submitted by Nick Light
I first met Zehua Shang in the summer of 2009, as I was getting ready for my last year in college. He was hosting an afternoon tea tasting event at the local Whole Foods and being an avid tea lover, I thought I would give it a try.
Over the course of 2 hours, Shang brewed 5 different traditional Chinese teas for our group to try: Bai Mudan, Jasmine, Honeysuckle White Tea, High Mountain Green Tea, and a traditional Hong Cha or Red Tea. He also spent time talking about Chinese tea culture, explaining the differences between different types of tea, and answering all of our questions. But what impressed me the most about Shang was his sourcing. He was not content to just purchase tea from other farmers, but instead he owned his own tea farm in Fujian, China where he lived three months out of the year. This ensured that he produced and supplied only the highest quality, organic, and traditional Chinese teas possible. His teas are of such a caliber that they have been awarded the Golden Grand prize in Fujian.
Situated high in the Taimu Mountain range in Fujian, Shang’s farm produces some of the world’s finest tea, specializing in white tea. Every year, he spends April, July, and September tending to the harvest and ensuring that the quality of the product is consistent with his high standards. Once the production is complete, the tea is shipped directly to his shop in Kansas City, MO. There are no middlemen and no compromises made in delivering the best product to his customers.
Originally, he came to the United States to help educate a Kansas City college professor about Chinese culture. He came to Kansas City and never left. Shang’s passion lies in his Kansas City store. When he is not busy delivering wholesale orders, taking care of bills, or packing tea for sale, you can find him engaged with his customers. He loves to take time to share his tea with anyone and everyone who walks through the front door of his store. And if they don’t like a tea that he has brewed, he will grab another one for them to try. He is committed, more than most, to spreading his love of tea to the community.
For a product that is (almost) exclusively produced outside the US, Shang’s customers love the opportunity to taste teas with the man who produced them, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Chinese tea culture and tea itself. The amazing atmosphere and great customer service convinced me that I needed to get more involved with the company and continue to learn from Shang. He is a great teacher who is always happy to share his passion and excitement about tea. And I thrive on his dedication to producing the best, traditional Chinese teas without compromises. I hope he continues to grow tea for many years to come.
Learn more about Shang Tea.