About a month ago, I inquired about a tea at a shop on aliexpress.com. The shop, at the time, was primarily a LED lighting store, but had a random tea section that carried a Rizhao tea I enjoy. When I mentioned how much I like Rizhao tea to the shop owner, Martin, he started telling me about his father-in-law’s tea plantation and was eager for me to try it. We chatted via the chat interface on aliexpress about our mutual love of tea and our tea friendship began. Since that time, he switched his store from being primarily lighting, to being a tea shop with a random lighting section. He continually asked for feedback and took to heart my recommendations. He is a very knowledgeable tea seller and eager to share his knowledge and love of tea with anyone who wants to know.
Anyway… This is the green tea from his father in law’s plantation. And the best green tea I’ve ever had. It’s so fresh. The taste is very similar in it’s bean flavor to Laoshan Green. In fact, when they’re hot they are very similar. But as they cool the Rizhao is less buttery and spinachy, and instead finishes with a cinnamon sugar caramel flavor, it’s super interesting. I made some Laoshan Green immediately after to test the differences and while I still love the savoriness of LG, I really love the sweet finish of the Rhizao.
I plan on ordering more soon and would be happy to send a few samples around. I’d really like to help him out. It can be overwhelming to sift through all the crap on aliexpress, if you want a place to start, check it out!
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Did you send any our way? If not let me know whe you go to place your next order…
That is so cool! This shop is definitely on my list for when I start making purchases again.
I love it when you are looking in a store either online, or in person, and it is a store nothing to do with tea, but they have a surprise stock of tea to sell. This is usually where I find the best and most unique teas.
Sil- I haven’t sent the box on yet, most likely will hit the mail tomorrow. And yep, I’m throwing in some of this for you guys to try. I can send you a little extra for you if you want to share some around with the canadian folk.
Dinosara- He doesn’t sell much Rizhao Black tea yet. My favorite source for that so far is: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/225551 She is also in Rizhao city. She has about 8-10 rizhao black teas on her site and she can tell you which season each is picked and if it was 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. That’s how the pricing is set up. It’s kind of hard to decipher so just ask her.
Lala- Yeah, the shop I told Dinosara about is a t-shirt shop. Funny.
Thanks for the tip! It’s always astounding to me the amazing tea you find in odd places!
TB – that would be up to the crew here. If it gets to me before you place your next order i might get you to add some extras. You know me..love to try new teas heh
The link in your review leads to a 404. Would you be able to link to the shop directly? I tried searching for “Sun C-Tea Shop” but it only comes up with Body Shop stuff. :)
Weird, I just clicked the link earlier and looked at it! The shop’s page must be down.
I asked him to add some yixing ware to his shop, so he is totally updating everything. He is incredibly responsive and thorough. I’ll post when it comes back. It’s now 1am there so won’t be until tonight.
cough tea animals…
Hi everyone, it looks like he has his teas back up. You can find the shop at http://www.aliexpress.com/store/731315
That’s the specific tea from his father in laws plantation
thanks TB and yyz
Did you send any our way? If not let me know whe you go to place your next order…
That is so cool! This shop is definitely on my list for when I start making purchases again.
I love it when you are looking in a store either online, or in person, and it is a store nothing to do with tea, but they have a surprise stock of tea to sell. This is usually where I find the best and most unique teas.
Sil- I haven’t sent the box on yet, most likely will hit the mail tomorrow. And yep, I’m throwing in some of this for you guys to try. I can send you a little extra for you if you want to share some around with the canadian folk.
Dinosara- He doesn’t sell much Rizhao Black tea yet. My favorite source for that so far is: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/225551 She is also in Rizhao city. She has about 8-10 rizhao black teas on her site and she can tell you which season each is picked and if it was 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. That’s how the pricing is set up. It’s kind of hard to decipher so just ask her.
Lala- Yeah, the shop I told Dinosara about is a t-shirt shop. Funny.
Thanks for the tip! It’s always astounding to me the amazing tea you find in odd places!
TB – that would be up to the crew here. If it gets to me before you place your next order i might get you to add some extras. You know me..love to try new teas heh
The link in your review leads to a 404. Would you be able to link to the shop directly? I tried searching for “Sun C-Tea Shop” but it only comes up with Body Shop stuff. :)
Weird, I just clicked the link earlier and looked at it! The shop’s page must be down.
I asked him to add some yixing ware to his shop, so he is totally updating everything. He is incredibly responsive and thorough. I’ll post when it comes back. It’s now 1am there so won’t be until tonight.
cough tea animals…
Hi everyone, it looks like he has his teas back up. You can find the shop at http://www.aliexpress.com/store/731315
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/subject/1387523570.html
That’s the specific tea from his father in laws plantation
thanks TB and yyz