The Hong Kong Tea Company was born as an effort to share a piece of history and culture to the world through tea. Tea is thought to have originated in China and become popularized in the 17th century through the British. Having no way to grow this delicate plant in their own country, the British were left at the mercy of the Chinese. The Chinese essentially had a monopoly on this plant. The Britis
h tea addiction grew stronger, creating a higher demand but not enough supply. Introducing O***m to the Chinese, the tables have turned in favor of the British. With the British addiction to tea and the Chinese addiction to o***m, it was inevitable for each sides attempt to gain the upper hand; ultimately resulting in the O***m Wars. British possession of Hong Kong Island was the price for peace laid out in The Treaty of Nanjing. Hong Kong has a special place in tea culture. Hong Kong is unique possessing both eastern and western qualities through its history. The evidence can be seen in one of Hong Kong’s most popular drinks; milk tea. Although milk is not traditionally added to Chinese tea, Hong Kong has strong influences from their history of colonial British rule. Adding milk to tea is a British tradition and is entrenched in Hong Kong culture daily. The unique taste of Hong Kong milk tea is a blend of strong Ceylon black tea with other teas. The combinations and strength of each blend may vary slightly depending on source, but the overall taste is indistinguishable. Many cafes in Hong Kong have been brewing their house blend for decades and highly guard their recipe. The secret to its popularity is the rich flavor the tea brings followed by the creamy texture from the milk. A properly brewed Hong Kong milk tea should have the perfect balance of distinct flavor profiling from the tea and evaporated milk. It should be strong but not bitter. Its' bitterness counteracted by the evaporated milk present. Neither the tea or the milk should be overpowering, leaving you with a sweet velvety texture lingering in your mouth. Dissatisfied with the Hong Kong style milk tea that was on the market, we set out to offer something authentic. A quick search leaves you with an option for instant mixes that dissolve or instructions on watered-down versions made from generic tea bags. Ditch the tea bags and the instant mixes. No one should settle for mediocrity. The goal of The Hong Kong Tea Company is to bring this authentic experience to the world. Our blend is a culmination of experienced palates from master blenders delivering a silky smooth and full-bodied aroma, straight from Hong Kong. And for our premium loose-leaf teas? No infusions, additives, energy boosters, floral mixes, or other gimmicks here. With our same principles in mind, we try to keep it as authentic and traditional as possible: to deliver the highest quality leaves straight from its origin. This means every year we take a trip to the source and talk with growers discussing everything from harvest time to weather for the past season. This in turn allows us to acquire the finest available leaves. And we hope it shows with your first brew.
