hello world!

A word-of-mouth collective
for all things tea

recent arrivals

Spring 2021 teas from Sichuan have arrived

choice February harvests of Meng Ding Shan

Nannuo Pu'er Selection

juicy Meng Hai boldness

Aged White Teas from Zhenghe County, Fujian

teas, medicines, & treasures in various styles

2020 Yiwu Manzhuan Raw Pu'er

expansive textured soup, layered flavors

recent words

Dimensions of White Tea, an Introduction

You might have heard of White Tea: "one year tea, three years medicine, seven years treasure.” But what allows white tea to transform so remarkably — into medicine, and then treasure as they say — after just a few years?

Yiwu Part I: At a Glance

Not just a township, but a larger area and even a mindset, we look at why Yiwu occupies an inimitable cornerstone of the pu'erh experience. Series by Gus

Tea as Ritual

Tea scholar, educator, and Rivers & Lakes community guest writer Miles Cramer pens an essay providing a tasteful glance at tea's journey through time as a ritual communion.

riversandlakestea

New teas just released onto the site. I’ve been

New teas just released onto the site. I’ve been very busy lately and I’m extremely proud to offer you these 🍃 2021 Yiwu Manzhuan Raw Pu'er Máo Chá 2021 Yiwu Mansong Raw Pu'er 2021 Mu Dan Wang White Tea (Yes, the little 100 gram Mansong village cuties are there!) The Dai ethnicity gaiwan featured in the first few photos was sourced by the homies @westchinatea 📜 more later 🔥 #riversandlakestea #rawpuer #yunnan #yiwu #shengcha #manzhuan #mansong

Unwrapping the recently arrived Mansong village ra

Unwrapping the recently arrived Mansong village raw pu’er. Mansong 曼松 village is in Yibang, one of the original six great tea mountains of Xishuangbanna. The Hé family selected these early spring leaves to be pressed into limited edition 100 gram cakes. Looking forward to taking a literal bath in the tea like right now.

So I quietly released this 2017 Zhenghe county Sho

So I quietly released this 2017 Zhenghe county Shou Mei cake the other day — the photos feature a lovely new @m.e.cotterman (a fellow western North Carolinian) gaiwan I got from them. Inspired to post as @montsho was showing off their’s from her yesterday. Be sure to check Mary’s work and this lovely affordable semi aged bai cha bing out. Ah, and I should mention the incoming freshie Taiwanese Oolong sale is winding down in the next few hours #lastcall #riversandlakestea
#gongfutea #boiledtea
#whitetea #agedtea #chadao #teapottery #gaiwan #communitea #shoumei #寿眉

Will shamelessly skinny dip for fresh Baozhong Ool

Will shamelessly skinny dip for fresh Baozhong Oolong 💦 Today is the last day of the introductory sale for new Taiwanese Oolongs + all other fresh spring teas 👈 #riversandlakestea #grandpastyle

Someone tried to say the new camo tape is tacky.

Someone tried to say the new camo tape is tacky. Well, we couldn’t agree more. New Taiwanese teas + spring selection 10% off this weekend 🔥 #riversandlakestea
#camo #mossyoak #rewild #teamail

Clockwork — this time of year always sees us cru

Clockwork — this time of year always sees us crushing hard on Taiwanese Oolongs, and 2021 is no different. Help us inaugurate them into the catalog by taking 10% off of them this weekend only. Oh, and did we mention our earlier spring teas are in the sale too? #riversandlakestea

Preparing Baozhong Oolong 💎 Such a charming te

Preparing Baozhong Oolong 💎 Such a charming tea when it really hits: jagged and crunchy mouthfeel yet smooth and sweet, leaving salivation for that next sip. Qing Xin cultivar for the win. #riversandlakestea #青心
#gongfutea #cha #taiwanoolong
#baozhong #wenshanbaozhong #wenshanpouchong

Stoked to announce our second Taiwanese Oolong of

Stoked to announce our second Taiwanese Oolong of the year 🍃 We had reluctantly lowered our expectations of this year’s Baozhong because of the devastation wrought upon harvests around the Wenshan growing region from the drought, but this year’s competition style Baozhong from the Bai family came out truly special. Last year’s sourcing of their Jin Xuan cultivar Baozhong was met with much fanfare, and we’re interested to see how y’all like this one! #baozhong #taiwandrought #gongfucha #teatime #pinglin #wenshanpouchong #taiwanesetea #oolongcha #taiwanoolong #gongfutea #chadao #teaphotography #riversandlakestea

As we take these sips you can find us profusely pr

As we take these sips you can find us profusely prostrating to the rain gods for sparing the Yungs’ gardens from the wicked Taiwanese spring drought of 2021 ☁️ Introducing the inimitable thickness of this year’s Long Feng Xia High Mountain Oolong 🎩 #riversandlakestea

Follow our adventures

© 2021 Rivers & Lakes Tea