What is the Tempo of Tea?

The rule of life, spontaneous presence, or following the Tao—these are words for letting things naturally unfold and settle into their place—something akin to the relaxed natural tempo of tea—steeping, unfurling, decanting, cooling. Hidden within this simple act of slowing down to a more natural tempo is something vast and profound that can transform a daily routine into a grounding and rejuvenating ritual.

The Via Tiempo Tea Subscription

A completely curated seasonal tea experience unlike any other.

8 Times Per Year
8 Times Per Year
8 Times Per Year
8 Times Per Year

8 Times Per Year

$28.00
$28.00

Two artisanal teas that create a bridge to the season, along with a tea-letter in the from of a scroll illuminating each tea, how to best enjoy it, and going deeper into the elemental ritual and tempo of seasonal tea.

This subscription arrives 8 times per year, aligning with the traditional seasonal markers at the beginning and midpoint of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Each shipment has 36 grams of tea, good for 6-8 teapots. That's 18 grams of each tea.

You can read a thorough description of the Via Tiempo Tea Subscription here.

Same great teas: in a variety of arrangments

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Timeless Teaware

This collection of handmade pottery represents the essential style of Via Tiempo's approach to tea. It is a purposely small set, with deceptively simple designs that highlight the artistry of timeless elemental simplicity and spontaneity. It is also an opportunity for Via Tiempo Tea Subscribers to have access to artisanal handmade wares at a discounted price. We have a cup style on the way to finish populating this collection.

When you sign up for a Via Tiempo Tea Subscription you'll receive a code for a 25% discount off the Timeless Teaware Collection!

Via Tiempo Timeless Teaware Collection

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Teas for Winter

Teas not highlighted on this seasonal menu can be found in Deep in the Peddler's Bag.

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Sibling Rivalry: Tea Benders [old tree edition] 001
Sibling Rivalry: Tea Benders [old tree edition] 001
Sibling Rivalry: Tea Benders [old tree edition] 001
Sibling Rivalry: Tea Benders [old tree edition] 001
Sibling Rivalry: Tea Benders [old tree edition] 001

Sibling Rivalry: Tea Benders [old tree edition] 001

$30.00
$30.00

Tea Benders is the first in the Sibling Rivalry series. These are collaborations with artists that highlight the teas of the Chen siblings and draw on the evocative mythical, historical, and cultural themes inherent in sibling rivalries.

This limited edition label art by Fitzhugh Shaw was inspired by the world of Avatar the Last Airbender. It depicts the the Chen siblings as master Tea Benders—putting forth their best tea crafting skills to compete for our affections.

Fitzhugh Shaw is a dear friend of Via Tiempo living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Visit releasement.org/timeless to learn about Timeless Journey—the year-long arch of seasonal explorations of time and ritual that Fitzhugh is co-hosting beginning in late October.

Brother's Tea: Duck Shit

Yashi Xiang means Duck Shit Aroma. It is one of the most famous oolong teas from Phoenix Mountain. Some people think it has to do with the fertilization, others think it is a kind of misdirection technique; still others say, "that's just how we name things around here." It is known for being beautifully floral. These leaves are from an 80 year old tree and have tremendous depth.

Sister's Tea: Old Tree Lapsang

Lapsang Souchang is the first ever Red Tea (also knows as black tea). Sometimes it is heavily smoked by pine. This one, however, is the pure unsmoked leaves of a 100 year old tree, with a depth and clarity that is absolutely inspiring. The leaves are from Gu Wan Keng Village, just to the east of the famous Wuyi Mountain.

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Via Tiempo has been sourcing these teas from a family of tea benders in Southern China for the last 3 years. The Chen family brother and sister live in two of the most traditional tea regions in China, Chaozhou and Wuyi. They are quite friendly together—but their teas are full of fire. Their teas carry the elemental make-up and style of their regions.

Teaware

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Deep in the Peddler’s Bag

The “behind the counter” teas, not currently on the seasonal menu.

Browse Teas

The Tea Peddler harkens back to an age when merchants brightened the marketplace with goods that were cherished, while sharing illuminating stories of life from beyond great boundaries. The characters in the Peddler's Guild—the minstrels, bards, fortune-tellers, and mystics of all sorts—gathered crowds and pulled back the veil to open a sightline beyond the usual ways of being together.

The tea in the Peddler's bag is itself a traveler with stories of far off lands, mountains and rivers, cultures ancient, contemporary, and yet to be seen. A gift of nature and a remarkable cultural practice, tea holds this (all but) lost power of bringing people together around the hearth, sharing stories, and opening the sense perceptions—and the heart too.

Be in touch

You can catch Michael Busby, the Tea Peddler of Via Tiempo, on their journey across the three realms, to delight in tea and the world around in person.

You can also schedule a drop-in to the virtual tea house. Call, message, email, or use the contact page to schedule a time to meet online.

If you want to support the movement of wander, linger, loiter—or if you have something to make, share, or sing—let's connect and collaborate together in a mutual wandering. The Peddlers Guild welcomes all.