Wai Wai Mini Brick Black Tea

We're thrilled to offer a substantial selection of teas from Myanmar (formerly Burma). After recently meeting several Myanmar tea growers, we eagerly seized the opportunity to bring their teas to you. Some are already listed, with others due to arrive soon.

Wai Wai is one of the people we met and we basically just fell in love with her (and her teas!).  Her teas are very pure tasting and sweet with a very clean, friendly energy to them.  These mini bricks are no exception.  Each little brick is 6 grams of sun-dried old tea tree material pressed into a single serving package.

Our tasting notes include dark wood, dark sugars, and ripe fruits, with hints of tobacco and a long, round finish. They're mellow and easy-drinking, and we find ourselves reaching for them repeatedly due to their sweet, round character.

Wai Wai taught us about the unique challenges facing tea producers in Myanmar, particularly in her home, the Shan State. This region houses some of the world's oldest and most valuable tea trees, with a tea culture dating back to at least the 9th century. However, long-standing internal conflicts have made running a tea business exceptionally challenging.

Myanmar is one of the world's most landmine-infested countries, rendering some areas too dangerous to harvest.  The Shan State's infrastructure needs significant attention and improvement, affecting tea production and transport.  The ongoing armed conflict since the 2021 military coup (which overthrew the democratically elected government) adds to these challenges in a very scary and dangerous way.

2024 spring harvest, from Tanyan Township, Shan State, Myanmar.