By Leigha Staffenhagen

There was once an article contributed to the Enquirer titled “The Tea That Can Be Bought Is Not the Tea.” I was left a bit confuddled with that title, mostly because if there is any place to find a massive selection of tea—much of it local and very good—it is indeed the Co-op. That said, the title is very catchy, and the article was also about tea, figuratively. I am at least that clever.

In its literal sense, the article centered on the belief that the very best tea is a blend you make yourself, by pairing a variety of herbs into an elegant tea infuser, heating your water to the perfect temperature, and steeping for the exact minute of recommendation. Frankly, I myself do not have the time, nor the patience, for such a ritual. Don’t get me wrong—I have the utmost respect for those who find meditation in the practice (I wish that was me), but when you boil it down, if I want tea, its vessel will be a tea bag or sachet. Or, maybe a homemade matcha. And yes, you can find top-quality tea in a sachet.

So, while the best tea might be the one you make yourself, if you’re like me and simply want a warm cup on the go when you’re too sleepy for a leafy tea setup, I’d argue that the tea from our newest tea maker is indeed, thee tea. Meet Wild Orchard Tea Company!

Founded in 1999, Wild Orchard was originally an experimental farm on Jeju Island in South Korea, where barren earth eventually softened into fertile ground as the first organic tea seeds were planted. Fast forward eight years, and that fertile farmland is South Korea’s first USDA Organic certified tea estate. Only in 2020 did Wild Orchard expand to the U.S., eventually earning its Regenerative Organic Certification—one of the highest, and most difficult sustainability standards to reach as a farm.

Their dedication to regenerative farming represents their commitment to soil health, via crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance (often no-till), cover crops, and the use of compost without any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, ever. While the certification is new-to-us, Wild Orchard has proudly practiced regenerative methods as long as they have been in operation—over 25 years!

Now, let’s talk the tea itself. We are the very first place to carry Wild Orchard tea in all of Washington! Choose from Wild Orchard’s Everyday Green Tea, Everyday Black Tea, Sunday Brunch, and Sweet Sorbet—each a flavorful expression of the variety, with Sweet Sorbet taking a tropical twist on green tea, with its notes of peach, raspberry, and pineapple.

All of their teas are tucked in plastic-free pyramid sachets, which allow the organic tea leaves to easily unfurl and release those brilliant botanical, herby flavors (and nutrients) into your favorite cup. The inner pouch holding the tea bags is made of wholly compostable wood pulp, and the box is 100% recyclable, too. Wild Orchard’s mindfulness of sustainable packaging clearly reflects their caring approach and the drinker’s desire to live and sip lightly.

If you’re in more of a matcha mood, Wild Orchard offers some sensational options. All Wild Orchard organic matcha is made with tea leaves grown in unshaded, full sun, without removing any of the stems or veins prior to being ground into a fine, silky powder. What you already know of matcha may not apply—Wild Orchard has a unique take, offering a black tea matcha, too! Robust and excellent as a latte, black tea matcha has an earthy, roasty, chocolatey, coffee-like flavor that might just be the thing you need to cut down your coffee intake in the new year. Wild Orchard’s green matcha boasts a more traditional flavor: intense and earthy, with that bright green color we all love. Both matcha offerings are packed in a recyclable tin with a compostable inner pouch.

While you might be inclined to spill the tea with your friends, this tea you won’t want to spill—it is, after all, the tea you can buy that IS the tea.

Here For the Tea: Introducing Wild Orchard Tea!