Chinese Tea Imports, Ltd. is a small cross-cultural family owned business that began in Denver, Colorado in 1998. The company was inspired by Dr. Harvey’s "love of Cha”, and Hong Jis’s ability to “get things done”. Brenton has been based in Shanghai since 2004, maintaining relationships with tea growers/wholesalers, and manages purchasing. Hong Ji lives in Peoria,IL, managing USA tea distribution, teaching Tai Chi martial arts and Cha Dao-The Way of Tea.
Tea, “Camellia Sinensis”, referred to as "Cha" in China, originated in China over 4000 years ago. World wide, "Camellia Sinensis" is now available in over 350 varieties, with over 300 being grown in China. Brenton and Hong have continually traveled Chinese tea growing areas since 2002 learning: tea cultivation, harvesting, processing, preparation, and especially the unique functions of different varieties of tea used as a health maintenance beverage from a Traditional Chinese Medical perspective.
Chinese Tea Imports, Ltd. specializes in superb quality tea. We were deemed "Best Chinese Tea In Show" by the Chinese Delegation from China who attended the inaugural "Take Me 2 Tea" National Tea Conference held in Las Vegas, USA in 2002.
Superb and higher grade "Spring Flush"(first tea picking of the year) batches are available on a limited basis. Our teas include; Green and Black teas from Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces; Oolongs from Anxi and Wuyi Mountains in Fugian Province; aged Pu-Erh teas from Yunnan in the far West. Other exotic varieties of any grade (not listed on website) are available upon request.
All teas are personally selected and purchased from growers/estates/wholesalers that have proven to be reliable in both availability and consistency, packed vacuum-sealed, and shipped via sea/air/ground directly to your door.
- MISSION STATEMENT - Consistently provide genuine superb grade Chinese tea, and correct tea information, to the Western tea connoisseur at affordable prices.
- QUALITY CONTROL of the freshest and highest grade teas available is guaranteed by controlling tea tasting and purchasing in China.
- WHOLESALE ORDERS are available upon request. Contact us for a quote on volume discount.
About the Authors
In the 1970s, as a teenager, Brenton was drawn to tea, and herb teas, rather than coffee due mostly for reasons of taste preference and the rather harsh effects of coffee on his digestive system. Black teas were the norm, and occasionally, Japanese green tea was a real treat.
In the late 1980s, he began an apprenticeship with a Chinese herbalist who introduced him to Taiwanese Green Oolong “Cha” (tea). The herbal lessons were always discussed over tea drunk “Kung-Fu” style. (This method uses 6-9 grams of dry tea leaves infused in an 8 fluid ounce clay teapot, yielding a very subtle tasting yet strong brew drank in small tea cups). Dr.Dong Lai Cahn explained the tea would “give us energy, calm the nervous system, remove blood fat, keep the kidneys and heart clean, regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and the digestive system”.
In the mid ‘90s, Brenton embarked on a formal Chinese Medicine education at the Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Austin, Texas. During this time he met, fell in love with and married Hong Ji from China. Hong had come to America with a TCM medical entourage, with 18 years’ experience in medical Qi-Gong and Tai Ji Chuan. She soon became the director of Tai Ji/Qi Gong Department of a leading TCM university.
In 1998, after completing Master Science Degree in T.C.M., Brenton and Hong traveled to China for the first visit to meet her family. From that trip on, it has been a continual immersion into people, places, culture, customs, foods, acupuncture, herbs, teas, sights, sounds and smells that make up such a great country.
Together they have traveled to over 70% of the Chinese tea growing region, and discovered numerous folkloric TCM herbal remedies involving Camellia Sinensis used as a single herb or part of an herbal formula. They author numerous articles, lecture, enjoy, buy and sell fine teas, with a shared wish of promoting mutual cultural understanding and cooperation between China and the USA.
