06/26/2026
🍊 A Little Orange. A Big Surprise.
At first glance, it looks like nothing more than a tiny dried orange, only about 1½ - 2 inches across, as though someone captured a bit of summer sunshine and preserved it for another day. Bring it to your nose, and you'll discover the aroma of sweet citrus and fresh honeycomb.
Now here's the fun part...
If I handed it to you and asked what was inside, chances are you would never guess.
Inside is a GABA tea, crafted using the traditional processing methods of young (sheng) pu'erh - except it isn't made from the tea plant at all.
That's right.
No Camellia sinensis.
No caffeine.
Meet the Tea Orange.
Tea oranges have been enjoyed in southern China for generations. Traditionally, a small fresh orange is hollowed out, temporarily filled with rice to help it keep its shape while drying, then the rice is removed and the dried shell is filled with tea.
We decided to take that tradition one step further.
Instead of drying an empty orange shell first, we place our Himalayan blackberry tea inside while the peel is still fresh. As the orange slowly dries, the peel naturally contracts around the tea, gently compressing it. For weeks, the tea and citrus peel mature together, exchanging aromas until they become something neither could have become alone.
But the tea itself has quite a story.
Instead of tea leaves, we wildforage the tender spring shoots of wild Himalayan blackberry from the mountains of Washington State in the Pacific Northwest. Here, Himalayan blackberry is an aggressive invasive species. Rather than seeing it as a problem, we see an opportunity to transform an abundant local plant into something beautiful.
The young shoots are processed through all of the same steps used to produce traditional Chinese sheng pu'erh. Those techniques naturally develop the tannin structure and polyphenol complexity that give the infusion a remarkably authentic tea character - despite containing no tea leaves and absolutely no caffeine.
The tea then undergoes an anaerobic finishing process that naturally creates its GABA content.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a compound naturally found in the human nervous system and is associated with relaxation and a sense of calm. GABA teas have become popular among tea lovers who enjoy their gentle, grounding character without relying on caffeine.
Blackberries themselves have been appreciated for centuries. All members of the Rubus - the raspberry family (blackberry being one of them) are naturally rich in anthocyanins, polyphenols, fiber, ellagic acid, vitamins, and minerals. Modern research continues to explore their potential roles in supporting cardiovascular health, healthy blood sugar regulation, gut health, and reducing oxidative stress. And, of course, all the members of the raspberry family are also renowned for their women's health benefits!
Yet perhaps the most fascinating part is this:
It still drinks like tea.
Most experienced tea drinkers immediately recognize that something is unusual, yet very few realize they aren't drinking Camellia sinensis. It feels every bit as structured and refined as a carefully crafted tea rather than a typical herbal infusion.
The flavor unfolds gradually:
🍊 Bright citrus.
🍯 Soft honey sweetness.
🌿 Deep woody and floral notes with a delicate custard-like finish.
The liquor begins as a pale golden infusion before gradually deepening into a rich amber with subtle green highlights over successive infusions.
The body is clean, elegant, and beautifully structured, finishing with lingering honey notes that invite another sip.
Even the orange itself becomes part of the experience. Rather than serving as simple packaging, it slowly shapes the tea during drying, becoming an inseparable part of the finished creation.
How do you brew it?
Gong Fu (pour-through) style
Each Tea Orange contains approximately 0.53 oz of tea, enough for an exceptionally long Gong Fu session. Brew the whole orange for an afternoon of exploration, or break it apart and enjoy several separate sessions.
Use freshly boiling water (212°F). This tea loves heat. Begin with short infusions and gradually lengthen each steep as the flavors evolve from bright citrus to honey sweetness and finally to rich woody-floral complexity.
Everyday brewing
One Tea Orange can produce well over 2½ gallons of delicious tea.
Simply break off a portion (about 0.1 oz per quart of water) into your favorite thermos or teapot, pour in freshly boiling water, and enjoy throughout the day.
Some of our customers have even discovered an unexpected bonus: after brewing, both the softened orange peel and the tea inside are completely edible. Several have even told us their children enjoy eating them as a pleasantly citrusy treat.
Sometimes the most extraordinary teas are the ones that quietly challenge our assumptions about what tea can be.
At Best of Health Tea Company of Seattle, we believe tea is more than a single plant. It is a craft, a tradition, and an invitation to slow down, be fully present, and discover something entirely new.
If you've ever wondered whether there are still completely unexplored frontiers in the world of tea, perhaps this little orange is where your next journey begins.
