FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• FREE 2-day shipping on orders over $100.
• Flat-rate shipping: $4 on orders under $100, $8 on orders under $80.
• Free shipping applies to the Continental U.S. only.
• Shipping rates for Alaska and Hawaii vary.

For any shipping-related questions, feel free to call us at 877-458-8629 or 415-458-8624, or email us at customerservice@silkroadteas.com.

• Orders placed Monday – Thursday: Usually ship within 24 hours.
• Orders placed Friday – Sunday: Ship the following week.
• All U.S. orders ship via 2-Day Express, except for orders sent to P.O. Boxes, APO/FPO addresses, rural locations, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Alaska, which ship via United States Postal Service (USPS).

Yes! We ship to APO, FPO, rural addresses, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Alaska via USPS.

Yes, we ship to Canada. $20 flat-rate.

Brewing loose leaf tea is simple! Use fresh, filtered, or spring water for the best flavor. Heat the water to a temperature just below boiling for most teas, and adjust the temperature based on the tea type. Delicate teas, like green tea, require lower temperatures than black tea. For green tea, aim for 175-195°F. For every 4-8 ounces of water, use one teaspoon or 2.5-3 grams of tea leaves. Generally, for full-leaf teas, the steeping time should be around 2-3 minutes.

Click here for complete brewing instructions.

The differences between tea categories primarily stem from the level of oxidation the leaves undergo during processing. Here's a breakdown of the different tea categories:

White Tea:

• Oxidation: Minimally oxidized.
• Leaf Processing: The leaves are simply plucked and allowed to wither naturally before being dried.
• Flavor: Very delicate, light, and sweet with a subtle flavor profile.
• Shape: The leaves remain mostly in their natural form.

Green Tea:

• Oxidation: Not oxidized.
• Leaf Processing: After plucking, the leaves are quickly steamed (or pan-fired in some cases) to prevent oxidation and then dried.
• Flavor: Fresh, grassy, and sometimes vegetal, with a slight astringency.
• Shape: The leaves are typically more delicate and curled or flat depending on the region and processing method.

Oolong Tea:

• Oxidation: Semi-oxidized, typically between 10% and 80% oxidation.
• Leaf Processing: The leaves undergo a brief withering process, followed by partial oxidation and rolling, giving them a more complex flavor. It’s often considered a halfway point between green and black tea.
• Flavor: A wide range of flavors, from floral and light to deep and toasty. It’s known for its complexity.
• Shape: The leaves may be rolled or curled into small balls or twisted shapes.

Black Tea:

• Oxidation: Fully oxidized.
• Leaf Processing: The leaves are fully oxidized after being rolled or crushed, turning them dark brown or black.
• Flavor: Rich, bold, and often malty or astringent, with a more robust flavor than green or white tea.
• Shape: The leaves are typically broken or cut to promote more uniform oxidation,

Pu-erh Tea:

• Fermentation: Fully or partially fermented.
• Leaf Processing: The leaves are either fully fermented to a Shou (ripe) style or partially fermented to a Sheng (raw) style.
• Flavor:
• Shou (Ripe): Earthy, bold, with mushroom notes.
• Sheng (Raw): Floral, light malt flavor.
• Shape: The leaves may be loose or pressed into various shapes, such as cakes, nuggets, or even stuffed into bamboo or jars.

These broad categories are then further divided by cultivars (different varieties of the tea plant) and the methods of processing, which lead to a wide range of flavor profiles, aromas, and brewing characteristics within each tea type. The art of tea-making is highly nuanced, which is why there are so many variations and specialties within these main categories.

When selecting tea, a tea buyer typically looks at three key attributes:

1. Appearance – Do the leaves look attractive and uniform in size?
2. Aroma – Does the tea smell pleasant? Look for notes like vegetal, grassy, or sweet aromas.
3. Taste – The tea should have a clean and pleasing flavor on the palate with a lingering, enjoyable finish.

If you're buying tea online and can't physically assess it, read the product description carefully. Check for the harvest date (it should be within the last 12 months for most teas), the origin of the tea, whether it's mountain or plantation-grown, and whether it's processed organically or conventionally. Additionally, find out if the tea is single-origin or a blend. Good teas usually come with a story to tell, providing a clue to their quality.

Teas can be divided into three categories:

1. Specialty Teas – Made from Camellia sinensis or Camellia assamica.
2. Blended and Scented Teas – These are mixtures of various teas and often include added flavors or fragrances.
3. Tisanes and Herbals – These are made from herbs, flowers, or fruits, and don't contain any Camellia sinensis leaves, though they are often mistakenly called “teas.”

To start exploring the world of tea, find a flavor, aroma, and experience that appeal to you. Many people enjoy naturally sweet black teas or green tea scented with jasmine flowers, as they are easy to brew and have a familiar, approachable taste profile. From there, you can branch out and try other types, like green, black, or white teas with different flavor profiles. This is how the exciting world of tea begins to unfold!

Yes, we carry a variety of rare black, white, oolong, and Pu-erh teas. Each year, we work closely with tea farmers to select the highest-grade teas from the spring harvest. These teas are often rare due to their limited availability, unique appearance, and complex flavor profiles.

We also have an extensive collection of aged Dan Cong-style oolongs, one of the largest outside of China. These were purchased back in 2000-2001 and are distinct from today’s Dan Congs, as they come from larger leaves and were harvested only from oolong trees. Our aged White Peony “Bai Mu Dan” lot, dating from 2002, is another rare find in our collection.

While we don’t personally harvest tea, we believe many of the best teas are produced in China. We travel there to source early harvest teas directly from the origin. These teas stand apart from most of the teas sold in the U.S., as they are often small-batch, unblended, and offer unique flavors and aromas. They’re made to local customs and preferences in terms of appearance and taste, rather than mass-produced for high-volume distribution. Small-batch teas tend to be more expensive but are also more flavorful and subject to variations in taste each year due to climate and agricultural factors.

Many of our specialty teas are sourced in small, unique lots, often only available once a year. We try to predict customer demand and plan our purchases accordingly. However, the availability of these teas depends on what the tea farm produces that year, which can limit our supply. When we sell out of a popular tea, we typically have a similar lot or a tea with comparable qualities that we can recommend as a replacement. This is the beauty of tea – there are always new and interesting options to explore!

Yes! To place an order by phone, call us at:

• Within the U.S. & Canada: 877-458-8629 (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–4:30 PM PST)
• Outside North America: 415-458-8624

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are not completely satisfied or encounter an issue with your order, please contact us within 30 days of delivery:

Email: customerservice@silkroadteas.com
Call: 415-458-8624

Return Policy:

• Returns must include the original receipt and packaging.
• Let us know the reason for your return.
• Send returns to:
  Silk Road Teas
  Attn: Product Return
  2980 Kerner Boulevard, Suite A
  San Rafael, CA 94901
• If the return is due to our error, we will refund your shipping cost.
• Your return will be processed once we receive the package.

Yes! To request a wholesale account, visit: https://wholesale-silkroadteas.com/wholesale-account-request/

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