I Focus

Although I know a great deal about many teas, there are a few tea / tea categories that I specialize in. Anhua Heicha & Korean Balhyocha.

Hei'cha (黑茶) means "black tea" in Chinese, but most people call it "dark tea." It is one of 7 main types of tea. What makes hei'cha special is that after the tea leaves have been sufficiently dried, they go through a fermentation process — kind of like how cheese or yogurt is made. Heicha can be fermented in a big pile or just left to age slowly over time.

Anhua is a small county in the Hunan Province of China. Their teas are known for being compressed into bricks and other shapes in many sizes, from 8 grams to 37.5 kilograms. Three popular teas from Anhua are Fu'zhuan, Tian'jian, and Qian'liang.

Fu'zhuan is a particular favorite that develops a fungus as it ferments and ages. Jin'hua, or "golden flowers," are small yellow fungi known for their probiotic benefits, amongst others.

Korean Balhyocha

Balhyocha (발효차) translates directly to "fermented tea." It doesn't fit neatly into the sinocentric system of 7 tea types. In Korea, balhyocha is used to describe any tea that has gone through more change than a simple green tea. If the tea has been porpusly oxidized, fermented, enzamatic buised the tea is labeld a balhyocha. Korean tea masters often make tea their own way, without following strict rules. That said, some Korean tea masters do follow Chinese methods and will call their teas a black or oolong.

Eric Glass

Eric began his tea journey in 2007, and the depth of knowledge gained since is considerable. Where he once relied on scales, thermometers, and timers, he now practices "intuitive brewing." A deep focus on Anhua heicha and Korean balhyocha has brought him into the spotlight more than once.

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Picnics and gatherings

Tea in the Park

Tea asks little of us — tea leaves, heat, water, and a vessel to hold it all. The bare necessities are few. Yet tea has captivated humanity for thousands of years, and the reason is not found in the cup alone.

It is found in the quality of an afternoon. In favorable weather, in beautiful surroundings, in the unhurried company of good people. These are the conditions that elevated tea from simple sustenance to the world's second most beloved beverage.

We honor this tradition through our Tea in the Park gatherings. We meet beneath the open skies and shaded canopies of our city parks, like Tower Grove Park, Forest Park, and Laumeier Sculpture Park. This is where the setting becomes as much a part of the experience as what's in the pot.

If you'd like to join us, or arrange a gathering of your own, we'd love to hear from you.

First Fridays

Every first Friday of the month, we set up at The Church on Delmar for their "First Friday Art & Culture Showcase."

The Church on Delmar is a cannabis consumption event space that is pioneering cannabis gatherings and events. On the first Friday of the month they open their doors for a "celebration of local creativity, small business hustle, and community connection"

I'll be there slingin' tea!

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