About Us

I've known René for years, and when I say she's interested in tea, I mean that her passion for tea is far reaching and vast, encompassing everything from its historical and current cultural significance, to the processes the teas undergo to achieve a specific flavor profile, to the nuanced differences between ceremonial tea sets.

I've always known what's in a teabag (hint: not tea), but was not aware of all the options I had as far as loose leaf teas were concerned, so I stuck to the dark, peppery flavors of black for my morning “cuppa.” After meeting René, I began broadening my horizons, though not on my own whim. It took a lot of gentle prodding and poking and hesitant taste tests, but eventually I was tempted into trying smooth, buttery oolongs, bright, springy greens, and strong, earthy pu-erhs.

To be honest, my favorite tea related activity that René has introduced me to is the Gong Fu tea ceremony. That's where René's passion really shines, when she's surrounded by people, encouraging conversation about the leaves, the differences between steeping, the tastes and the scents of the teas she has to offer. There, the hand wrapped pearls, carefully tied balls, and elegantly curled leaves are less intimidating, and more familiar, like getting to know a friend of a friend, and with René handling that first introduction, you're sure to find something you like.