It was 1988 and my Mom took me to visit my Grandmother in Hong Kong. Even at that age I couldn't believe how amazing the city was. People were zipping around dressing and speaking in a way I had never experienced before. But, the best thing about it was the food...

I had to try everything I could. There was crab, duck, noodles and dim sum and I loved them all. What amazed me most were the flavor varieties in each dish. Since we were in a different country, the dishes used unusual ingredients and spices that we don't use here in the US. I knew at that point I wanted to explore exotic foods and flavors.

I enrolled in the French Culinary Institute in New York City and while I enjoyed cooking (and especially eating!) I found the culinary field to be a bit too boring. It was at this point I had an epiphany. Being a chef was just a means to an end - I realized that I loved to try new foods and enjoyed tasting unique flavors.

A few years after culinary school, I was walking down the street in Paris and stumbled upon a little cafe. What drew me in were the wonderful aromas wafting through the front doors. As I walked in, I noticed people sitting, talking and enjoying their surroundings. But, what made this place interesting was that everyone was drinking tea and not from teabags. Each table was adorned with beautiful teapots containing heaping servings of loose tea while the bar at the rear displayed hundreds of teas, all stored in little containers naming their origins and styles.

It was at this moment that I realized my passion for tea was really my future profession. I had loved tea since my visits to Hong Kong and today, tea allows me to practice every part of the culinary field I am so passionate about. It has a rich history as well as unlimited varieties, which affords me with the ability to experiment with different styles, varietals and blends while discovering new and amazing flavors I never knew existed.

I try and drink a new tea every single day for the obvious health benefits and also to explore the new trends in tea. But, most of all, I do it because it is what I love.

Every week I will review one of our own teas on YouTube to ensure our tea line is the best that we can possibly provide. You can join me for each cupping by clicking on this link.

If you have any questions about tea, Hong Kong, Paris or anything at all, please shoot me an email at Marcus@GoldenMoonTea.com and I'll be sure to get back to you.

Happy Tea Tasting!