Transporting tea the old fashioned way.

We seek out suppliers that adhere to time honored techniques. This includes protecting the biodiversity of the tea fields. As an example, allowing trees to grow, as in this picutre, helps shadesthe tea and provides a home for the multitude of birds in the region.

Free hold tea farmers bring their crop in to be weighed.

Encouraging local economic development is of incredible importance to us. As such, we deal only with suppliers that ensure fair treatment for all. These farmers are ensured excellent prices for their raw leaf.

Lunch!

Travelling tea masters don’t just taste tea. Here we see a chef selecting the snake he’ll whip up into a tasty soup for our dinner.

A guide gives a tour around a pristine tea factory. We don't take chances when it comes to food safety.

Many of our suppliers are HAACP certified. We expect nothing less.

SO, JUST HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN DRINKING TEA IN CHINA?

The short answer is a long time. To help illustrate, consider a few other things that were going on in the world at the time tea drinking was first recorded by Chinese scribes. Alexander the Great had recently conquered Persia. The Iron Age was taking hold in Europe. A man named Confucius began writing about the mysteries of life. Its been a while…a long while. Over the centuries countless varieties, flavors and styles of tea have been developed. Some of these amazing teas are still being produced in the same way they were thousands of years ago.

Metropolitan Tea and China
Our history with China may not go back as far as Confucius, but it is long enough that we have developed strong relationships with tea producers in all of China’s major growing regions.

30 years of direct dealings with China’s finest producers
Metropolitan Tea draws on 30 years of direct relationships with Chinese tea growers, factories and tea accessory manufacturers. These relationships enable us to provide the finest teas and accessories China has to offer.

Annual visits ensure quality and fair practices
Yearly visits to tea plantations, factories and shipping facilities are essential. These visits help us source out new teas, tea accessories and make periodic quality inspections. Additionally, our unique position as a global company means where we can, we provide advice with regard to issues of human rights, environmental sustainability and fair practices for workers. We have seen what works on the world’s best run gardens and do what we can to help raise standards everywhere. (Our membership in the Ethical Tea Partnership also gives us a unique insight into the ethical production of tea.)

WHERE WE’VE BEEN LATELY

Fujian

Tea fields in beautiful Fujian.

An interesting feature on this garden is the presence of the Buddhist shrine in the heart of the tea fields. Legend has it that those who drink tea from the surrounding bushes will attain enlightenment. (Incidentally, this tea is White Pai Mu Tan)

Fujian legend has it that this statue represents the gods gift of tea to the world. The ball is meant to symbolize the very first tea seed ever planted in the earth.

Food Safety & Ethics Accreditation