In the gardens of Tai Mo Shan, three young artisans are crafting a new chapter for premium tea in Hong Kong
On a clear summer’s morning in Hong Kong, we find ourselves wandering through terraced tea gardens. Rows of lush tea bushes cascade down the hillsides as wisps of mist drift between them – a scene more reminiscent of the Alishan mountains or Sri Lanka’s highland estates than this metropolis of skyscrapers. Yet at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, we find a calmer side to the city, 400 metres above sea level.
It’s here that we meet three young entrepreneurs who are reviving tea production in Hong Kong: Li In, known as “Lamlam”; Li Tin-on, or “Season”; and Chan Tsz-ting, or “Ting”. In their thirties and having been friends with each other for close to a decade, the trio founded the Hong Kong Tea Production Institute (HKTPI) in 2023. Each brings a distinct background to their shared goal: to create authentic, premium tea that is uniquely Hong Kong…
