One thing that all tea companies have in common is a passion for tea. But what really sets one companies passion from another is the depth to which these companies are willing to dive to fulfill this passion. Fatbat Puerh is a company focused on deep diving into the world of Chinese tea. And not just any Chinese tea, I am talking about really good Chinese tea. Alvin & Judy have regaled our MN Tea Society meetings with amazing stories of their visits to tea farms in China and the tea itself goes to show the passion they put into their product.

Website: https://fatbatpuerh.com/

Location(s) Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN, USA and Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China.

Company Focus:

• End-to-end producers of Single-Origin Puerh Tea and Yixing Zisha
  Teaware. We also offer a focused collection of premium black, green and white tea from Yunnan, Hangzhou and the Zhejiang region.

Most popular company tea(s)?

• 2024 Guafengzhai – Leng Shui He – FatBat Puerh
• 2024 Jiu Qu Hong Mei Black Tea (LongJing Black Tea) – FatBat Puerh
• Dragon Egg (龙旦) Zhuni Yixing Teapot – FatBat Puerh

Does the company name have a meaning?

• FatBat Puerh is a whimsical name that embodies our personalities, spirituality and our love for nature. Years ago, we were inspired by the bats that frolicked and feasted on tropical mangoes from the trees outside our home in Singapore (and later, in Yunnan too). Nocturnal, yet fun-loving creatures, and very much at one with nature! Although the name reflects our primary focus as Puerh tea producers, we also curate a selection of black, green and white teas that fits in with our academic, rigorous approach to tea sourcing.
• Equally important is our Yixing Zisha collection which we co-produce with our artist partners, which we intend to be the modern continuation of ancient Chinese craftsmanship.

Do you participate in any charities? If so, which one (s)?

• Currently we do not have a formal program – but we do find ways to get involved locally with community, school and social events wherever we are based.

• Side note from TeaTiff: Fatbat Puerh has an been amazing source of knowledge and incredibly kind in donating tea to our tea gatherings at the MN Tea Society meetings.

What is your and/or your co-workers’ favorite tea?

• Alvin – 2024 Naka Ancient Trees Puerh – FatBat Puerh. A recent favorite from this famous region, an ideal balance of excitement and elegance.
• Judy – 2018 Yiwu TongQingHe White Tea Dragon Pearls – FatBat Puerh
• Outside of puerh, these White Tea Dragon Pearls are what I reach for when hosting a gathering of family or close friends.

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?

• Transparency is the driving force behind FatBat Puerh. We apply the same principles that the best producers of fine wine, single-malt whisky, cheese and single-origin coffees do to elevate their product above “just” commoditized food and drink, into something that rewards tasting seriously and worth “cellaring” for the long term. By establishing end-to-end control over the production chain (especially critical with micro-batch, premium teas), we are able to provide full transparency to the source. Realizing the role we could play in bringing this knowledge and capability to Western-facing tea lovers was a huge motivation for us to start FatBat Puerh in the first place. This transparency to the source is not something easily accessed, even within the industry in China.

What role does tea play in our lives?

• The beauty of tea is that it can fulfill so many different roles. Some seek spiritual grounding in their tea practice and others enjoy exploring the cultural aspects. Yet others mainly seek the health benefits of tea, with a focus on purity of the material. Stemming from our own academic approach to tea production, many of our loyal customers approach our premium puerh in the same way as they do fine wine, as collectors and connoisseurs of particular vintages or single-origin micro-regions. With that said, we’re all for making tea unfussy and will always produce some tea cakes that do well in rough conditions and with casual brewing. Like many, we ourselves love taking our tea out in nature wherever we go!

Anything else you’d like to add?

• We’re grateful for how people have embraced FatBat Puerh since we started. In an era swamped by fast-paced internet marketing, people have sought us out for slow, in-depth conversations about Puerh and Yixing Zisha, in some cases even seeking mentorship.
• Fostering the appreciation of Chinese tea, as well as the continuation of traditional Chinese artistry through Yixing Zisha creations, is what we are obsessed with. Sharing that obsession with others is what brings us true joy, and is what we will continue to do.

Social Media: Steepster

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TeaTiff Picks: 2024 Jiu Qu Hong Mei Black Tea (LongJing Black Tea). Yes, you read that right! Black tea made from the same leaf that they make the renowned Dragonwell tea from. This tea is also known as Longjing. From the delicate leaf right down to the wood notes in the flavor this tea is an all around winner. Here are some tasting notes to wet your palate: Dry Leaf aroma: Tightly twisted leaf. Dark brown and dusty with light brown fuzzy twisted buds.
Wet Leaf Aroma: Lightly woody. Still mostly twisted but a few open fully. Standard pluck of a bud and first two leaves. Flavor: Dry woods. Desert woods. A bit of leather. Winter squash.