The tea-farmers who supply us draw from centuries of tradition to offer you a unique experience. Each tea contains, within its leaves, the promise of a new journey, full of wonder and peace. On farms, tea bushes are generally kept trimmed to a comfortable picking height of two to four feet. The bark is rough and slightly gray. The leaves are serrated, dark green and elliptical, formed on short stalks.
Young leaves have a light hair that is prized in certain high quality teas.
Small white flowers are sparse. Seeds are contained within a smooth, round, three-celled hull, like a small nut. Cultivation of the plant spread through China and into Taiwan and Japan. In the 1800's, Englishman Robert Fortune explored China disguised as a Chinese merchant. During his journey, Fortune learned the secrets of growing and processing tea.