At the beginning of August Uncommon, we had a vision to share the most unusual, exciting teas. Our first releases included single origin teas we called 'Rare & Pure.' As August grew, it was our bold tea blends that people craved most. The Rare & Pure teas had their fans, but it was a minority of our small customer base who enjoyed them as much as we did.
Now, we decided to bring back these precious limited edition teas in August’s Rare Leaves line. Their packaging reflects their special character. It's inspired by rare cask or special reserve editions of whisky and other spirits, as well as the presentation of fine jewelry. This is why each tea has a gem inspired name, with information about its growth elevation and location. We have retained our flavor notes.
Please be aware that pure teas will not have the intensity of our blends with other flavorful ingredients and flavoring, instead these teas let the natural terroir of the tea shine through.
Rare Leaves are more expensive than other August teas. This is because of their special production. They are hand picked rather than machine harvested, and finished with careful manual technique.
One final recommendation is to consider using spring water to brew these teas so that you may enjoy their full flavor. I typically use Los Angeles tap water with my tea at home. However, these precious teas definitely deserve the best water to bring out their character.
If you've ever wondered what the Rolls Royce of tea is like, now's your chance to find out. I hope you enjoy.
– Gina Zupsich, head blender, August Uncommon
