Sebastian Beckwith, Japan 2005

SUPERLATIVE TEA The teas presented here are some of my favorites. While sourcing teas for In Pursuit of Tea, I sometimes come across fine teas available only in small quantities. Small production teas from generations of tradition mean that the people making the tea know what they are doing. I wanted to have a place to offer them that would be dedicated to the small community of true tea enthusiasts. The list will constantly change depending on the season and availability. I don’t intend to have an extensive list, only the teas that catch my eye from time to time. Because of limited quantities (and because they are sometimes even hand-carried into the country), the teas will typically be available only in two-ounce packages. For more general information on the different types of teas and production methods, see In Pursuit of Tea. SEBASTIAN BECKWITH Sebastian is a ranking American tea authority based in New York City. He teaches educational seminars at New York City's China Institute and the Institute of Culinary Education. He also leads presentations with internationally known, holistic health expert Dr. Andrew Weil at New York City's Columbia University. Sebastian's latest project is a new teahouse restaurant in New York owned by Bon Yagi, the successful Japanese restaurateur. Sebastian is a co-owner and co-founder of In Pursuit of Tea. In Pursuit of Tea is a top artisanal tea-importing and distribution company in the U.S., supplying some 60 teas from remote regions of Asia -- primarily in China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, India, and Japan -- directly to consumers and restaurants. The company sells unblended, single-estate teas of specific origin from small farms and estates. The company’s client list includes top-rated restaurants in the U.S. and gourmet food supermarkets like Whole Foods Market. In Pursuit of Tea also exclusively supplies True Tea, a retail shop in the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

ABOUT OUR LOGO, THE SUPERLATIVE TEA HOUSE My father, Jacques Beckwith, drew this simple line drawing of a teahouse; it is a sketch from one of several teahouses that he built. The Japanese teahouse has its origin as a space reserved for tea in the main dwelling. The room was very small and only used to share tea and conversation among friends. This led to the construction of teahouses in exquisite gardens and natural settings. The Chinese also have a rich tradition of teahouses, often a popular social spot to trade stories and enjoy tea and light snacks.