Tea Brands Worth Knowing
Meet some of the tea makers on Fforage, from Himalayan gardens and Jeju Island to Uji matcha and Pacific Northwest blending studios.
Some of the best tea in the world is hard to find. It lives on tiny websites, at farmers markets or behind a name you've never heard of. We gather quality tea makers in one place so you don't have to go hunting. (Happily, the hunting is our favorite part.) These are some of the brands you'll find with us, and why each one is worth knowing.
Nepal Tea Collective: from a Himalayan village
Nepal Tea's story starts in the 1960s, when a young Deepak Prakash Baskota visited the Darjeeling hills and came home to Phidim in eastern Nepal dreaming of a tea farm that could lift up his whole community. Today their teas, like Himalayan Mist and Organic White Prakash, taste bright and clean, with plenty of mountain character. Shop Nepal Tea Collective.
Tea Drunk: heirloom Chinese teas
If you love traditional Chinese tea, Tea Drunk is a treat. Heritage farmers pick and craft their teas by hand in very small batches, using iron woks, bamboo trays and good old sunlight. Their Xi Hu Long Jing is a lesson in what green tea can be. Shop Tea Drunk.
isshiki: matcha from Uji
Based in New York City, isshiki brings matcha from Uji, Kyoto, one of Japan's most celebrated tea regions. The name means "one color," a nod to matcha's famously vivid green. Their single-cultivar Samidori is creamy and deep. Shop isshiki.
OSULLOC: tea from Jeju Island
OSULLOC grows its tea on Jeju Island, South Korea, where volcanic soil and sea air shape the leaves. Their Organic Jeju Volcanic Oolong is toasty and smooth, and yes, we think "volcanic oolong" is one of the coolest phrases in tea. Shop OSULLOC.
Teappo: Taiwanese oolong
Teappo focuses on teas from Taiwan, the home of high mountain oolong, and also carries fragrant Jasmine Oolong. Shop Teappo.
August Uncommon Tea: tea as creative expression
August Uncommon cares about flavor, scientific brewing and a bit of artistry. Their blends mix fruit, smoke, spice and perfume in ways you won't find anywhere else, and they also make a single-estate Rare Leaves line for purists. Shop August Uncommon.
Beach House Teas: Pacific Northwest blends
Beach House Teas hand-blends small batches with organic ingredients, all inspired by the Pacific Northwest coast. Think Willapa White Lavender or the smoky Olympic Woodsman, which is basically a campfire you can sip. Shop Beach House Teas.
World Spice and Smith Teamaker: Northwest classics
Seattle's World Spice carries brisk Assam, classic chai and Moroccan mint. A few hours south in Portland, Smith Teamaker is known for thoughtful small-batch blends and matcha.
How we choose the brands on Fforage
Every maker on Fforage meets the Fforage Standard: a named origin, honest ingredients, no overblown claims and tea shipped straight from the maker. We get a little picky about it, on purpose. Read more about why in Why Small-Batch Tea Matters, and meet everyone on Meet the Makers.
Quick answers
What makes a tea brand worth trying?
Look for a named origin, clear ingredients, specific tasting notes and a maker who stands behind the tea. That's our checklist too.
Where can I buy tea from several brands at once?
Right here. Fforage brings quality tea makers together in one place, with one checkout, and each brand ships its own teas straight to you.
