Why are Specialty Teas so Special? 🌱

Not all tea is created equal. 👀

Part of Bibek Rai's biodiverse, family tea garden

In the last few decades, the world has come to understand the difference between commodity and specialty coffee, and now more and more tea lovers are beginning to appreciate what makes a true specialty tea so remarkable. It is not simply about gulping tea—it is about experiencing the craftsmanship, the terroir, and the unique origin in every cup.

Bibek Rai in front of his tea withering trough.

Specialty teas are often produced by small family-owned tea gardens and artisan producers. Their focus is on quality rather than quantity. Tea leaves are harvested by hand at the perfect moment, processed with exceptional skill, and handled with great care to preserve their unique natural aromas and character that can only come from this special place with its unique microclimate and conditions.

Bibek sorting a handcrafted oolong tea!

One very inspiring artisan tea producer is Bibek Rai from Fikkal, Nepal. In the image below, Bibek shows the exquisite Mundum Orthodox Black tea that he has just created. This is a specialty handmade organic black tea. The tea is grown sustainably, like all teas, on his family’s farm. This specialty tea is named after the Mundum, which is the sacred oral tradition and spiritual guide of the indigenous people of eastern Nepal, highlighting their cultural heritage.

Mundum orthodox specialty black tea, made by Bibek Rai. Lots of wonderful honey aroma and flavours in this tea!

Specialty teas are fascinating in that they not only tell the unique story of their terroir—the unique combination of climate, altitude, soil, and rainfall—but also are the result of local traditions of indigenous people.

White tea from the first flush i Nepal, March 2026.

Some of the world's most celebrated specialty teas come from regions such as:

• Himalayan Nepal – producing impressive handcrafted teas with floral elegance. This is where Bibek Rai comes from, Fikkal, Nepal. Most tea farmers here own their land.

• Darjeeling, India – the teas are often called the "Champagne of Tea" for their delicate, sought-after muscatel flavors.

• Yunnan, China – home to exceptional white teas, black teas, and Pu-erhs. The best ones are made from old, sustainable tea trees that have grown wild in a biodiverse environment, like the ones from my tea teacher Shana Zhang at Wild Tea Qi. 

• Fujian, China – birthplace of legendary white teas, oolong teas, and jasmine teas.

• The highlands of Sri Lanka – where innovative tea makers are creating outstanding white, green, and artisanal black teas alongside the country's classic styles.

• Uji, Japan – renowned for shaded Matcha and Gyokuro.

• Taiwan – internationally admired for some of the world's finest high-mountain oolong teas.

• Vietnam - now moving from mass-produced tea to higher quality and artisan specialty teas, especially in the north where young producers renovate plantations with old tea trees, particularly in Hà Giang and Yên Bái. 

New possibilities in tea will open up!

I believe we are only at the beginning of a global shift.

All over the planet, consumers are becoming more interested in where their food and beverages come from, how they are produced, and who produces them. Increasingly, many people value authenticity, wellness & harmony, sustainability, biodiversity, and products with a genuine story behind them. This trend naturally favors specialty tea.

Specialty teas offer far more than delicate aromas and flavours. The qi of these teas is so much stronger than mass-produced teas.

At the same time, many tea producers are recognizing that competing on volume alone is more difficult. By producing higher-quality sustainable teas, protecting their environment, and investing in skilled craftsmanship, they can create greater value while often using fewer resources and strengthening the long-term health of their farms and everyone who lives from them.

If you want to organize a tea cupping, welcome to contact me and I will be happy to tailor the event to suit your preferences!

For these reasons, I believe the percentage of sustainably produced specialty teas will continue to grow over the coming decades. It benefits all of us — the tea farmers, our environment, and tea lovers around the world.

Every cup of specialty tea reflects the people, the landscape, and generations of knowledge that have refined and mastered the skills necessary to transform these mighty leaves into something truly extraordinary.

Mountain Peaks in Nepal, view from a base camp on the way up to Ama Yangri, March 2026.

Welcome to contact me to be able to buy these wonderful specialty teas made by Bibek Rai! If you are a private person, you can get them at Långbrolanthandel, Långbro Gård in Mölnbo.