How many types of tea are there?

There are six types of tea, white, yellow, green, red, wulong, and black tea (ex: Pu'er). Only tea that derives from the plant Camellia Sinensis is technically considered tea. Although we don’t currently carry any herbal tea (also known as Tisane), we respect tea drinkers who choose whatever drink that makes them feel good!

Why is your black tea called red tea?

Volition Tea’s red tea is commonly known as black tea in the Western world. In China, people call it red tea because of the color of the tea liquor, whereas the initial European tea traders called it black tea based on the color of the dry leaves. Here at VT, we removed the white narrative influenced by imperialism of black tea to honor and celebrate its Chinese origins.

Why don’t I see information about your tea’s caffeine level?

A given tea’s caffeine level largely depends on the stage at which the tea leaves were plucked (buds tend to contain more caffeine than mature leaves). The farmer’s tea processing method, the dried tea leaves’ condition right before consumption (broken or whole leaf), and even the water temperature and steeping time could affect how much caffeine can be extracted from that tea. With so many variables, we encourage you to listen to your body to let you know what works best for you. Learn more about this topic from Tea Scientist Eric Scott.

Do you sell decaf tea?

Our Chamomile Blossom is the only caffeine-free option. All other teas Volition Tea carries contain some level of caffeine.

Are your teas certified organic?

Volition teas do not currently carry a USDA Organic label. Similar to the reason why most farmers at your local Farmer’s Market do not carry this label, it is financially burdensome and time-consuming for our farmers to go through the certification process. Rest assured, all VT teas are grown using organic methods (no chemical pesticides or fertilizers used), and have been tested and approved by FDA-accredited laboratories for chemical residues.

Where do the flavor notes come from? Do you add flavorings to your tea?

Teas gain their natural flavors from specific cultivars, plants growing nearby (flowers and/or stone fruit trees), and processing methods that they go through. Adding flavors would often overshadow the impeccable condition of these teas and the complex craft each producer used to create them. Occasionally, we will offer limited-edition, experimental teas where scenting or blending can be a part of the production process. Our Tipsy Garden, a 90-day gin-barrel-aged white tea, in collaboration with KOVAL Distillery, is a great example that reflects that creativity and community.

What is the best way to store your tea?

Be sure to close the cap of your tea tube after each usage and place the tube away from sunlight, heat, and excessive humidity.

Is tea always best fresh?

Because green tea is the only type of teas that does not go through an enzymic browning (commonly known as oxidation) stage during the tea making process, it should be consumed within approx. 2 years from the processing date. All other types of teas go through varying levels of enzymic browning or ripening process so they can be stored and consumed over a longer period of time. Wulong and red teas should be consumed within three years from the processing date, whereas white and black teas will take on more depth in flavors as they age (for decades!).

Why do you only source tea from China?

The first documented tea drinking culture traces back to the Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 200 CE) in China. For over 2,000 years Chinese have been growing tea plants, improving their craft, and sharing teas with the rest of the world. It feels natural for Volition Tea to start its tea sharing journey from where it all began. It’s also a conscious choice to reclaim the phrase and connotations behind “Made in China”, showing the world that there are many hard-working, sustainability-conscious farmers in China who strive to produce tea that’s good for you and the planet.

How do I steep my tea?

See each tea’s page for specific steeping instructions, you can also locate our steeping guide on top of each large tube, or on the back of each small tube that is in a tea gift set.

What’s your return policy?

See our Return Policy for more information.

How do you ensure fiscal sustainability for your farmers?

At this beginning stage, Volition Tea lets farmers dictate what is the best suitable price that would ensure a profit for them. But to promote and sustain long-term fiscal sustainability, it is important for Volition Tea to remain as a reliable partner to our resilient farmers through thick-and-thin. We provide our farmers with forward contracts so they have peace in mind knowing that we will be there at the end of each harvest. It takes tremendous Volition to grow tea sustainably, and VT is here to amplify the voice of all tea drinkers to our farmers that it is worth the effort.

Do you purchase directly from the farmers?

The short answer is no. Volition Tea contracts with tea exporters, who contract with our tea farmers. Our farmers’ fiscal sustainability is not in jeopardy because our exporters are transparent about the mark up they charge for. The term “Middleman'' gets a bad rap in modern-day marketing but they play crucial roles in international trading. Our tea exporters have deep connections with tea farms all over China in order to identify tea farmers, assess the sustainability of their farming practice, and provide tea samples to us to ensure they meet Volition Tea’s quality standards. They also work with logistics companies so the tea farmers won’t be burdened with learning about custom regulations and getting teas here. We have deep respect for our tea exporters, without them VT would not be able to present these incredible teas to our dear tea drinkers.

What are the requirements to become your tea farmers?

Quality comes first. Each tea a tea farmer produces must meet VT’s sourcing standards that cover criteria from clarity to mouthfeel. When it comes to tea plant growing practice, a VT farmer would only use organic or home-made fertilizer, with no usage of pesticides. With their tea making practice, no flavoring would be added to create artificial flavor notes. But most importantly, VT’s tea farmers must have deep respect for their land and tea plants.

Can I buy wholesale?

Thank you for your interest! Please contact us at hello@volitiontea.com with your wholesale inquiry.

If I am in Chicago, can I come and pick up my order?

Pick-up option is currently available every Saturday from 1-4pm at Second City Meadery. Be sure to choose that option at check-out. We are also actively seeking out more locations to carry our products. Let us know your favorite local spots that we should introduce our teas and teawares to at hello@volitiontea.com.

What’s your shipping schedule?

We pack and ship every Monday.

Do you ship outside of the U.S.?

We do! Please be aware that because it is a cross-border, merchandise shipping, custom and taxes may be imposed by the destination country on the recipient.

What do I do if my package arrived damaged?

We are sorry to hear that! Please see our Return Policy for more information.