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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
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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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$ 32.00
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: 2024
Origin: Kagoshima, Japan
$ 12.00
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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$ 0.98
Visit route.com to learn more.
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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.
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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.
$ 8.00
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.
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$ 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: 2023
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*
$ 20.00
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.
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$ 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: 2024
$ 30.00
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This is a new edition we were so excited to bring home from our 2023 Japan trip. Grown from the Ujimidori cultivar in Wazuka, this crafted on a woman-owned, organic family tea farm by Teruko Azuma.
Teruko has been pushing the boundaries of what Japanese teas can do, producing exquisite white teas, oolongs, black teas, and experimenting with innovative processing methods. This oolong is no different. The leaves are mid-high oxidized, heated, and then roasted in her hojicha roaster. The result is a tea with similar characteristics as Phoenix Mountain red teas: chocolately, fruity, nutty and toasty. The warm notes of roasted cedar fill the mouth, with a hint of plum-like fruit and lingering burnt sugar sweetness. We like to steep this in a gaiwan with short, repeated steeps, but it also does well with longer steeps without becoming bitter.
Process: Organic
Origin: Uji, Japan
Harvest: 2023
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$ 10.00
Plucked from wild Yunnan Camelia Taliensis, these leaves are quite large and covered on one side by silver downy hairs. The steamed leaf offers aromas of sweet lemon cucumbers and steeps to a cup with a refreshing satin mouthfeel. The flavors are light and cleansing with notes of clover honey and melon seed.
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
Harvest: 2024
$ 30.00
Simple and sturdy black ceramic tea tray with slotted bamboo top. Whether you prefer wet or dry tea service, this tray can accommodate your tastes, with just enough room for the necessities.
Approximately 10"x5"x1"
$ 30.00
Simple and sturdy black ceramic tea tray with slotted bamboo top. Whether you prefer wet or dry tea service, this tray can accommodate your tastes, with just enough room for the necessities.
Approximately 8"x8"x1"
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$ 15.00
These wood-fired cups are crafted from textured clay and has slight variations from piece to piece due to the variable temperatures of wood-firing. Each cup holds about 40ml and has a grainy texture for your fingers to explore while sipping.
$ 26.00
$ 9.00
A Blue Willow specialty, World Peace is a caffeine-free herbal blend that surprises with its subtle, soothing flavors. Breathe freely and cultivate inward peace with the help of this blend of all organic herbs and spices. The freshness of peppermint is complimented by the soothing sweetness of licorice root and accented by the spice of cloves. World Peace is an excellent treat anytime, but is especially comforting to those suffering from colds, flu or allergies. The scent penetrates and opens the lungs. Sipping World Peace coats the throat with soothing herbs and comforts the stomach. For an added perk and immune-boost, add fresh, finely-sliced ginger.
Process: Organic
Region: Blend
Harvest: 2021
$ 10.00
Wu Wei is a complex blend of herbs and spices that creates a flavor best described as naturally sweet, tart and spicy with an orange twist. The name Wu Wei is from the Chinese, meaning “peaceable energy”. Spoken with a different inflection, it means “five flavors”. The overall effect of Wu Wei is relaxing and calming while treating your taste buds to an upbeat progression of flavors. The blend includes Stevia, a natural sweetener; lemon balm, which is said to calm nerves, aid digestion and promote sleep; clove, reputed to be a natural antiseptic and analgesic; relaxing lavender; and licorice root, legendary in Chinese herbal medicine and as an aid to promote digestion respiratory health. These herbs and spices are blended together skillfully with hibiscus and orange zest to create a unique mélange bursting with flavor. The liquor is a rich, amethyst infusion and makes a fantastic iced tea.