In Chinese culture, names carry special meanings and legacies.

Our journey with this tea master is a story in itself, as he was drawn to my wife’s heritage and her family name, Xiahou, which reflects an old and respected lineage. This connection was more than business; it was a meeting of traditions, of trust and admiration between our families.

Many years we spent in search of excellent tea using the respect and reverence of our Xiahou name to gain access to markets otherwise closed to the Western world. From the deep bamboo forests of Guizhou, to the mountaintops of Lijiang, to the Southeastern shores of Xiamen. We drank tea with esteemed tea masters, conversed over rare pickings with high government officials, and endulged in extravagant cups with billionaire businessmen. 18 Chinese provinces, and 31 cities were scoured to find great tea.

Of course, at the time, we weren't exploring these exclusive markets to sell the tea, but merely to enjoy the experience! The end result: a plethora of tea resources. The first of which we bring to you through the beloved and respected Master Fang - a pure product of heritage between one of the very oldest and admired Chinese families and an uninterrupted tradition of tea honored traditional tea production spanning generations back to the 1890's.