Rishi Tea & Botanicals

Joshua Kaiser’s travels through Asia are the starting point for Rishi Tea & Botanicals. In 1997, he founded the company to introduce North American consumers to artisan teas he had encountered on those journeys. The idea was to present their origins and production with the attention already given to single-origin coffees and varietal wines. Milwaukee is its contact headquarters.

Selecting, importing, and making define three parts of its work. The team maintains direct relationships with farmers and specialists, visits growing regions, and studies how leaves are cultivated and processed. The company explains that these relationships allow each lot to be traced to its farm of origin. Culinary inspiration extends to blends of herbs, spices, and other botanicals.

The store organizes purchases by type: black, green, white, oolong, pu-erh, and other dark teas, alongside chai and caffeine-free infusions. Shoppers can also choose by format, from loose leaves and sachets to concentrates, powders, and Sparkling Botanicals drinks. Browsing citrus, floral, roasted, or spicy flavor profiles helps navigate the range.

Earl Grey Supreme, Jasmine, and Golden Yunnan are among its regular offerings. Nishi Sencha First Flush represents Japanese green teas, while Golden Chamomile Blossoms provides a chamomile infusion. Garden Direct brings together seasonal origin selections, with limited lots highlighting specific varieties and places. Product descriptions distinguish tasting notes from ingredients to explain what each name describes.

Matcha has dedicated powders, sets, and utensils. There are bowls, whisks, and accessories, alongside teapots, cups, and brewing equipment for loose leaves. Sampler boxes combine several teas, with options including a mug or Simple Brew vessel. Gift cards and subscriptions provide other ways to buy and receive new selections.

Educational content accompanies the products through travel accounts, recipes, and guidance on brewing each tea type. The journal addresses subjects such as water temperature and gongfu cha, alongside cooking and drink ideas. That information connects leaf provenance with practical kitchen decisions, such as the brewing method and equipment used.

Professional buyers have inquiry forms and account support separate from consumer sales. Rishi also offers a way to locate retail stockists. Its catalog thus combines origin lots, house blends, and preparations for different uses, with a structure that supports moving from a familiar drink to a less familiar one while understanding how to prepare it.