three tea bags sit in front of a box labeled origin reserve sampler
Tea package labeled 'Mi Lan Xiang' from 'The Tea Spot' on a white background
Origin Reserve Sampler
Tea package labeled 'Cacao Kisses' with a white background
Origin Reserve Sampler
Tea package labeled 'Moonlight Darjeeling' from 'The Tea Spot' on a white background
Origin Reserve Sampler
Tea-making setup with an origin reserve tea sampler, pink teapot, cup of tea, and open book on a wooden surface.

Origin Reserve Sampler

$74.95
( / )

ALMOST SOLD OUT for 2025!
Meet Maria’s Picks, a limited-release sampler from our Origins Collection. You get three rare, small-batch teas straight from the gardens featured in 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die, all chosen by our founder and CEO, Maria Uspenski. It’s a relaxed, joyful way to taste what Maria loves most and discover your own favorites along the way.

Shipping Information:

  • Free Shipping: Enjoy FREE shipping on orders $49 or more within the lower 48 states.
  • Flat Rate Shipping: A flat rate of $4.99 applies to orders below $49 within the lower 48 states.
  • Special Locations: Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam now enjoy FREE Shipping on orders over $100.
  • Processing Time: Orders are shipped from our warehouse within 2-3 business days, Monday–Friday, after payment and delivery address verification.

Returns Policy:

  • Tea Products: Tea cannot be returned as it is a food product. We recommend trying smaller sample sizes to ensure satisfaction before committing to larger bulk sizes.
  • Steepware Returns: For unopened/unused Steepware, we offer store credit (minus the cost of return shipping) within 30 days of your delivery date.
  • Incorrect or Damaged Items: If you received an incorrect or damaged item, please contact us via call or email within 30 days of your delivery date, and we will rectify the problem immediately!
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Three icons with text on a teal background: '10% of profits donated', 'plant-based sachets', and 'free shipping* on orders $40+'.

*teapot, cups, and book pictured not included with sampler

Maria’s Picks: Origin Reserve Sampler

A tasting set curated by our founder and CEO, Maria Uspenski, inspired by teas featured in her new book, 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die.

This sampler set is a great way to start your journey in the world of single-origin teas. Three teas from three dramatically different landscapes. Three expressions of craft and culture. These are the teas Maria returns to again and again for their clarity, balance, and quiet beauty in the cup, and you can learn even more about them in the 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die book! 

This tea collection is a beautiful way to explore side-by-side how tea reflects place, season, and the care of the people who grow it.

What’s Inside:

Mi Lan Xiang, Organic*

Organic Fenghuang Dancong Oolong
Origin: Propitious Clouds Estate, Fenghuang Town, Guangdong, China
Cultivar: Mi Lan Xiang (蜜兰香)
Harvest: April 2025

40 gram pouch of loose leaf tea

Mi Lan Xiang means “Honey Orchid Fragrance.” Expect bright floral aromatics, honeyed sweetness, and layered stone-fruit notes like peach, plum, and lychee. Smooth and uplifting with a refreshing, lightly toasty finish. Each steep reveals something new.

How to steep
• 5.5 grams tea per 16 ounces water
• 185 °F
• Steep for 2 minutes to start
• Resteep 5 to 7 times, adding a few seconds with each infusion

a man stands in a tea field

Bitaco Cacao Kisses, Organic*

Organic Colombian Black tea with organic cacao nibs & husks
Origin: Bitaco Tea Garden, Colombia
Cultivar: Camellia sinensis var. sinensis X Camellia sinensis var. assamica creole cultivars
Harvest: May 2025

60 gram pouch of loose leaf tea

Medium-bodied and balanced with soft cocoa aroma, hints of sugarcane, and a pleasant underlying astringency. The cacao adds a warm, bittersweet depth that enhances the tea’s natural richness without overpowering it. Together, they create a distinctive cup that highlights Colombia’s dual agricultural heritage in both tea and cacao.

How to steep
• 5.5 grams tea per 16 ounces water
• Water heated to 212 °F
• Steep for 3-5 minutes

five men stand in a tea field

Moonlight First Flush Darjeeling

Single Estate Black Tea
Origin: Turzum Estate, Darjeeling, India
Cultivar: AV2
Harvest: April 2025

30 gram pouch of loose leaf tea

Bright and lively with spring fruit and soft floral sweetness. Aromas of cantaloupe, apricot, and orchard blossoms lead into a crisp golden cup with a touch of muscatel. Refreshing, smooth, and full of light.

How to steep
• 5.5 grams tea per 16 ounces water
• Water heated to 190 °F
• Steep for 2-3 minutes
• Resteep 2 to 4 times

three women pick teas in a tea field

 

Features:

  • 3 pouches of loose leaf tea 
  • Gift-ready box!