Malaysian Tea Mail (Pre-Order)

*Limited offering, available globally*

12 pieces only. Available to US customers too.

Included in this Tea Mail: 

• 25-years Malaysian stored Liu Bao tea
• Tong Mu Red tea (aka unsmoked lapsang souchong)
• Malaysian Batik hand-painted wooden coaster
• Postcard letter from Mona
• Hand-drawn calligraphy label
  

Size

One pack of Liu Bao tea (15g) & two sample packs of Tongmu Red tea (5g each).

This gives 25g tea total, or approximately 5 gongfu sessions.

Ships

Early-Mid June via Thai Post from Bangkok.

*Please note the coaster design may vary from the photo.

Tea Story

While I was in Penang, Malaysia, I stayed in a 160 year old Chinese heritage home in Georgetown - a beautiful UNESCO town, rich in landscape, architecture and culture. I met some lovely tea vendors, and learned more about aged dark teas (Liu bao & Liu an), which are predominantly stored and drank there, ate the most amazing food, and brought home some local pottery and crafts. 

Having Malay, Chinese (Teochew), Indian (Tamil), and British colonial heritage, Georgetown is truly diverse. From its food, languages, architecture, cultures, religions, it is a wonderful mix of influences. It's also a beautiful island boasting a biodiverse reserve that is home to several endangered species. 

I got to taste an incredibly velvety, smooth, rounded and earthy (with a great body feel) 25-year Malaysian stored Liu Bao tea from the kind and hospitable Ms. Ma. She brought back the Liu Bao from China herself 25 years ago when she first opened her tea shop in Penang, and has been storing it there ever since, with only a tiny bit left. It's beloved by her customers, (now including me!), in addition to several of her other Malaysian stored teas (pu'er cakes, tuochas etc). It is said that the humidity of Malaysia adds character to the aging process.

Secondly, I stumbled upon a pottery shop near the jetty (pier), which happens to be owned by a Malaysian-Chinese tea master and his wife. The tea master owned a tea shop in Penang for 30 years, but had to close during Covid. He then became a self-taught potter, making Gaiwans, gongdaobeis, tea cups and more - the store is a heaven for gongfu tea enthusiasts. Now they've re-opened a space dedicated to both his pottery and teas. His wife, Ms. Ru, invited me to taste tea at her table. She brewed a beautiful Tongmu red tea they sourced directly from Tongmu village, Wuyishan, China. Fruity-floral with mineral qualities and a malty backdrop, I loved it immediately, and think you will too.

I couldn't wait to share the teas with you, along with locally made batik handicrafts - I hope you'll enjoy this tea mail!

Liu Bao Specs

NOTES  Velvety, earthy, rounded, smooth, great body feel

STORAGE 25 years in Penang, Malaysia

ORIGIN  Wuzhou, Guangxi, China

Brew Instructions

Gongfu Brew (Gaiwan or clay teapot): 5g | 150ml | 98°C | 10 sec | Rinse 1st brew | +5 sec for additional brews | Can steep ~ 8-10 times

Tong Mu Red Specs

NOTES  Red Berries, Honeysuckle, Mineral, Malty

ORIGIN  Tong Mu Guan Village, Wuyishan, Fujian, China

Brew Instructions

Gongfu Brew (Gaiwan): 5g | 150ml | 95°C | 30 sec | +10 sec for additional brews | Can steep ~ 5-6 times