Taking tea culture out of the box

In many traditions around the world, there is a strong preference for fresh tea due to the belief that the nutritional and medicinal qualities of natural foods diminish with time, underlining the significance of drinking tea closer to its harvest time. Bumblebee's core mission revolves around expediting the delivery of the freshest and highest quality teas to the market, allowing individuals to fully savor their myriad health benefits.

Clean refreshment that nurtures and restores is how we view our fine teas. Enjoying tea should be simple, and it is definitely not one size fits all. Brew and enjoy in a way that suits your taste, lifestyle, and mood. Serve classic English or Gong-Fu style or just hydrate with  ice tea, nature's vitamin water. Steep for 3 minutes, or add extra tea leaves to your batch and steep for 30 seconds. Add crushed ginger root, mint or orange peels to create your own blends at home…and above all, take the time to enjoy these specially cultivated tea leaves. We encourage you to create your very own tea ritual, for your pleasure and your health. The journey of tea is complex, the enjoyment of tea does not have to be. 

All tea is made from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. Quite like wine, tea leaf varietals have developed in different geographic locations. Varietals' unique characteristics are the result of their human influences, soil composition, and their environments.

Along with processing, oxidation plays a key role in each tea’s composition. The amount of oxidation the leaf is allowed to undergo determines what kind of tea you will get. More oxidation produces dark-colored black and pu-erh teas. Less oxygen results in white and green teas.

Before tea can be processed, it must, of course, be picked. Typically, only the bud and two small leaves are plucked from the plants to ensure the best tasting tea.

Withering is particularly important for white, oolong, black and pu-erh teas. After picking, the leaves are laid out to dry on bamboo trays or in large indoor areas where heated air is forced over them if the climate is too cool to heat the leaves naturally. This process reduces water content and makes the leaves pliable enough to be rolled. In the case of green teas, leaves are often steamed, baked, or pan-fried instead of, or immediately after, being withered briefly. Steaming, pan frying, or baking arrests oxidation of the leaves so that they remain green.

Traditionally, rolling is done by hand. This technique is used to make extremely rare high-end teas. Today, machines are often used to roll and shape the leaves. This process helps break down the leaf cell structure which releases the juices and oils from the leaves, encouraging a more uniform oxidation, and giving each tea its distinctive flavor.

Oxidation is the chemical process that can be observed by looking at a dried tea leaf’s color. The lighter or greener the leaf, the less oxidized it is. Black teas are often macerated during the oxidation process, allowing all parts of the tea leaves to be exposed to air and fully darkened.

Tea is finally dried evenly, without burning the leaves, in large ovens or drying machines to complete oxidation and finish the tea’s production. 

All teas from the Bumblebee Tea Collection  are from one source, and made by craftsmen expanding generations, cultivated with respect and love. We are honored to be partnered with them in bringing these exceptional teas home.