned and make each pot of tea more aromatic and flavorful.
To care for your pot, rinse with hot water immediately after each use and allow it to dry completely before applying the lid. Never use soap or abrasives.
It is important to properly care for your pot to ensure it's longevity. When you first bring it home, rinse it with hot water and then cold water. This should wash away the clay smell.
It is then important to season the tea before steeping with it. Gently lower the teapot into a clean pot of boiling water. Keep the lid separate and do not let it touch the bottom, as the bubbles might jiggle it too much. Allow it to sit in the boiling water a few minutes, then remove and let it cool completely. You will need to decide which type of tea you would like to dedicate your pot to.
To season, add tea to the pot and steep. Pour the tea into a small bowl after about 30 seconds and steep the leaves again. Repeat this process until the bowl is full. You can then remove the leaves and soak the pot and lid separately in the brewed tea. Let it soak until it has cooled.
Always let the pot and lid dry completely before putting the lid on. Over time, your pot will develop more color and aroma, but it will not be unpleasant. When properly cared for the clay will prevent any bacteria from forming.
$ 10.00
For lovers of the Rooibos Captown, meet its twin, Rooibos Passion: copied from the original, but with organic ingredients and a name that helps describe the flavor.
Rooibos is a member of the legume family with needle-like leaves, native to South Africa. Rooibos Passion gives you a perfect caffeine-free pick-me-up for any time of day. The sweetness of passion fruit accents the earthy flavor of the rooibos, while wildflowers add an aromatic and flavorful perk. While this offering is excellent when sipped hot, it makes a truly refreshing and stimulating iced tea as well.
Process: organic
Origin: blend
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Grown in Wuyishan, this iconic high mountain oolong is a perfect addition to any tea lovers collection. Yancha, or rock oolong, is unique in flavor for several reasons. The tea buses grow between tall mountainous rocks that block out most of the sunlight, causing the leaves to grow very slowly. This, in combination with the mineral rich soil allow the leaves to soak up more flavor through their roots and develop a depth in flavor that is sought after. This farmer has been crafting Wuyi Yancha for over 60 years, and his skill is easily recognizable.
Rougui translates to cassia (cinnamon), and references the intense aromas of warm wood the tea exudes. The leaves are highly oxidized and roasted, giving them a nutty and toasty aroma offset by a fruit leather sweetness. The tea picks up on different notes with each steep as the water reaches deeper into the leaves. The flavor is full and balanced with a lingering warmth that is comforting and soothing.
Harvest: Spring, 2022
Origin: Fujian, China
$ 0.98
Visit route.com/sustainability to learn more.
$ 90.00
Hand crafted genuine Jingdezhen clay for those who appreciate the beauty in details when making tea. These pieces are each unique and incredibly lightweight. The textured clay is porous and will "drink" the tea, seasoning over time. There is a faint network of surface cracks along the glaze that will get darker with each steep and create a tea egg pattern typical of Ruyao glazes.
The pot holds roughly 140ml and has smooth pour. There is a rounded out strainer molded onto the inside of the spout to strain leaves and prevent clogging and uneven pours.
The matching cups are available separately, can be bundled as a set which includes the glass pitcher.
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For all of you Japanese green tea lovers I am so happy to finally offer this tea! This is a tea I was first introduced to a few years ago while visiting Kagoshima in October. Not only are the brothers who make this tea crafting extraordinary teas, they are also avid motorcycle enthusiasts, so we have a lot in common.
The aroma of the dry leaf is intoxicating and refreshing. Steeped, the tea slides into your mouth coating it with a rich, brothy soup that intensifies as it reaches your throat. The flavor notes fill the spectrum between earthy and astringent without touching either. A thick umami lays the base with tones of kombu and a soft hint of sea mist. The flavor lingers and cools the palate and throat with each breath.
This tea can be steeped 4-5 times. The second and third steeps should only be 10 seconds, and after that can go up to 30 seconds. After steeping 5 times you can pour dashi or soy sauce on the leaves and eat them
Harvest: 2023
Origin: Kagoshima, Japan
$ 10.00
Grown in Kagoshima, this sencha is perfect for a smooth, everyday cup of tea. The tea is versatile and can be steeped stronger to bring out more seaweed notes, or lighter to catch the sweet, dewy undertones. Excellent hot or made as a cold brew, this tea is an excellent tea for those new to sencha or who just want something easy to steep and drink. If you were a fan of the Sencha Hanase, try this tea; it has more depth and steeps sweeter without astringency.
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Kagoshima, Japan
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$ 18.00
There is up to a 2 week ship time for the Shohaku currently due to an increased in demand. We get our matcha ground and shipped fresh each month and have had to place additional orders to keep up with orders. Thank you for being patient.
Shohaku is a great everyday matcha that is excellent prepared traditionally and still has a slight tannin characteristic so it won't get lost if you add it to a latte or smoothie. The color is vivid green with a deep seaweed-like base and bright grassy finish.
Both of our ceremonial grade matcha offerings are produced and stone-ground by Marukyu Koyamaen, a family tea business that has been growing and producing tea in Uji for over 300 years.
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These handmade pots are crafted of Yixing clay in the iconic shuiping shape. This iconic form dates back to the Ming Dynasty and has been used throughout history as a test of an artist's skill. The unglazed clay is smooth yet porous and ready to be seasoned with the tea of your choice. Each pot holds 110ml and the tapered spout offers a smooth flow that allows for long, unbroken pours without leaking from the lid.
Each pot comes in it's own fitted box with a certificate of authenticity.
Yixing pots are iconic and are known as being the first teapots in the world. The clay is uniquely porous and will "drink" the tea that is made with it, allowing the consecutive steeps to absorb into the clay and enhance future steeps. For this reason, it is recommended that each pot be dedicated to one type of tea to prevent the crossover of other flavors. Over time, your pot will become more seasoned and make each pot of tea more aromatic and flavorful.
To care for your pot, rinse with hot water immediately after each use and allow it to dry completely before applying the lid. Never use soap or abrasives.
It is important to properly care for your pot to ensure it's longevity. When you first bring it home, rinse it with hot water and then cold water. This should wash away the clay smell.
It is then important to season the tea before steeping with it. Gently lower the teapot into a clean pot of boiling water. Keep the lid separate and do not let it touch the bottom, as the bubbles might jiggle it too much. Allow it to sit in the boiling water a few minutes, then remove and let it cool completely. You will need to decide which type of tea you would like to dedicate your pot to.
To season, add tea to the pot and steep. Pour the tea into a small bowl after about 30 seconds and steep the leaves again. Repeat this process until the bowl is full. You can then remove the leaves and soak the pot and lid separately in the brewed tea. Let it soak until it has cooled.
Always let the pot and lid dry completely before putting the lid on. Over time, your pot will develop more color and aroma, but it will not be unpleasant. When properly cared for the clay will prevent any bacteria from forming.
$ 14.00
This has been one of our most popular herbal offering in the shop for some time. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get on the website!
A sweet, calming, cleansing and slightly spicy blend of organic chamomile, lemon balm, ginger, lavender and sage, Simmer Down is the ideal stress-reliever. Egyptian chamomile soothes and relaxes while clarifying sage and cleansing lavender work together to lift your spirits. Lemon balm is a natural stress-reliever, and the hint of ginger create an internal warmth that helps everything absorb and circulate better. This caffeine-free blend is ideal in high-stress environments or before bed to help relax the body and mind.
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Here's a great 2-in-1 strainer. It's simple and elegant to use with any gongfu setup for straining from pot or gaiwan to pitcher. The mesh is also the perfect fineness for casual matcha sifting. Some meshes are too tight or loose for matcha, but this one is great. You can set it across your chawan and sift right into your preheated and dried bowl.
$ 58.00
$ 20.00
This highly unusual tea is plucked from Ai Lao Mountain in Pu-er. The family who tends to these plants operates a small organic farm and grow mostly Taiwanese cultivars. This tea is exclusively from the Ruanzhi (or Soft Branch) bushes, which are native to Taiwan and grown for making oolongs.
The leaves are hand picked in the spring from 30 year old plants growing in rich, mountain soil and processed as a Yunnan green tea. The result is guaranteed to intrigue even the most well-versed tea lover, while remaining accessible to newcomers.
The leaves are sweet with a magnolia blossom aroma, full body and silky mouth feel, notes of buttered asparagus with a lingering toasty finish. Good for many steeps, this tea is quickly growing in popularity.
Process: organic
Harvest: 2022
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
$ 16.00
$ 24.00
The wait is over! We are so excited to finally have these cakes in our hands (and cups). This shou Puerh comes from the Ai Lao Mountains and is delicious by itself, but its real treat is the herbs mixed into the leaves. The leaves of Nuo Mi Xiang (Semnostachya Menglaensis) literally translate to "Sticky Rice Aroma", and for a reason: they give off an aroma uncannily similar to sticky rice. Combined with the Puerh leaves, the combination is deep but uplifting, sweet yet earthen, and steeps over and over again. The liquor is a clean deep red which will keep you going for 8+ gongfu steeps. Each cake has 100g of tea, pressed loosely enough to not require a pick to break it up.
Origin: Simao, Yunnan
Harvest: 2021
*wrapper art by Ali*
$ 18.00
This shou Puerh comes from the Ai Lao Mountains and is delicious by itself, but its real treat is the herbs mixed into the leaves. The leaves of Nuo Mi Xiang (Semnostachya Menglaensis) literally translate to "Sticky Rice Aroma", and for a reason: they give off an aroma uncannily similar to sticky rice. Combined with the Puerh leaves, the combination is deep but uplifting, sweet yet earthen, and steeps over and over again. The liquor is a clean deep red which will keep you going for 8+ gongfu steeps.
Each individually-wrapped tuocha weighs 5g., making it perfect for travel and easy steeping.
Origin: Simao, Yunnan
Harvest: 2021
$ 50.00
$ 35.00
If you're a fan of Japanese green teas and haven't tried Tamaryokucha yet, you're missing out. This tea has some of the most robust flavors out there. Grown in Ureshino, it is produced in a way that is a cross between Gyokuro and Sencha. The tea plants are shade grown similar to Tencha (for making Matcha) or Gyokuro. This step increases the chlorophyll and decrease the bitterness. Then the leaves are plucked, but much younger than even a Sencha. The result is an incredible tea with vivid green liquor and an flavor that excites the senses. The aroma is like seaweed and fresh cut grass and the flavor saturates your whole mouth with umami.
To get the most out of this tea steep it lower than usual (around 140°-150°) for 1 minute. When resteeping, pour after 10 seconds. This tea is great for over 4 steeps and the leaves can be eaten afterwards with the addition of a little salt, dashi or soy sauce.
Origin: Ureshino, Japan
Harvest: 2023
$ 18.00
The quintessential tool for anyone who enjoys a good pressed tea. This beautiful knife has a large handle to firmly grasp to help prevent any slips and is nice to look at too. The edges are beveled to a point to separate tea without being sharp enough to slice you. It comes with a nice little cover to help protect the knife (and you!)
$ 28.00
Whether you're an avid traveler, or just looking for an afternoon picnic, it's always important to protect your teaware on the way. These padded bags have a large inner space perfect for a pot or gaiwan, with 2 padded smaller sections on the sides for cradling your teacups.
$ 28.00
Whether you're an avid traveler, or just looking for an afternoon picnic, it's always important to protect your teaware on the way. These padded bags have a large inner space perfect for a pot or gaiwan, with 2 padded smaller sections on the sides for cradling your teacups.
$ 28.00
Whether you're an avid traveler, or just looking for an afternoon picnic, it's always important to protect your teaware on the way. These padded bags have a large inner space perfect for a pot or gaiwan, with 2 padded smaller sections on the sides for cradling your teacups.
$ 5.00
Sometimes you gotta run, and when all you have is loose-leaf, you reach for these. Super simple to use, just scoop the tea in and fold the top over and Voila! Tea in a bag, ready to hit the road with you.
Each pack has 60 bags.
$ 45.00
$ 28.00
We are so pleased to offer our first private label matcha! After spending years traveling Japan and searching for a high quality, organic, ceremonial grade matcha, up to our standards, we finally sourced our first one from an organic, woman-run tea farm.
Introducing Uji Jade: an incredibly smooth and satisfying ceremonial grade matcha from Wazuka. This is harvested from the Samidori cultivar, a lesser-known cultivar developed in Uji for matcha production. The flavor is rich yet smooth, with a perfect balance between bright/peppy and sweet/umami. The color is vivid and pure and the energy it provides is clean and uplifting without making your brain too busy.
I've been personally drinking this every morning and it leaves me feeling invigorated, satisfied and motivated, without any jitters. It's been the perfect morning companion for me and I'm so happy to share it with you.
We recommend this matcha for usucha (thin tea). You can experiment with the thickness you desire as well. While you can use this for lattes, the flavor is so smooth it can get overshadowed when adding other ingredients. Try it straight up and go from there!
Process: pesticide-free
Region: Uji, Japan
Harvest: 2023
$ 30.00