The summer of 2020 marked my fifteenth year living in China.
In the spirit of shedding a little light on how white2tea came into being, here are a few fun facts about the history of the brand and my love of Puer tea. I tend to avoid being front and center and let white2tea speak for itself, but I hope this glimpse into who I am and how this all began gives a clearer picture of the origin story.
This impassioned love affair with tea began on my first trip to Yunnan in 2005 and has blossomed into an all-consuming obsession that is the backbone of what white2tea is.
I never intended to get into the tea business. It came about as my passion for tea continually diverted other life plans and eventually took over my life. Constant trips to tea mountains and an apartment with tea boxes stacked to the ceiling transitioned from an unsustainable lifestyle into a business over the course of several years.
Before I started white2tea, I began my Puer tea obsession in 2005 in Yunnan. Every tea I could get my hands on, I would drink. I would visit tea mountains and markets, taking notes on teas from every source I could find. I drank tea like a man possessed for seven whole years before I even pressed my first cake in 2012.
Since white2tea began in 2012, I have personally spent every single spring and every autumn of every year in the tea mountains sourcing tea.
My background before tea was studying and making visual art. I design all of the wrappers and visuals for white2tea.
I speak fluent Mandarin Chinese and have deep relationships that span over a decade with tea farmers throughout China.
Last year, I personally spent ten months of the year in the tea mountains of Yunnan (and throughout China) seeking out material, visiting villages and making teas.
This year, I am on track to do the same. I am currently typing this from Menghai, in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province and will be here throughout the upcoming autumn tea season selecting material and fermenting new shou Puer batches into the winter.
My life path was all sparked from a love of tea.
Each life changing decision was guided by tea. The decision to move to Guangzhou years ago and set up my ideal natural tea storage. The decision to live in the mountains of Yunnan. The decision to remain in China for all of these years.
These last 15 years have flown right by, but I hope to be making tea for many years to come.
Thank you to all of you who have supported white2tea over the years. Without you, none of this would be possible.