Posts by andrew

A glass pitcher of brewing green tea, a small filled teacup with a single tea sprig floating in the middle, and a small brown paper package of tea leaves with a trailing untied red ribbon around it, all on a bamboo tray surrounded by green and red bamboo-like leaves of a plant.

Spring tea (at last.)

Newsletter Archive Apr. 29, 2022 2022 Spring teas are here at a last. As per our tradition, we’re immediately offering a discount on Shifeng Longjing for the first weekend. This discount comes with our gratitude to you. If you’re reading this, you’re likely as excited to see these teas show up as we are. Along… // MORE

A glass of brewing Silver Dragon Jasmine Pearls held up to the sky as the leaves within unfurl.

Scented teas for people who don’t like scented tea.

Newsletter Archive Apr. 22, 2022 This weekend, all our scented teas are featured and available to you. It’s a full on enflorage for sipping on your back porch, at your breakfast table, or in your midnight cuppa. For us, a guiding principle is to select the scented teas that can still be appreciated by folks… // MORE

Two women standing in the teahouse, one holding a baby, while a young man seated next to them pours tea.

18 years ago, our teahouse opened its doors.

Newsletter Archive Apr. 15, 2022 This is the first anniversary in two years since the teahouse has been open for table service. This has us reflecting on how fortunate we are to be there in the first place. The story of how it all came together is one of no small amount of hard work,… // MORE

Two ladies in hats and smocks standing among the tea bushes, holding up the fresh sprigs of green tea they’ve just plucked.

A new micro-lot from Yiwu and new developments in the spring harvest.

Newsletter Archive Apr. 8, 2022 As spring roars into full effect, we’re bringing out a few hidden treasures. Now available in our online store and teahouse is a limited delivery of Yiwushan (Yiwu Mountain) 2020, a light-bodied sheng puer with layers of spring meadow character. We’re also highlighting two other Yunnan-grown micro-lots: Dark, old, and… // MORE

Three porcelain dishes full of dark dry tea leaves, one a long thin and twisted black tea, one fluffy and dark green with larger leaves and some buds, and one a broader dark twisted rock wulong.

Humans and tea go way back. Sip a few millenia of flavors.

Newsletter Archive Apr. 1, 2022 This weekend we’re featuring three teas from three unusual tea bush cultivars: one new, one old, and one downright prehistoric. That’s Huang Guanyin wulong tea, Tieguanyin Baicha white tea, and Laoshu Dianhong black tea. In the span of these three teas, you’re in for a tour through humanity’s long history… // MORE

In bright sunlight, a large white gaiwan full of very dark red-brown shu puer tea, set on a worn wooden surface next to a ceramic tea strainer and display dish of dry tea leaves. The leaves of a small green succulent plant poke in from the top of the frame.

A new shu puer with the timbre of the Jingmai woods.

Newsletter Archive Mar. 25, 2022 A few weeks ago, we surveyed you on what new teas you’d like to see this year. Thanks to everyone who responded! As expected, you had some thoughtful ideas on what to bring in. Something that we didn’t expect, though, was that the humble category of Shu Puer topped the… // MORE

A man kneeling behind his young daughter in the garden.

Teas from generational divide (and unity): The Zhang family’s Anxi wulong

Newsletter Archive Mar. 18, 2022 This weekend we’re featuring Jin Guanyin (Golden Guanyin) and Chuantong Tieguanyin (Traditional Tieguanyin), two wulong teas that straddle styles and generations. When Austin first met Zhang Qingmu, Zhang was fresh out of college and working to promote his uncle and father’s Tieguanyin wulong tea on the wholesale market. Today, Mr.… // MORE

Three men standing together in front of the trunk of an enormous tea tree that is wider than the three of them standing abreast.

Shu Puer: The masterpieces of the tea mycologist.

Newsletter Archive Mar. 11, 2022 This weekend, brew a cup of darkness with two new-process shu puer from the factory of Chen Keke and Li Dong – Shu Longzhu (Sweet Dragon Ball) 2016 and the Cha Tao (Aged Old Tree) 2017 cake, now back in stock after selling out surprisingly quickly. When we first started… // MORE

Two men seated next to a tea table in a large tent, one holding open a gaiwan of wet wulong tea leaves for them to examine.

In the grasp of your nose: The wulong teas of Liu Dexi

Newsletter Archive Mar. 4 2022 You might already know Liu Dexi. If you’ve tasted our Shuixian (Narcissus), Ba Xian (Eight Immortals), or the new 2021 Tie Luo Han (Iron Monk), you at least know Mr. Liu’s work. The man invests so much of himself into his tea making, the art and artist are hard to… // MORE

Three bamboo trays of dry black tea arranged in a fan next to an ornate enameled green gaiwan, a set of wooden tea tweezers, and a small porcelain cup of brewed tea.

Meet Sweet Vermilion black tea from Tongmu.

Newsletter Archive Feb. 25, 2022 There’s a new micro-lot selection among our black teas. Welcome Chi Gan (Sweet Vermilion) from Wu Jianming: the innovative tea maker behind Zui Chun Fang (Drunken Peach) and Tongmu Lapsang Souchong. If you’ve followed Seven Cups’ black tea selection for a while, you know Wu Jianming is a tea maker… // MORE

Looking down a rustic bridge with a rail on one side, made of interlocking logs over a small sunny mountain stream. Low tea bushes are scattered over the hillside among other natural trees and forest plants.

What is the oldest style of pan-fired tea in the world?

Newsletter Archive Feb. 18, 2022 What is the oldest style of pan-fired tea in the world? Huangshan Maofeng has an arguable claim to that title. The story of modern tea processing starts with a rebellion and a ban. The rebellion is that which brought the ascendance of China’s Ming Dynasty in 1368 CE and its… // MORE

Two small paper-wrapped puer cakes, two blooming teas in individual boxes, and three yixing teapots gathered together on and around a bamboo tray.

Flowers and cakes – of tea.

Newsletter Archive Feb. 11, 2022 I hear you saying Valentine’s Day is a consumer holiday, but we’ll argue there’s plenty to celebrate here. A day to celebrate your beloved, sure, but consider that St. Valentine is also the patron saint of beekeepers. We’ll toast to that. Maybe you’re more for celebrating the other rites of… // MORE

Six people holding large puer cakes on the court in front of a red banner.

A Tiny Lot of Something New: Young Sheng and Old Sheng

Newsletter Archive Feb. 4, 2022 This weekend brings a bit of something new (and kinda old.) The Laowushan Sheng Puer micro-lot from 2009 just got added to our store. This tiny gem of a sheng puer is woodsy and sweet, showing some dark sophistication from twelve years of aging in Pu’er City. Alongside it, we’re… // MORE

Two people kneeling to plant a small tea bush as a third looks on.

The Founders’ Favorites of 2021

Newsletter Archive Jan. 21, 2022 Zhuping grew up at the end of the cultural revolution, a time without love songs. Much later in life, she met Austin, an American, and before either knew it, they were out on a date, strolling together along the banks of the Pearl River. Moved by the romance of this… // MORE

Three people standing at the counter in the teahouse with cups of tea.

Teahouse Team Favorite Teas of 2021

Newsletter Archive Jan. 14, 2022 Continuing with our 2021 retrospective, this week we bring you the personal favorites of our teahouse team: Da Fo Longjing (Big Buddha Dragon Well), Zi Ye Shu (Purple Leaf Shu Puer) and Bai Long Xu (White Dragon Whiskers) White Puer. 2022 marks 18 years of our teahouse being open in… // MORE

Three people gathered around the open hatch of a semi truck under blue skies.

Warehouse Staff Favorite Teas from 2021

Newsletter Archive Jan. 7, 2022 With the new year, we’ve found ourselves reflecting on the teas of 2021 and picking out some favorites. This weekend we’re featuring Rougui (Cassia Bark), Anji Hong, Mogan Huangya, and White Moonlight 2018. Each one of these teas is a personal favorite from the Seven Cups warehouse team. Our warehouse… // MORE

Three people smiling and talking while trying tea at a table in an outdoor tent.

To a new year, new tea, and old friendships.

Newsletter Archive Dec. 31, 2021 With a close to the year, comes one final tea – Mr. Liu’s 2021 Da Hong Pao. This weekend, we’re featuring it and all of Wuyishan’s “four famous” rock wulong. That includes 2021’s production of Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe), Shui Jin Gui (Golden Water Turtle), Tie Luo Han… // MORE

Longquan celadon small koi fish ceramic pot and cups with Anji Hong and Yu Qian Anji Baicha

Everything it takes to bring you tea.

Newsletter Archive Dec. 24, 2021 Behold! Some golden rays of light in the longest nights of the year: Golden Buds, Golden Peacock, Golden Guanyin, and Golden Leaf are featured this weekend. These black, green, and wulong teas are united by their names and glittering color, but widely different from each other. Flavors span peppery cacao,… // MORE

Looking closely at the black tea leaves of Zijuan Hong brewing in a pale blue-green gaiwan with its lid lifted ajar, accompanied by a full cup of tea on a wooden tray.

The last new micro-lot of the year is something colorful and different.

Newsletter Archive Dec. 3, 2021 This year’s final microlot is here. Behold the unusual Zijuan Hong Purple Leaf Yunnan Black Tea.  It’s available now. If you’re a Tasting Flight subscriber, you’re guaranteed a bag in your December delivery. If you’re curious about these purple leaves, take note: this weekend we’re also featuring all other purple… // MORE

An open black yixing teapot filled with dry rock wulong tea leaves, set on a tray and surrounded by a pitcher, cup, and vase with a small plant.

Chasing persistent excellence: 2021 Rock Wulong is here.

Newsletter Archive Nov. 12, 2021 Like a cold snap of autumn, new Wuyi rock wulong is here. This weekend, we’re featuring three of our personal favorites from the new crop: Ba Xian (Eight Immortals), Rougui (Cassia Bark), and Que She (Sparrow’s Tongue). Toasty, sweet and complex. It’s what you need for the back porch. The… // MORE

A vehicle traversing the rough mountain road.

Puer tea from way off the beaten path

Newsletter Archive Nov. 5, 2021 New puer teas just arrived, including several new additions to our catalog of sheng puer cakes: Xiaohuzhai 2019, Xinbanzhang 2019, and Jingmaishan (Jingmai Mountain) 2007. There’s even more new stuff on the site and there’s limited stock of a few old favorites too, including Youleshan 2007, Daxueshan 2012, and the… // MORE

Five people stand together next to pinkish-red azalea bushes with green tea bushes and tall trees behind them.

Two Zhejiang teas, 20 years of memories.

Newsletter Archive Oct. 15, 2021 People often ask us which tea is our personal favorite. Depending on the day and which one of us is talking, you’ll get one of 100 different answers. This may seem like a cop-out, but we drink it all. If we don’t like it, how could we expect you to… // MORE

Stacked cardboard shipping boxes of tea with the Seven Cups company logo on the side, lashed to a pallet. 2020.

Where is your tea? It’s on the way right now.

Newsletter Archive Oct. 8, 2021 With a supply chain crisis in the news, it may not surprise you to find a number of your favorite teas out of stock. Fortunately, we have an optimistic forecast. For those interested in the buzz around the tea supply chain, read on. If you’re just here for the tea,… // MORE

A person holding up two tea branches with young leaves, one with a long sprawling sprig with spread leaves and the other with small compact new growth.

Infusion of Contradictions: Yunnan Black Tea and its Heroes

Newsletter Oct. 1, 2021 Fengqing County, this far-out corner of China, is full of contradictions. As a tea origin, it’s imagined as both the youngest and the oldest. Its agriculture is both large-scale and small. It’s a center for common commodity tea but also the rare, unusual and radically inventive. This story of contradictory identity… // MORE

A man holding a large round bamboo tray and lightly tossing the tea leaves on it. Many more such trays rest on vertical racks in the background.

Who wrote the book on Rock Wulong?

Newsletter Archive Sep. 17, 2021 This weekend we’re featuring Shui Jin Gui (Golden Water Turtle) and Tie Luo Han (Iron Monk), two classics of Wuyi Rock Wulong. Both were produced by the tea workshop of the great Liu Guoying and finished with a traditional charcoal roasting. If one person deserves the title “Tea Master” it’s… // MORE

Three porcelain lotus dishes holding the dry leaves of three different green teas.

You’re alive during the golden age.

Newsletter Archive Aug. 27, 2021 Have you tasted this season’s green tea micro-lots? Now is a good time to try them. We still have Mountain Forest Huangshan Maofeng, Yu Qian Mogan Green, and Huang Jin Ye (Golden Leaf), all of which might not return next year. Believe it or not, teas like this haven’t been… // MORE