In Pursuit of Tea

Overview

In Pursuit of Tea sources and sells high-quality loose leaf teas from small farms in Asia, including green, black, oolong, white, Darjeeling, and pu-erh varieties, along with teaware and accessories. The company supplies both home consumers and restaurants, bars, and cafes, with a focus on unblended, unflavored teas to elevate tea quality in the US market.¹²³

History

Sebastian Beckwith and friends founded In Pursuit of Tea in 1999 to explore small tea farms in traditional Asian regions and source the finest teas. Beckwith, who first encountered tea as a trekking guide in Bhutan and northern India in the late 1980s, has continued annual trips to select seasonal harvests. The company supplies teas to notable US restaurants such as Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, and Gramercy Tavern, maintaining operations for over 20 years.²³

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Teas are sourced directly from small farms in Asia, primarily China, India, Taiwan, Japan, and traditional regions, where most are hand-picked and processed following centuries-old methods. The company does not manufacture but selects and imports the teas.²³

Notable Products

• Jun Chiyabari Darjeeling - First flush Darjeeling from innovative Nepalese estate using modern processing.
• Seasonal Oolongs - Rich, complex oolongs tasted and selected annually from Taiwan and China.
• Pu-erh Cakes - Aged fermented teas from remote Chinese regions.
• Japanese Sencha - High-quality green tea explored by company partners.
• White Teas - Delicate, minimally processed whites from Asian farms.

Reputation

In Pursuit of Tea holds a 4.9 out of 5 star rating from 996 customer reviews, praised by enthusiasts for sourcing unique, high-quality loose leaf teas directly from origin farms. Professionals in fine dining, including top New York restaurants, use their products, indicating trust in selection quality. No significant criticisms noted in available sources.⁶³