What We Do

The inherent bitterness in tea leaves is a natural flavor, but human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of deliciousness have minimized this bitterness. The history of tea culture is the story of humanity's triumph over bitterness. Tea production is part of this narrative, as is the way we consume it. Tea has a long history in China, but there are no definitive records indicating when it first became a beverage. What we do know is that the earliest reference to tea is as a restorative drink. The "Guangya" from the Three Kingdoms period describes this: “In Jing and Ba, they pick the leaves and make them into cakes. When the leaves are old, they use rice paste to shape the cakes. To prepare the tea, they first roast the cakes until red, grind them into a powder, and place the powder in ceramic ware. They then pour boiling water over it and add scallions, ginger, and orange slices. Drinking it helps to sober one up and keeps you awake.” By the Tang Dynasty, the art of boiled tea had moved beyond its restorative properties and became an integral part of social rituals. There was a strict procedure for preparing boiled…