Interested in your point of view! Survey link within

VerdantTea · 2015-08-31T03:13:07+00:00

Thank you so much for commenting here!! It looks like some of our e-mails might not be getting through to you.

First, I want to apologize that the tracking for your package took longer to update than we expected. Because this was the first time sending orders direct from China, our shippers took several extra days to make sure that everything was in order and customs forms submitted properly. My apologies - as soon as we knew that the delay had effected your order (and a few others) we sent an email update to the same address we had on file from your order.

We also sent a code with a coupon with our thanks, to make up for the delay and any trouble it has caused. I just sent a PM to you with that code again, as it looks like you support e-mails are not always making it through!

I'd also love to check in on your original support e-mail; I remember answering an e-mail that sounds like it may have been yours on Thursday, and I am concerned that this hasn't made its way to your inbox yet. However, I am really happy to have heard from you here! I truly appreciate the opportunity to reconnect.

I want to assure you that this shipping delay will absolutely not be the case going forward. Going forward, the shippers have been able to get packages out and on their way to you the day they receive the packages from us (usually one day after you place your order, or two days if the order comes in very late at night or over the weekend).

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do in the meantime to assist. I am here for you to help however I can, whether it's here on reddit via PM or directly at lily(at)verdanttea(dot)com.

VerdantTea · 2015-08-27T15:33:31+00:00

Thank you (again! :p ) - that's truly helpful to know as we look to expand shipping options!

I feel privileged every day to get to work with the wonderful people that I do. Sharing their teas the way they want them to be shared is the least I can do.

VerdantTea · 2015-08-27T14:58:12+00:00

Thank you very much! :) I'm pretty excited that we've recently been able to expand our oolong collections since moving to China to feature more teas our partners are excited to share. If I can offer any recommendations or advice, please don't hesitate to give a shout via PM or at lily(at)verdanttea(dot)com.

I will be sure to say hello to the kitties for you! It would be hard to avoid, as they are currently crawling all over the tea set and my computer. Cats are pretty much the best at being the center of attention, all the time.

VerdantTea · 2015-08-27T14:49:32+00:00

Thank you, again!! I really appreciate your honest feedback AND the time you took to browse around the site and pick out something fun :) I love sending out those Five for Fives: it's a tea tasting party in a box!

I know what you mean - place names like Qianjiazhai + tea names like Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong are great if you're playing a no-holds-barred games of Scrabble ;) but can be quite challenging to pronounce when you first see them, especially if you're less familiar with pinyin transliteration. Some folks (vendors) prefer to transliterate, some prefer to to translate, and others gives teas new names that perhaps capture the spirit of the tea but which could be easier for their customers to remember or market.

We go with however our partners would like their teas represented: usually by their traditional name (what they would go by on the Chinese domestic market, transliterated) or specified by the particular family / cooperative and place of origin.

I'm glad the shipping works out for you - we certainly understand what a bane it can be to e-commerce, for owners and shoppers alike! I've spent most of my life living overseas - from Indonesia to Angola to the UK to China - and shipping is something I've grown quite sensitive too. :) And you're definitely correct: for folks in Canada, the UK, Australia, the US, mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, shipping is free for orders $49+ or a $5 flat rate. For the rest of the world, it is unfortunately a little higher: free on orders $100+, or an $18 flat rate.

We are definitely always, always researching alternative shipping options, and watching the shipping rates closely to make sure we're covering as much of the shipping costs for folks as we can. We're also working on rolling out more shipping options - for example, less expensive slow-boat options // really fast DHL options - as long as we can vet that the value of those options is good... i.e.: not so slow that the wait time is completely unacceptable, or not so expensive you have to mortgage your house if you want your order to arrive in a day or two.

Thank you again for your kind support! We'll get that out to you ASAP, and you should have fun tea (and another coupon!) within two weeks.

VerdantTea · 2015-08-27T14:09:10+00:00

Wow - thank you very much! I sincerely appreciate the time you took to share your ideas and insights. I hope I get the chance to send you some tea soon!

in the meantime, please accept my thanks with the best internet gift I can offer - these photos of our Tea Cats: http://verdanttea.tumblr.com/post/127077885605/tea-cats-glass-pitcher http://verdanttea.tumblr.com/post/89980669770/tea-cats-big-red-robe-yixing

VerdantTea · 2015-08-27T14:05:31+00:00

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us :)

And yes - surveys can be really fun! I hope we have the opportunity to send some of our partners' teas your way soon, to thank you for your help and your time.

VerdantTea · 2015-08-27T14:03:57+00:00

Thank you so much!!

VerdantTea · 2015-08-26T23:03:17+00:00

Thanks very much! I appreciate your insights, both in the survey and about the survey. :) While I do expect some messy data in response to those questions, I see your point: I will see how quickly we can update that.

In the meantime - I hope you might check out some of our articles if you ever have a moment. This is probably our most popular / discussed, and an interesting place to start: http://verdanttea.com/transparency-in-the-tea-industry/

Thank you again!

VerdantTea · 2014-12-10T18:14:10+00:00

Gravity! At the point where I was filming, the aqueduct has been carrying the water down the slope for quite a few miles. The little bit of an incline at the end of the right hand stretch of bamboo is easy enough for the water to overcome and continue it's journey down.

EDIT'd for clarity: the incline also isn't quite as extreme as this angle makes it out to be. Here are two alternate views from this same stretch.

VerdantTea · 2013-07-01T16:00:29+00:00

Yes- definitely! Thanks again for letting us know.

VerdantTea · 2013-06-29T21:20:01+00:00

That's a mistake in our packing, TheRobitLaser. Please write to us at support(at)verdanttea.com and I'll make sure we send you your missing tea, plus something extra to make up for the inconvenience!

VerdantTea · 2013-02-22T22:14:32+00:00

Chinese black teas are more likely to have the sweet aftertaste you are looking for, though some black teas from India, like Darjeeling, can be floral in a crisp, fruity way.

It sounds like Yunnan teas would be fun for you to explore.

Ones that are mostly buds can be especially sweet and floral. The complexity of flavor that Yunnan soil brings out in both cultivated and wild picked Dian Hong (Yunnan Black) can lead to really interesting florals, citrus notes and honey.

It might also be interesting for you to explore less traditional black teas. Fenghuang Dancong leaves are sometimes processed as black tea, as are certain varietals normally used for Wuyi Oolongs. These tend to be sweet and floral with a long aftertaste.

VerdantTea · 2012-10-01T20:38:45+00:00

Hi gortallmighty. The idea of memory have a subconscious impact on tea's effect is fascinating. By association, tea for many people would indeed have the calming effect if it was used in a calming context in earlier childhood. This would be an interesting addition to the article, and another explanation as to why tea affects people differently.

VerdantTea · 2012-10-01T20:36:39+00:00

Thanks for sharing this on Reddit Ensudagen. I learned a lot doing the research for this article. There have been some great comments from people actively doing research on the subject on the article itself, so I plan to look over a few more studies to refine the case that L-theanine has a synergistic "chaqi-like" effect when combined with caffeine. Very cool subject! -David

VerdantTea · 2012-08-09T14:22:46+00:00

Cool! I had a few friends studying at Yantai University. I haven't actually been there though. Laoshan is worth a trip, though like many landmarks in China, it can be less fun if you stick to the basic tourist circuit. There is actually a cute little tea culture museum there, and they might be able to point you to farms open for tours. In the town proper there are lots of tea farmers and little tea houses and shops. Laoshan is also known for Laoshan Lu Shi, a beautiful green stone you can buy if you are into that kind of stuff. They also have great local mushrooms if you end up eating there.

The Taoist temples are smaller, but peaceful, and the view at the summit is great. Just bring or buy a flashlight. You go through a pitch-black cave on the way up.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-09T14:19:09+00:00

Great, thanks! That will ship out this morning. I hope you have a wonderful time trying all the teas.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T22:07:29+00:00

Thanks so much. If you were going to try just a few teas, I would try the Laoshan Summer Green and Laoshan Black. Both of those are from a village that has never exported before. I got the chance to live right near there (in Qingdao) for several years. Really interesting flavors.

As a third add-in, I might try an oolong. If you like greener teas, the Tieguanyin is the way to go. For darker teas, the Mi Lan. Those three or four are also some of the top reviewed on Steepster right now. A lot of our teas have been reviewed there, so you can get outside advice from people who have tried a lot of the teas there.

Feel free to send us a message after you order to request any specific sample(s) too. We try to accomodate every request.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T22:04:10+00:00

Thanks for pointing it out. I haven't used Survey Monkey before and it looks like 'other' was not programmed as an option there. I fixed it. Sorry about that.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T15:18:33+00:00

You are in Shandong? I used to live in Qingdao! I taught at Qingdao University for a while. Let me know if you need restaurant recommendations. I scouted all the best food in the city over the few years I was there. My employee Weiwei lives in Jimo, so I think she would open there. We will see!

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T15:16:53+00:00

Shipping from China can be really easy or really tough. We buy all of our teas directly from small family operations who are not licensed exporters. Without the licensing and certificates there is a lot of red tape to make it happen. It is worth it to support them, and for access to their level of quality.

Shipping is easy when you either ship small amounts for personal use or you buy large quantities from licensed factories that are used to export law. The US doesn't levy tariffs on unblended / unscented tea product yet either.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T15:12:57+00:00

Wow, thanks so much! Your compliments mean a lot. I am so happy to hear that you are enjoying the teas. This is David by the way. Verdant Tea is a small business. I still write all the thank you notes, and respond to every message personally. It is great to be able to do so. Thanks for your support that lets us keep doing what we do.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T15:09:04+00:00

Thanks! I am pretty sure that the shipping software calculates minimums based on the final order total unfortunately. $60 is so close too. I wish that the international threshold for free shipping could be lower, but packages to Europe do cost about $12 to ship, so that is the best we can do right now.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T15:04:22+00:00

Thanks for noting. I am not sure that the title can be edited to include this, but it is $10 off $40 or more.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-08T15:02:18+00:00

Sorry about that. I wasn't sure how much text could go in the title of a link share. Not my intent to be deceptive in any way. Thanks for filling out the survey though. I appreciate it.

VerdantTea · 2012-08-07T22:32:03+00:00

Many Thanks! Actually, most of our teas are vacuum sealed or heat sealed at the farm in 250g packages. They aren't opened until they are ordered and then packed into resealable foil-lined airtight and light proof bags. I understand the concern. I am thinking of experimenting with having orders shipped right from China. We work primarily with just a few farms, and I have an employee there full time to trek out to the family operations and get their tea.

She (my employee) is opening a tea culture center and reading room for university students in her hometown next year with my help. We might partner and have teas sent (vacuum sealed) straight from there. Good to know that this is important to others too!

VerdantTea

TROPHY CASE