Who are the tea farmers and producers?

We curate only the best single origin teas direct from family farms in China, Japan, and Taiwan. We source solely from artisanal growers and our mission is to maintain the highest level commitment to quality. It is crucial for us to handpick every tea producer tea as well as every tea we choose to carry. In many cases our respective colleagues oversee certain aspects of the tea harvest and of the tea production as a means for guaranteeing consistent quality of our entire seasonal tea collection.

What are tea blends and why don't you offer any?

Tea blends are a mix of different teas and sometimes additional flavor elements. Blending evolved primarily as a marketing strategy to ensure consistency for the large scale production of tea. As teas are enormously complex and nuanced, the true appreciation of premium tea is better served by showcasing the uniqueness of individual tea attributes. We carry only single origin, unblended teas, to allow the nuanced flavors from each cultivar, site, harvest season to shine.

Why don't you carry silken sachets or teabags?

‘Silken' teabags are made from a plastic called polypropylene. Although many like the convenience and presentation of see through teabags, steeping plastic in hot water has questionable health impacts. In addition, polypropylene is not biodegradable, and even the new versions made of corn derived PLA are still not realistically biodegradable. We prefer the most natural method for drinking tea – whole, loose leaf, without artificial additives or chemicals.

How is your tea sold?

We sell only loose leaf tea. We directly source only hand-picked, high quality whole leaf tea from their historical origins. All tea (with the exception of herbal teas), both loose leaf and tea in teabags originates from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, however, they are processed differently. Our tea is hand produced in small batches compared to more commonly processed tea manufactured in bulk. Teabags may be convenient, however they can negatively affect the taste of tea. Loose leaf tea is also easily brewed, while typically resulting in an unmatched experience.

How is your tea packaged?

As an ecological consideration we do not invest in unnecessary packaging. We however provide the best quality resealable foil pouches on the market to completely block all light, external moisture and odor. Our customers payment is solely for the finest quality tea available, and not for fancy packaging. All teas are carefully hand packed to preserve the integrity of the leaves, and also include oxygen absorption packets as well to guarantee freshness and the ageability of the tea inside. All this we do to provide a full flavor experience every time.

What size tea packages do you offer?

We currently offer premium loose leaf teas in three sizes. Samples are 1/4 oz (7.1 gm), Small orders are 1.0 oz (28.4 gm) and Large orders are 2 oz (56.7 gm). There are some products where sizing options are unique, however these exceptions are clearly detailed in the product description.

How should I store my tea once I receive it? 

All tea is sensitive to light, heat, oxygen (air) and moisture. Please store your purchased tea away from sources of excessive heat, light or humidity. Prior to enjoying your tea, our sealed pouches will keep the tea fresh for many years. Once opened, continue to store tea in our resealable pouches as a convenient and effective way to maintain your tea under ideal conditions. If you so desire, placing tea in a sealed, inert container, like ceramic, is also an effective alternative.

What is vintage tea and tea maturation?

We source optimally fresh tea with vibrant characteristics, and we take serious measures to maintain it as such. Tea is an agricultural product, and some have made the argument for enjoying it as close to harvest time as possible. In contrast, we offer vintage teas that have been sourced, produced, packed and shipped correctly. Thus, enabling them to actually improve with age in many cases, similar to the potential of fine wine. This occurs due to the maturation process continuing to take place in a near zero oxygen environment. Oxygen absorbers are crucial for the unique condition that will ultimately enhance your tea experience.

How long will my tea remain fresh?

Once your tea pouch is opened, the white, green or oolong tea inside will remain optimally fresh for 3 months; black tea will retain its complex flavor for approximately 1 year or more; while pu-erh tea may continue to remain desirable for 10 to 20 years. Remember, once you break the seal, controlled maturation ceases in all our tea with the exception of pu-erh cakes. So now is the time to enjoy!

Should I use weight or a teaspoon to measure the amount? 

When making tea it is important to pay attention to the amount of tea leaves you add to your pot. This brewing parameter is known as, ‘leaf amount.’ It might be preferable to utilize weight when determining leaf amount, however not everybody has access to a reliable kitchen scale. Our brewing recommendations provide you with the correct weight 2.0 to 7.1 gram weight to use in brewing, as well as the corresponding photos for each tea so you have a visual guide as to what a 5 gram leaf amount looks like in each case. You are therefore covered even if you do not possess a scale.

Why are your steeping instructions based on the type of tea?

Tea taste is significantly affected by the manner in which it is brewed. This includes considerations such as the amount of tea used (or the proportion of raw tea for the amount to be brewed – ‘leaf amount’ and ‘water amount’). water temperature, and steeping times. Additionally, the mineral content of the water, as well as the type of kettle, tea pot and serving ware can also impact the taste of the product, and ultimately, your drinking experience. Please follow the recommended tea serving sizes, water temperature and steeping times as closely as possible for your particular tea to avoid bitter or unpleasant flavors. This will insure you have the best experience possible and enjoy the full value of your tea.

How much caffeine is in a cup of your tea?

Caffeine is naturally occurring in all tea: white, green, oolong, black & fermented. Caffeine content in tea will vary from plant to plant and from season to season, and is further influenced by the production process. Caffeine and its associated compounds function as the tea plant's natural defense against insects. In general, tea has around 1/3 (around 20 to 30 mg) the amount of caffeine in coffee. We do not source any decaffeinated teas.

Does your tea contain anything else?

The sole ingredient in all of our tea is tea (derived from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant). Our tea contains no other ingredients. As such, our tea is free of known food allergens, chemicals and additives.

Is your tea organically grown?

The vast majority of tea we source is grown utilizing organic practices, however it is purchased without certification, unless otherwise noted. We review the entirety of the production process from the plucking of the leaves to the equitable treatment of the workers involved. All sources of tea we purchase from operate their farms in a sustainable manner.

What would you recommend for a gift?

Every tea we offer makes a great gift as they are all ultra premium teas, tea lovers and tea connoisseurs will be sure to appreciate. If you check out our gift section you may find some choice offerings. Often times we have themed tea collections on sale here, each including 2 to 3 tea combined selections. We also offer 3 different subscription based tea clubs featuring themed tea selections to be shipped automatically and on a monthly basis. In the near future you might also like to consider paring your tea with one of our fine tea wares, or the delicious tea cakes we intend to offer. At this point however, you will have to wait for such amenities. Remember to check back often! Still at a loss? It is hard to go wrong choosing a gift card. The finicky tea drinker in your life might well appreciate that you left the choice up to them.

Where can I find out about promotional discounts?

The best way to find out about about our promotional discounts is to subscribe to our mailing list – simply enter your email address after clicking the subscribe link at the bottom of this page.  We often post promotions exclusively on social media as well, so please be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter for more great deals.

Who should I ask if I have a question about your tea?

We would be happy to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail any questions you might have to tea@gargantuantea.com. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.