Beginning in the 1970s, the king of Thailand offered Chinese refugees—who had fled the mainland after the Civil War—a path to citizenship in return for helping stabilize the region’s economy. Through ties to the wider Chinese diaspora, these communities introduced centuries-old Taiwanese oolong cultivars and tea-making traditions to the mountains of northern Thailand, shaping what is now one of Southeast Asia’s most respected oolong-producing regions.

Our Ruby Oolong is rooted in this history, cultivated by Chinese tea producers whose families have farmed these mountains for generations. Here, in the old-growth tea gardens of Doi Mae Salong, the soft, loamy soils develop nutrient-dense, uniquely flavorful leaves.

Once harvested, the leaves undergo deep oxidation and low, slow baking—a labor-intensive process that unfolds across a week or more. Withered, then tossed and shaped by hand, the leaves develop dark, fruity aromatics and a deep, layered character, revealing new, captivating facets with each cup.

As one of our classic loose leaf herbal teas, Elderberry Healer is best brewed with a simple infuser or teapot, letting the whole leaves fully unfurl for maximum flavor.