Juno and Yiping

Meet Juno and Yiping, our partners from Taiwan, a small and stunning island in Eastern Asia. Their tea journey started with their family’s business of tea production for many generations. Ever since their childhood, they have been immersed in the environment of tea culture. Drinking tea is part of their daily life in Taiwan and wonderful social activity, that has infused their memories for as long as they can remember. Specifically, the Oolong tea, which is present in daily life. In every morning, after meals, and during work, a cup of tea is necessary to wake up, feel refreshed, and relax - basically for any occasion. Juno’s family has been farming tea for many generations. When he was a little boy, he would wake up in dawn and burn wood and start the fire on the stove to boil the water for brewing their morning tea. As he grew up, Juno and his cousin worked together in the tea fields alongside his grandpa and uncles. Tea has always been a necessity in the life of the farm. After a heavy day of work, tea was always there to get rid of the fatigue, and all the family members would enjoy gathering before dinner with a lovely pot of tea. Juno recalls as they would take chairs to the front yard and, prepare a pot of Oolong tea with friends. The summer breeze, chatting or playing chess, and enjoying tea. Those were the happiest times. Just thinking partners it takes me back to the simple pleasures of the humble, joyful rural life.

About 40 years ago, Juno’s uncle got a chance to learn traditional tea-making techniques from a tea master in Lugu, Nantou, one of the most important tea production areas in central Taiwan. After that, he started cooperating with tea farmers in search of methods that make tea with the best aroma. “My father was always his first guest to taste and give feedback, and I’m the second.” Juno recalls. Later his uncle started to run a tea house, selling high Mountain Oolong tea with a mysterious, fantastic aroma. Juno’s father also started to collect teapots, but up until recent years, Juno never thought partners growing the tea business.

Due to his job, Juno travels a lot. He firmly believes that Oolong tea makes the best souvenir brought to customers and friends, no matter where in the world you travel. One day, not long ago Juno realized that his uncle is getting too old to continue, and was high time to take on the tea business and continue the tradition. This was the time when Juno and his wife, Yiping began learning to run the family tea business in great detail. The tea trees in Taiwan benefit from special geographical advantages, therefore the tea delivers a unique aroma. The flavor changes depending on the region, and the production methods, and we also think, that each tea master gives the tea a different soul. Whilst is it popular to drink oolong tea in central and southern Taiwan, it was not until we went to work to the northern part of the island, that we discovers one of our most favorites teas: the Oriental Beauty, and the famous black tea of Sun Moon Lake - The Ruby Black.

We often wondered, if our tea has such a unique taste and fruitful aroma… why don’t we open a business and explore opportunities worldwide? - explains Juno. Earlier this year, a special opportunity came to us, as we meet Juno and Yiping. This connection offered a wonderful change for them and also for us to introduce Taiwanese tea to Europe. In the operation of tea shops, Juno and Yiping are constantly developing new interpersonal connections, expanding their network with more tea farmers who devote themselves to managing their tea farms and developing tea-manufacturing techniques.