Who We Are

East Leaves is your practical, no-nonsense guide to Chinese tea — born from a genuine love for tea culture and a frustration with how confusing it can be for newcomers.
We believe that great tea shouldn’t be reserved for experts. Whether you’re holding your first gaiwan or you’ve been brewing for years, East Leaves is here to help you brew better tea, every single day.

Our Story

East Leaves was founded in Hangzhou — the very heart of Chinese tea culture, home to the world-famous Longjing (Dragon Well) tea. Growing up surrounded by tea houses, tea mountains, and the quiet ritual of a daily cup, our founder developed a deep appreciation for Chinese tea at an early age.
But here’s the thing: even with tea everywhere, learning about tea was never easy. Information was scattered, overly academic, or locked behind language barriers. If you didn’t grow up with it, Chinese tea felt intimidating — full of strange names, confusing brewing methods, and unwritten rules.
That’s why East Leaves exists. We take the rich, thousands-year-old tradition of Chinese tea and break it down into clear, practical, beginner-friendly guides. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just honest advice that helps you make sense of it all.

What We Cover

East Leaves is organized into clear categories so you always know where to look:
Tea Types — From green to black, white to oolong, pu-erh to yellow tea. Learn what makes each category unique, how they’re made, and which ones might become your favorites.
Brewing Guides — Step-by-step instructions for brewing every type of tea, including water temperature, steep times, leaf-to-water ratios, and the gear you actually need.
Tea Knowledge — The history, culture, and science behind Chinese tea. Understand where tea comes from, how it’s processed, and why it tastes the way it does.
Teaware — Honest reviews and recommendations for gaiwans, teapots, cups, and accessories. We tell you what’s worth buying and what you can skip.
Buying Guides — Practical advice on sourcing quality tea, understanding pricing, avoiding common pitfalls, and building a tea collection you’ll love.
Blog — Our latest thoughts, experiments, and deep dives into the world of Chinese tea.

Our Values

Clarity over complexity. We don’t use fancy words to sound smart. We explain things the way we’d explain them to a friend over a cup of tea.
Honesty always. If a tea isn’t worth the price, we’ll say so. If a brewing method is overrated, we’ll tell you that too. No sponsored nonsense, no hidden agendas.
Respect for tradition. Chinese tea has thousands of years of history behind it, and we take that seriously. We share accurate, well-researched information while making it accessible to everyone.
Beginner-friendly, expert-approved. Whether you’ve never brewed a cup or you’ve been at it for decades, there’s something here for you. We meet you where you are.

Get in Touch

Have a question about tea? Want to suggest a topic we should cover? Just want to say hi? We’d love to hear from you.
Reach out at support@eastleaves.com.
Thanks for reading, and happy brewing.
— The East Leaves Team