All products undergo meticulous selection and are personally tasted and tested by Joey before they are made available on the shelves, ensuring customers receive the finest experience possible.
When I was young, I spent several years living with my grandfather at the foot of Huping Mountain in Hunan. Huping Mountain, with its towering peaks and lush landscapes, is often wrapped in a veil of mist and clouds. Beneath this natural covering lies a rich cultural heritage, with traditions that reach back through generations. My earliest memories of tea culture are intertwined not with tea leaves themselves, but with the intricate beauty of tea cups, or "茶盏," which hold a revered place in our family’s history.
In my family, the art of crafting tea cups spans four generations, a legacy born from the historic Tongguan Kiln in Hunan, known since the Tang Dynasty for its distinctive ceramics. The kiln's early works were highly regarded for their vivid, colorful glazes and durability, elements that we still incorporate today. As a child, I watched my grandfather meticulously select materials, form clay, and apply glazes, all by hand, before placing each piece in the kiln. Each tea cup was more than a vessel; it embodied the artistry and precision of traditional craftsmanship, an essential part of Hunan's ceramic heritage.
During those early years, when machinery was rare, our family devoted itself to perfecting each stage of the process—shaping, firing, glazing, and even carving subtle patterns onto the cups. Each spring, our family would bring the finished tea cups to the local market, where merchants and locals alike admired the handiwork, and this was a major event for our entire community. The market's "First Basket Tea" celebration drew crowds who came not only for tea but also to admire and purchase the new season’s tea cups. This annual gathering was a cherished tradition, a time when the value of tea culture and ceramic artistry was on full display.
Although I eventually left Huping Mountain to pursue academic and professional endeavors, my connection to tea culture and tea cups grew even stronger with time. I came to realize the profound beauty and elegance of these vessels, which trace their origins to the Tang and Song Dynasties and symbolize artistry and tradition. The Tongguan tea cups, with their striking glazes and refined shapes, held a special allure for me, capturing the spirit of Hunan’s ceramic craftsmanship.
As I traveled to other renowned tea regions across China—from Dongting Mountain in Suzhou to Longwu in Hangzhou and Wuliang Mountain in Yunnan—I visited the famous centers of ceramic craftsmanship. From Yixing in Jiangsu to Jingdezhen in Jiangxi, and from the Ding Kiln in Hebei to the Ru Kiln in Henan, I was captivated by the unique artistry of each region’s tea cups. Every tea cup I encountered deepened my appreciation for tea culture, and my family’s legacy took on new meaning with each place I visited.
Throughout my journey, I built connections with respected artisans and tea companies, creating opportunities for future collaborations. Now, my mission is to share the legacy of Hunan’s ceramic artistry and the story of Tongguan Kiln tea cups with a global audience. Each cup, crafted with precision and dedication, enriches the authentic Chinese tea experience, allowing people worldwide to savor both the tea and the beauty of the vessels, honoring this timeless tradition with every sip.