Our Story

 

Hi, I am Amy, founder of Oolong Tea Collective.

I did not set out to start a tea company. My path into tea began with a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo, and gradually became a search for authenticity, depth, and honesty in what we drink.

I graduated with an economics degree from UCLA, but my heart was always drawn to hospitality and the food and beverage world. After spending time on the corporate side, I followed a path familiar to many Asian American entrepreneurs in their early twenties and explored the idea of franchising a boba shop, inspired by the sweet, chewy drinks that were such a big part of my community.

That journey led me to Taiwan on my first solo trip. Curious and excited, I asked for a cup of boba tea without ice or sugar, hoping to taste the tea itself, unmasked and unaltered. What I received was bitter, flat, and difficult to finish. When I asked why, the shop owner explained that tea quality did not really matter as long as flavorings and sweeteners were added.

That answer did not sit right with me.

Not long after, I discovered traditionally brewed Taiwanese oolong tea, and everything shifted. I tasted freshly harvested oolongs from high elevation farms, made without additives or artificial flavoring. The teas were rich, floral, layered, and deeply satisfying, clean, balanced, and nourishing. I could not understand why tea like this felt so hidden, or why it was so difficult to find back home in the United States.

That moment became the beginning of Oolong Tea Collective.

My mission is to share natural, unaltered loose leaf oolong teas and help people rediscover tea not just as a beverage, but as an experience rooted in craftsmanship, transparency, and respect for origin. I work directly with farmers to ensure what reaches your cup is honest, clean, and true to its source.

I started small, selling tea at my local farmers market in Irvine, California. Today, we partner with coffee shops, restaurants, and tea lovers who value drinks made with intention and integrity, whether enjoyed at a café or at home.

To me, tea is more than something delicious. It is meditative. It quiets the noise, creates space to breathe, and brings me back to what truly matters.

I am so glad you are here. I hope this tea brings you the same sense of clarity and quiet nourishment it has brought me.

Cheers with tea,
Amy