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When I first got to Kauai, I googled ‘Kauai tea’ to see if there were any interesting tea shops I should visit. There was nothing! But there was a website for Cloudwater Tea and the teas sounded really good. I called to see if they sold their teas in any local shops and she said, no, but we could come to the farm and pick some up. I got off the phone and told my family that my one activity I wanted to do on this trip was visit this farm. I had never been to a tea farm before.

We drove up there and headed into the mountains and saw the most gorgeous estates and farms on the way. When we arrived, we were greeted by about 30 chickens. Michelle and her husband introduced themselves and I introduced my group (the Bean, the little man, the teenager, my husband, and my parents – we were a big crew!) Michelle, the tea grower, immediately started walking me all over the property showing different plants and explaining all about the challenges of getting the tea plants to Hawaii as well as growing them. It was awesome. Their property is pretty much as amazing as it gets. No words to describe its beauty. Plus her husband is an architect so the house and off buildings are equally amazing.

We went and sat on the porch and enjoyed some tea she had made in preparation of our arrival. She talked about the various steps she takes once the tea is picked to make each variety (white, green, wulong, and black). We had some of her white tea (the best white tea I’ve had – almost tastes like a black) and this Assamica.

This is a smooth Assam with fruity notes and no bitterness at all. Similar to some of the Taiwanese varieties but a little less sweet. It’s got a full mouth flavor and is an easy to drink straight, but also tasty with just a touch of milk and honey (I made it that way just to try it). It resteeps a few time and has some of the largest leaves I’ve ever seen.

The tea and the whole experience was pretty awesome. I thought I was just popping in to buy some tea, I had no idea we’d get treated to such a nice afternoon (including a bamboo sword fight between Michelle and my little man)!

(And BBB ladies, I got enough to share a few cups with you!)