$ 25.00
Picked and processed in the 1990s, this shou puerh was processed in Menghai and dry stored in Kunming ever since. The leaves are plucked from feral tea trees and have not been compressed. Dry storage has allowed the tea to develop its fermentation slowly, preserving much of the energetic and flavor characteristics within the tea. The aroma is earthy and warm and it steeps to an impressively smooth soup. The flavors are rich but are able to stand out without becoming muddled or dirty. Soft undertones of driftwood lay the base while a clean earthen flavor takes center stage. The tea finishes with warm hints baked clay and moss and leave behind a refreshed palate and an open airway and chest. Only a small quantity of this tea is available.
Harvest: 1990s
Origin: Yunnan, China
$ 22.00
This loose puerh from Mangjing village is made up of leaf from several family's efforts to combine all of the old growth and feral tea growing in the mountains. The fog-covered hills are home to an incredible range of biodiversity, in which tea plants thrive in the mineral-rich soil that feeds the local ecosystem.
This tea was plucked and pile-fermented in 2015, and has been evolving in the years it has been aging. The liquor is a rich umber with a strong peat-like aroma. Each sip allows you to explore the depth and variety of flavors present in the leaf, from chocolate, to earth, wood, and notes of spice. The leaves can be re-steeped all day long and their warmth and smoothness have the effect of cultivating an inner, grounded energy.
$ 15.00
Plucked from wild trees growing high on Ai Lao Mountain, this loose leaf shou cha is perfect as an introduction to puerh or as a refreshing breather for the afficionado. It has been sorted to include only the tips and has an effect that is clarifying and uplifting.
The first steep yields a bright and vivid infusion, with each consecutive cup reaching deeper notes of the leaf. The mineral content of the soil is prevalent in the cup with bright, energizing notes of copper, and grounding undertones of cocoa and damp earth. The liquor has a silky mouthfeel and leaves a lasting coolness in the throat, unusual for a tea of this style.
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*Due to shipping delays out of India, this tea will be unavailable until mid-January* sorry for the delay!*
The tea leaves of Assam are large and thick when compared to the Chinese variety, which have been planted in most other regions of India. The resulting flavors derived from these plants are unique to the region, known the world over for being distinctively malty and bold, with a high note of astringency. We have found an excellent second-flush Assam, grown organically in the lush Brahmaputra River valley. The bright and brisk tea shows off the Assam characteristics with vigor and is a great way to get started in the mornings. Stands up well to milk and sugar, but delightful on its own as well.
$ 22.00
If you want a good place to start your tea journey, look no further. This set contains two quintessential teas to help anyone get their day off to a good start. Two of our most popular staples, you can't go wrong with these.
This set includes 2 oz. of the English Breakfast and 4 oz. of the Masala Chai packed in the gift box shown. Every part of the packaging is compostable. Discounts are automatic when you buy multiples, and don't forget you can easily ship these to multiple friends at checkout!
$ 19.25
One of our most popular teas! The leaves of the Black Honey Oolong are gorgeous, curled, first-flush tips from the Luye township in Southern Taiwan. The aroma of the dry leaves is so sweet and intoxicating, but nothing compared to the steeped honey-like fragrance and flavor. This tea is grown on a single organic farm run by a woman and her son. The region is home to a type of bug called the leaf hopper, which bites the tea plants and sucks the nectar from the leaves, causing the fermentation process to begin while the leaves are still on the plants. When these leaves are plucked and oxidized, the result is a naturally honey-like sweetness within the leaf. Several other growing regions try to replicate this process, but this is where is occurs naturally.
Harvest: Spring 2020
Origin: Luye, Taiwan
$ 7.75
Pure Ceylon tea is blended with Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans to create this aromatic blend. The sweet smell of vanilla beckons and the bold black leaves create an astringency that is accented by the natural sugars. This tea delivers a brisk pick-up throughout the day with an alluring accent. Especially great iced with fresh lemon. While there is no bourbon whisky in this blend, it makes a great base for a hot toddy!
$ 7.75
Sri Lankans, for over 150 years, have grown this first flush Ceylon tea on the magical misty hillsides of Dimbula province. The long, dark, wiry leaves create a rich, fruity and satisfying cup strong enough to take milk and also excellent when steeped more briefly and sipped alone. The tea growers pluck only the delicate tips of the tea plants, circulating along the rows of tea bushes frequently to catch the golden tips at their peak. These leaves offer the best of Dimbula, carrying the fragrance of fog-shrouded mornings and the warmth of the sunny afternoons into your cup. Ceylon Golden is unblended and opens a clear window into the characteristics of the growing region. We recommend Blue Willow Ceylon for both mornings and afternoons, to be enjoyed by itself or with a variety of foods. We also find it particularly refreshing served iced during the hot summer months.
$ 9.50
The Darjeeling district in West Bengal has been producing famed teas since the nineteenth century. This autumn harvested tea comes from an estate that provides us with an organic and fairly-traded Darjeeling tea. A bit stronger than earlier plucked teas, this tea has a slightly more robust body while retaining its soft floral accents. The steeped leaves provide a wonderful delicacy and flexibility to be appreciated from breakfast to dessert. During the day, Blue Willow Darjeeling provides a wonderful, light lift with a muscatel sweetness and clean finish. The full, fresh flavor and delicate floral hints create a truly pleasurable sipping experience on its own, with a sturdiness that can handle the addition of sugar and milk.
$ 8.50
British diplomat and statesman Charles, Second Earl of Grey, is said to have received the original recipe for this scented tea in China in the Nineteenth Century. Despite its worldwide popularity, no one can say for certain what was in the original formula, or who the source was of this spectacular combination of black tea with oil of bergamot orange. We do know that the best ingredients produce the best blends. Blue Willow uses only fresh oil of bergamot, derived from the Mediterranean bergamot plant, a variety of citrus. We blend premium Chinese and Indian black teas, applying just the right amount of bergamot oil. Our method creates a perfect balance of the robust citrus aroma of the Mediterranean orange and the warm, oaky, fruity flavors of the tea leaves themselves. Blue Willow’s Earl Grey blend is accented with the addition of blue cornflowers and orange peels, which liven up the appearance of the tea and add an extra floral hint to the flavor. Taken black, with a twist of lemon, or with milk and sugar, Earl Grey has won the favor of many tea drinkers and provides an excellent cup at breakfast, teatime or with dessert.
$ 8.50
Every tea merchant tends to create their own proprietary blend to reflect a certain flavor profile and represent a good “house” tea at a good value. While some companies try to hide inferior teas in a muddled blend, Blue Willow took an extra step to formulate our English Breakfast blend. We use our finest quality Estate teas from Darjeeling, Ceylon, and China’s Anhui and Yunnan provinces. Every component adds a unique note to this tea, creating a brisk, aromatic and very full-bodied blend, excellent with or without cream and superb iced.
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This is a tea I always come back to. Grown and processed in a village co-op in Simao, Yunnan, this tea has a depth and uniqueness that stirs my creativity. This is a pure Assamica varietal that goes through a longer wither to bring out the caramel-like aroma. Each tip is one or two leaves and a bud, covered with fine downy hairs. The flavor is thick and slightly smoky with notes of tobacco, cedar and cacao and a bright, slightly tannic finish. It is a tea that can be steeped in short, 20 second bursts but also stays smooth with a longer brewing time.
$ 16.50
These perfectly plucked spring leaves are a delight to drink every time. The rolled tea is striped with beautiful golden velvet hairs which unfurl to reveal two young leaves and a bud. The flavor is well rounded with a warm cedar wood aroma, seamlessly accented with notes of stone fruit, and balanced with a velvety soft encore.
Harvest: 2020
Origin: Yunnan, China
$ 8.50
A tea that “a mouse could walk on”. Our sturdy Irish Breakfast blend takes the chill off cold winter days and warms the “cockles of the soul”. We developed this wonderfully rich, strong brew with lingering toastiness and a slightly creamy element that comes from the addition of a silver tip grade Ceylon to the base of Indian and Chinese teas. Wake up your mornings with our Irish Breakfast, or lift yourself out of a tedious afternoon with this lively tea. Exceptional with cream or on its own, this tea is versatile and delicious.
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One of our favorite teas! These tiny leaves have so much going on. Plucked in Fujian in the early spring, the tips are fully oxidized and lightly smoked. The dry leaf smells like plums and burnt caramel and just the steam is intoxicating. The tea itself is bold and sweet with a perfect balance of hardy oak smoke and chocolate and delicate fruity overtones.
Harvest: 2020
Origin: Fujian, China
$ 8.50
For many tea aficionados Keemun tea offers the peak black-tea experience. Rich, toasty and bold, Keemun was once the preferred breakfast tea of England. The small, carefully harvested ebony leaves produce a rich, oaky taste with undertones of sherry. The toasty aroma dances out of the cup and entices you to take sip after sip. Historically Keemun is enjoyed with the addition of milk and sugar, but stands well on its own for an added kick.
$ 10.00
Everyone loves tea, but figuring out exactly what kind someone wants can be a puzzle.
Enter: Magical Gift Card!
Whether you have a sick friend who needs a pick me up, a boss who has it out for you, a partner who banished you to the dog house, completely forgot your mother's birthday, or don't know what to get someone for your first Valentine's Day together...
The Magical Gift Card can cure all these problems and more*
*these statements have not been approved by the FDA
PLEASE NOTE: Gift cards issued online can only be used on the website. Unfortunately, they can not be redeemed in the store :(
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We are honored to offer you this tea. These 200g cakes are a community effort to interlace feral and old growth tea from around the village and mountains of Mangjing. The leaves were plucked and fermented in 2015 and have since developed into an incredible tea which we had pressed in 2019. The aroma is thick and earthen, yielding to a deep chocolate liquor with an incredible velvety mouthfeel. Each sip leaves traces of cacao, berries and peat all the way down to your stomach, where it fosters an internal warmth and grounding energy.
The village of Mangjing is situated in the ancient tea-producing Jingmai Mountain range and is home to the Bee Immortal Tree, central to the village's agricultural calendar. The immense banyan tree is draped in dozens of beehives, which are closely watched throughout the year. When the majority of bees return in the spring, it is the signal to begin plucking the tea trees.
This tea is a decadent shou cha that can be steeped all day long and still present new flavors. The roots of these trees tap into so many layers of minerals in the rich soil, that each steep unveils new depth and complexities.
$ 15.00
In India, Russia, Turkey and a host of other places, chai means tea. In the US, we say “chai” when referring to masala chai, a traditional Indian spiced tea.
Blue Willow Maple Chai comprises a complex blend of premium Estate teas and spices to recreate a classic Indian Masala Chai derived from a Himalayan recipe. The teas create a bold base that flourishes with the addition of spices. Cardamom, whole cloves, ginger root, cinnamon, whole star anise and allspice are freshly milled and blended in small, 60lb. batches at our plant. The exotic flavor combines a smooth taste of tea with invigorating spice. This recipe is lightly sweetened with pure maple powder, which is made by a small family sugar house in Vermont. While the tea in Blue Willow Maple Chai brings caffeine to the blend, the high proportion of spices dramatically lowers the caffeine content so the beverage has a soothing effect that is sure to warm the heart. Chai’s popularity, both iced and hot, has risen quickly and for good reason.
$ 13.50
In India, Russia, Turkey and a host of other places, chai means tea. In the US, we say “chai” when referring to masala chai, a traditional Indian spiced tea.
Blue Willow Chai comprises a complex blend of premium Estate teas and spices to recreate a classic Indian Masala Chai derived from a Himalayan recipe. The teas create a bold base that flourishes with the addition of spices. Cardamom, whole cloves, ginger root, cinnamon, whole star anise and allspice are freshly milled and blended in small, 60lb. batches at our plant. The exotic flavor combines a smooth taste of tea with invigorating spice. While the tea is Blue Willow Chai brings caffeine to the blend, the high proportion of spices dramatically lowers the caffeine content so the beverage has a soothing effect that is sure to warm the heart.
$ 19.00
This summer plucked Darjeeling brings a lot to the table. Softer and sweeter than the Autumnal flush, this tea steeps a well rounded cup. The aroma offers warm notes of cured tobacco and baked clay. The liquor is full and complex, with sweet muscat grapes at the tip of the tongue with an underlying base of dark cacao. The flavors complement each other perfectly and reveal a slight citrus hint that lingers long after each sip.
Plucked right before the summer monsoons in June, the sweetness of the tea is dependent upon the arrival of thrips, small flies that bite the leaves. The result is similar to that of bug-bitten teas in Taiwan and China, and increases the nectar-like flavors in the leaf.
This tea comes from the Makiabari Estate, the world's first certified biodynamic, organic and fair-traded tea estate. The business model of the estate centers on the involvement and input of everyone who works there, and each worker owns a small percentage of the operation. Their innovative and progressive practices have made the estate a model for others to increase sustainability across all platforms.
$ 8.50
In Scandanavian legend, the hero Beowulf battled monsters in the bitter chill of East Frisia, an area bordering the North Sea and the Netherlands. Now, the monsters faced by Frisians are bitter winds and harsh winters. As a result, the tea consumption is over 5 lbs. per capita annually. For those who live here, tea is an all-through-the-day ritual, prepared strong with the addition of cream and a lump of rock sugar.
Our brisk, custom blend employs the tradition of using a 2nd flush Estate Assam with tea from Ceylon and China. The tea itself has a full-bodied malty quality with long-lasting finish. Traditionally, East Frisians never stir tea in the cup. It is meant to be enjoyed in 3 layers; the cream or “sky”, the tea or “water” and the sugar or “land”.
$ 9.50
Straight, needle-like tips from the large leaf Yunnan varietal. This tea is plucked from tea trees growing at 2000 meters on Ai Lao Mountain. It's an easy-to-drink tea, and never gets bitter or develops unsavory flavors when over-steeped. The leaves give off tempting aromas of raw cocoa and cured tobacco leaf and steep to a light amber liquor. The flavor is bold but not overpowering, coating your mouth with a velvety softness and leaving behind hints of warm cedar wood.
$ 35.00
Here are two phenomenal teas that really showcase the variation of flavor you can achieve within one category. From woody, chocolate, cured tobacco notes to fruit, caramel and sherry, these teas cover all the bases. Whether you are already in love with these teas and want to share them (or treat yourself), or you're ready to step up your game... you can't go wrong here.
This set includes 2 oz. each of the Red Dragon Black and the Golden Bud Biluochun packed in the gift box shown. Every part of the packaging is compostable. Discounts are automatic when you buy multiples, and don't forget you can easily ship these to multiple friends at checkout!
$ 28.00
We only have a very small quantity of this tea on hand, so will not be selling bags larger than 8 oz.
Forget that Lapsang you had at the coffee shop years ago, the one that assaulted your senses with smoke and clung to your mouth for hours after. This is not that tea. Grown in the Wuyi mountains, this Bohea cultivar is expertly crafted. The dry twisted leaves present an alluring aroma of pine smoke without taking over. Steeped, the leaves exude a gorgeous amber liquor and offer aromatic hints of toffee and tobacco. The soft veil of smoke clears with each steep, yielding to deeper notes of sherry and raw cacao within the leaves. Juicy and robust while sipping, the tea finishes slightly dry with just a hint of embers remaining.
Harvest: 2020
Origin: Fujian, China
$ 19.00
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.
Harvest: 2020
Origin: Pu'er, Yunnan
$ 28.00
This interesting tea is grown in Hunan and processed in a similar way as sheng puerh. The leaves are plucked in the spring, withered, fired, and rolled. But what sets this tea apart is the roughly 2 months of repetitive low-heat smoking that the leaves undergo afterwards. The result is a bright, energizing tea with a tannic overtone, contrasting with the earthen wood smoke that is most prominent in the first few steeps.
Plucked in 2016, the leaves have aged beautifully in bamboo baskets which have allowed the flavors to interact seamlessly. This tea has a cult following in the shop!
$ 8.50
This Yunnan red tea is great any time of day. The leaves constitute a good blend of leaf and curling golden buds, which combine to create a full bodied and flavorful cup. The taste is strong without being astringent and has a lovely aroma of earth and cedar wood. Excellent on its own or with the addition of milk and sugar.