We’ve travelled far and wide to build a network of expertly selected tea masters. These journeys have taken us to the wild, ancient forests of Yunnan, up into the foothills of the Himalayas, through the lush coastal prefectures of Japan and beyond.
On the way, we’ve shared long lunches, precarious car journeys and learnt “cheers” in many dialects. Our network is built on personal relationships with tea producers with whom we share a commitment to teas of the highest quality, and environmentally responsible farming methods. Every tea producer we work with is an accomplished master craftsman, with a wealth of expertise that enables each of them to create their unique tea. For some, this knowledge has been from generations-long growing on the same plot, as it is with the Miyazakis and the Gyokuro tea they produce in Japan. Others like the Chen family, who oversaw the conversion of their family’s land to organic, have dedicated their life’s work to understanding new techniques to perfect their tea and protect their land in Taiwan.
Meet the Chens
The Chens are pioneers of organic farming in Ali Shan, one of
Taiwan’s most famous tea mountain areas, and do a huge amount
to support biodiversity.
“Time is the greatest healer. We love the eagles, snakes and fireflies that have returned to our garden since turning organic.”
Chen Shengteng
Meet Talat Ahmed
He's a third-generation Assamese tea planter and manager of Orangajuli Garden. Passionate about nature, wildlife and using his experience to help support the future of Assam's tea industry, Talat has committed to reducing pesticide loads, planting trees, and educating younger generations about the environment and the value of living in harmony with nature.
Meet Shentang Wen
Wen’s spoken to us about what this time has taught him about
living a good life – and why he never considered doing anything
other than making Dragon Well green tea.
Meet Subroto Sen
He’s the long-time leader of one of Darjeeling’s oldest and most
innovative gardens. He came to Darjeeling for the fishing, but
stayed for the mountains, the dancing, the dumplings – and of
course, the tea.
Meet the Miyazakis
With more than 100 years of tea producing experience between
them, this husband and wife duo have a lot to share – and they’re
using this to inspire future generations.
Meet Yong Luo
Get to know what life is like living on Shuang Ji Niang, a remote
mountain in China’s Phoenix range, and how working organically
with his plants has allowed Luo to experience the unyielding spirit
strength of what can happen when humans and nature works
together.
Meet Ishiyama
Making Sencha tea is a way of life for Ishiyama – and it has been
for his family for the last ten generations. He's one of the few
remaining members of Japan’s Tea Hand Rolling Association. Find
out his tips on the best way to enjoy a cup of Sencha.
The relationships we have with our producers are fundamental to what we do and enable us to:
Get first access to the best teas – many have never been sold outside of their country of origin, such as Mr Long’s Baojing Gold, which we first brought to the UK in 2020.
Be confident in sharing where each tea comes from and how it’s made. You’ll find the origin and garden names on each pack of tea, and if you ever want to know more, just get in touch.
Collaborate with tea makers to share expertise and create teas with the exact flavour profiles we’re looking for. We spent a number of weeks in Yunnan in 2015 with the team who make Red Dragon doing exactly this.