About Us
Rooted in the ancient tea gardens of rural China, our passion for tea was born. We have been exploring and tasting hundreds of teas for many years in order to curate our collection of high quality Chinese teas. Our choice of teas are often unique, rare, wild and always exceptional.
I am Sasha, and my journey with Chinese tea began entirely by accident.
In 2006, I made two life-changing decisions: I quit alcohol and, on a whim, traveled to China. As someone who loves connection, leaving English pub culture behind was a loss. But finding the sanctuary of the Chinese tea house changed everything. It offered a simple, necessary pleasure, wasting away hours in deep conversation with strangers over a healthy and warming drink. I couchsurfed across the country, forging bonds with hosts who are now lifelong friends. I never planned to discover China or its tea, but both fortunately found me.
Over the next twenty years, this discovery grew into a beautiful obsession with the endless variety and flavours of Chinese tea. I am no traditional corporate businessman. Black Cloud Tea was simply a way to share my joy with others.
There is no master plan here to maximise profit margins. We simply want you to experience the magic of this special leaf. You need no prior expertise, just let your taste buds guide you. Every leaf we source is hand-picked and lovingly grown in small, family-run gardens, free from the pressures of mass commercialism. We ensure every grower and picker is recognised for the immense skill it takes to craft these exquisite teas.
Just as before, another sequence of unplanned events quietly guided us toward an accidental new venture.
When the global pandemic restricted travel between 2020 and 2022, visiting China became an impossible challenge. Grounded but eager to create, we looked closer to home and discovered Crackstone Farms, a beautiful estate nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, UK. We approached them with a simple question: could we collaborate to craft exceptional, locally sourced herbal teas?
The farm’s commitment to no-dig farming methods immediately resonated with us. By leaving the earth undisturbed, this mindful practice allows the surrounding ecosystem to truly flourish, while simultaneously cultivating herbs that are incredibly vibrant and nutrient-rich.
This partnership has sparked a wonderful new evolution for Black Cloud Tea. What began as a creative pivot blossomed into something truly remarkable, one of our bespoke botanical blends was even honored with a prestigious 2-star Great Taste Award in 2026. We are incredibly excited to see where this homegrown journey takes us next.
Thank you for reading, and welcome to Black Cloud Tea.
