2020 is unquestionably the year of altered travel plans, rescheduling and cancellations. At Rishi Tea & Botanicals, we are fortunate to have amazing relationships with our tea farmers, which ensures we are able to access the same high quality and exceptional teas even during this chaotic time.
Travel Journal
Origins of Tea
As practitioners of direct trade we take pride in the personal relationships we have built with tea and botanical growers around the world. Our team of buyers travels extensively each year in order to select the very best micro-lots of tea and botanicals. Our hands-on approach allows us to verify how our organic teas are grown and offers complete traceability back to the source.
Gyokuro: a Flight and Look Into Terroir
Gyokuro, “jade dew”, is a rare shade-grown green tea from Japan. Shaded in a similar style to matcha, Gyokuro has a deep emerald color, rich taste, and high caffeine
Rishi Welcomes: Dr. Turmeric
We are proud to announce an exclusive partnership with “Dr. Turmeric” artisan foods from Taiwan. The “Dr. Turmeric” line ranges from turmeric noodles, sauces, condiments and cold-pressed oolong tea seed oil. It also features several different varietals of turmeric, ginger and galangal root powders.
Tokoname Clay
Tokoname was the location of one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan and is also famed for Buddhist and Shinto shrine statue artisans. Tokoname is often considered to be the sister city of Yixing.
2020 Mingqian Harvest Teas
With the change in season, we see the first crops of teas being introduced into the market. One can imagine the anticipation to the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, or other sought-after wines, and correlate the same excitement for celebrated seasons within the annual calendar of the global tea harvests.
The Wild Maqui and Murta Harvest in Chilean Patagonia
We source two main components of many blends from the Chilean Patagonia territory: Murta and Maqui Berries. We work with collectors, who in turn work with regional landowners to pinpoint where these fruits are growing.
Second to None: Darjeeling 2nd Flush Harvest
In March and then again in June of 2019, our buyers embarked on the journey into the...
A Focused Look: Cultivars & Terroir in Taiwan
Rishi’s tea partners in Taiwan are amazing tea masters in Mingjian Village. The matriarch is Mrs. Yan Ying Tsao and is a significant supplier for Rishi tea. Mrs. Yan Ying Tsao has devoted her life to tea but is also a true naturalist in her farming of tea, fruits, herbs, orchids, varieties of turmeric and ginger—you name it, she grows it.
Makers Spotlight: Tsuji-san’s Matcha
This Spring of 2019, Joshua visited the 5th generation tea master, Tsuji San, who is the...
Majestic Himalaya Teas Pt.2: Innovations in Nepal
The drive from the Tumsong Estate in Darjeeling, India through the Nepali border to Jun Chiyabari, looks like a quick 7-hour trip on a map…
Makers Spotlight: The Nishi Family
The Nishi family is celebrated throughout Japan for their exquisite quality teas and...
Majestic Himalaya Teas Pt.1: the Magic of Darjeeling
In March of 2019, our buyers embarked on the journey into the Golden Valley of famed Darjeeling teas with our partners at Chamong Tea Group.
Schisandra Berry – A Traditional Adaptogen with a Modern Twist
In the Manchu region, along the border of China and North Korea, a botanical luminary...
Sourcing Vanilla – Rishi’s Origin Story to San Luis Potosi
In 2018, the Rishi team had the opportunity to visit our vanilla farming partners in San...
EXPLORE OUR GARDEN DIRECT TEA
Rishi Tea & Botanicals travels extensively each year, following the peak harvest to select the very best micro-lots just days after production. This practices allows us to offer unique and delicious teas that capture the essence of their origin and are not available anywhere else in North America.