It all began in the misty hills of China...

A Treasure from the Mountains

Tea — real tea — comes from a single plant: Camellia sinensis.
It first grew wild in the mountains of southwest China, where people discovered that brewing its leaves created something both comforting and quietly powerful.

Over time, tea became more than a drink. It became a ritual. A culture. A symbol of elegance and refinement.
By the Tang and Song Dynasties, tea wasn’t just Chinese — it was China.

Every leaf was crafted by hand. Every cup told a story.

Photo: Teahills in Ankang, Shaanxi, taken during our visit in 2019.

The World Takes Notice

As China flourished in art, philosophy, and trade, the world began to take notice — and sip.
By the 17th century, tea had made its way to Europe, where it quickly became the drink of choice among nobles and royalty.

But there was a challenge: China held the secret.
They cultivated the plants, mastered the processing, and carefully guarded their techniques.

The rest of the world could only import — until one quiet chapter changed everything.

A Mission Cloaked in Curiosity

In the 1800s, a British botanist named Robert Fortune set sail to China on a mission.
He wasn’t just exploring — he was sent to learn. To observe. And eventually, to take what he saw back home.

Disguised in local dress, Fortune journeyed deep into tea-growing regions, where he studied the plants and techniques in detail.
He brought home not only seeds and saplings, but also a deep respect for the artistry of Chinese tea.

With his findings, tea began to grow in India — and later, in gardens across the world.

A Gift That Grew Beyond Borders

This moment marked the beginning of tea as a global phenomenon.
Today, you can find it in every corner of the world — in English breakfast blends, Moroccan mint rituals, Japanese tea ceremonies, and Singaporean kopi tiams.

But the roots? They remain the same.
Every tea leaf — no matter where it’s grown — traces its ancestry back to China.

Why This Matters at Teahills

At Teahills, we celebrate this legacy not with prideful exclusivity, but with quiet reverence.
We source directly from the tea hills of China, working with masters who carry generations of knowledge in their hands.
Each tea in our collection is a return to the origin — pure, carefully chosen, never rushed.

Because when something this beautiful travels the world, it’s worth remembering where the journey began.

Ready to reconnect with the original story of tea?
Explore our curated collection of true Chinese teas here.