From the brand
From the manufacturer
Globally Sourced
Our buying team travels extensively, working with farmers and producers to taste and select micro-lots grown exclusively for us. We thrive on the intensive, hands-on nature of our sourcing.
*Certificate Number C0030643-NOPHPC-13 by National Organic Program - Quality Assurance International, 2018
Rishi Tea & Botanicals
About Us
We are a Direct Trade importer of organic teas and botanicals from the very best sources. Our Direct Trade is founded upon long-standing, personal relationships with growers who cultivate ecologically sustainable gardens in remote locations around the world.
Direct Trade also serves as the foundation of our quality control and social responsibility practices, allowing us to verify how our teas are grown and to offer complete traceability on each lot back to its source.
- We believe that organic certified teas and herbs, grown without the use of agrichemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, are generally healthier for the environment, farmers, and tea drinkers alike.
- Over 95% of the ingredients that we import are certified organic according to the USDA NOP standard*. We have even helped several producers convert from conventional to organic.
What is direct trade tea?
Direct trade is not a formal certification, but a sourcing philosophy and a commitment to a way of doing business. Direct trade procurement models are becoming the standard in specialty tea, coffee, and chocolate markets.
Rishi’s direct trade is defined by our active, personal relationships with tea growers and farmers around the world. Our buyers travel to the origins of our teas during each growing season to meet with the farmers, taste the fresh crop with them and work together in the fields to achieve our desired flavor profiles. We even collaborate to create new styles of tea. The teas you love from Rishi are the result of these authentic, trusting partnerships, built up over years of renewed business together.
What does sustainability mean to Rishi?
Sustainability is a mindset that considers how our entire business ecosystem matters in the long term. Our approach to operating as a sustainable company involves our understanding of the ecological conditions of the tea farms, the well-being of our farmers and their communities, the production methodology practiced overseas and at Rishi HQ in Milwaukee, our business ethics, and even our employees’ professional growth. These are all important elements of our business that can ensure our ability to continue providing healthful, organic teas and botanicals to our customers for generations.
How should I store my tea?
Tea does not necessarily 'go bad' or spoil, but it does lose its freshness gradually over time. You can mitigate this effect by storing tea inside an airtight container in a dry, cool, and dark cupboard or pantry. Tea is hygroscopic-meaning it absorbs moisture and nearby aromas-so it is best to stash your teas away from other highly fragrant products like coffee, spices, or herbs. For optimal freshness, keep your tea leaves inside our resealable foil bags.
How long does tea stay fresh?
Tea is like the dry herbs or spices in your kitchen–it does not really 'go bad' but the complexity of its aroma will fade over time. Of all tea types, green and white teas will lose their freshness most quickly. To experience peak freshness, we recommend consuming these teas within 2 months from the time you first open the package. Matcha green tea powder should be enjoyed within 2 weeks, because the powder will undergo 'post-oxidation' when exposed to air, transforming its bright green color into a stale shade of pea-green or even yellow. We recommend enjoying most oolong, black, and herbal teas within 4 months for the best flavor.
Product Description
Rishi / noun
Sanskrit: One who is a seer, sage or seeker of truth.
The Vanguard of Tea since 1997
As is Tradition: This traditional style of Shu Pu'er offers an impressively robust infusion that is credited to our unique blend of vintages ranging from 2-4 years in age. One of the first teas to travel beyond its growing region from Yunnan to Tibet and Mongolia, Pu'er teas were typically compressed for ease of trade in exchange for horses and salt in ancient times.
Pu'er Tea in the 21st Century: Today this compressed form is still used for convenience. Its complex personality is revealed over multiple infusions: smooth while robust, a bit sweet and a bit savory, mellow yet powerful.
What is Pu'er Tea?: Pu'er tea (pronounced POO-air) is the most oxidized form of tea, often aged. Unlike other teas, pu'er can mellow and improve with age like fine wine instead of getting stale over time. Some pu'er teas are more than 50 years old, and rare pu'er teas sell for many thousands of dollars in Asian specialty stores.
Pu'er Tea History 101: Pu'er teas come from China’s Yunnan Province and are named for a city in southern Yunnan. These teas are highly valued in China where the processing methods have been a well-guarded secret for centuries. Pu'er’s distinct flavor comes from the fact that after the leaves are picked, they are made into a sundried base tea called maocha and then fermented. After that, the leaves are aged and then packed into bricks or cakes.
Quality YOU Can Count On: We are a Direct Trade importer of organic teas and botanicals from the very best sources.
The Rishi Tea Promise: Enjoyable and tasty tea is our mission. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, don't hesitate to contact our customer service team with 30 days of package delivery.