Shang’s Tea House

Do you know how to make a perfect cup of tea? Do you know what type of tea is the healthiest and of the best quality? We found out when we recently visited Shang’s Tea House in Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri.

Shang’s Tea House specializes in organic loose-leaf teas. His tea shop is the only shop in the United States that specializes in white tea. This tea is more common in the Fujian Province in southeast China, the healthiest hot spot for tea in the world.

Farm to Cup – the Best Tea
The teas offered by Shang are straight from farm to cup. No middleman.

Shang personally returns to China two times per year where he dries and prepares the handpicked tea leaves. He returns to China for the spring harvest in April and again for the fall harvest in September.

Healthy Tea
After sampling several cups of the various teas he served us, I expected to experience a headache since that is usually the result for me after drinking three or four cups of tea. I have always blamed it on the caffeine. But I felt fine after I had Shang’s tea.

Shang said, “You must have had some bad tea. The producer(s) may have used some chemical fertilizers or artificial flavors on their tea that was harmful. Good quality tea should not have harmful side effects.”

History of Tea
Tea was being used as medicine as far back as 4,000 years ago in China, but it began to be consumed as a beverage about 800 years ago during the Tang Dynasty.

Training
Shang received his training about white tea from Masters Fang and Zeng for years. While working with them, he learned about planting and growing the tea plants, how to direct the pickers who pick the tea leaves. He also learned about weathering, sun-drying, dehydrating, tasting/judging, blending, and packing the tea leaves.

Specialty Teas
Shang’s Tea House sells several types of their High Mountain Grown tea.
• White Peony King – White Tea
Honored for its soothing “health-giving” properties, it is high in anti-oxidants. People in China use good quality white tea leaves for blood pressure, brain health, and blood circulation. The delicate white tea with its silky texture and savory undertones has won the Golden Grand Prize in the Fujian Province.
• Tangerine Blossom – Red Tea
These tea leaves are infused with tangerine blossoms for about four weeks, and have a pleasant floral aroma and flavor, complimented by the deeper nutty Red Tea base. This tea has a rosy amber glow. In China, people use dried tangerine flowers for easier breathing and to help with digestion.
• Honeysuckle Herbal Tea
Made from the dried flowers of wild, mountain grown Honeysuckle. Shang maintains this is not the same honeysuckle growing wild in backyards in the U.S. In China, honeysuckle is highly prized for its medicinal value to cool the body, alleviate headaches and soothe sore throats. Honeysuckle flowers contain anti-inflammatory properties. “Honeysuckle and White Tea leaves together are a good combination for daily relaxation,” Shang said.

Travel Tips
• Shang’s Tea House is on Level 1 of the Crown Center Shops
2450 Grand Blvd, Suite 106, Kansas City, MO 64108
Hours: Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m; Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• http://www.shangtea.com
• Dim Sum served Monday—Saturday only; 11:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
• Tea Parties for up to 25 people by reservation only. At least two weeks notice needed. Interested parties should call ahead for prices and to schedule the event, (816) 421-2588.
• Parking Information: https://www.crowncenter.com/visitor-information/parking

Shang and his staff will treat you very well.

We had such a pleasant visit to Shang’s Tea House. Join me next week when I will write about Dim Sum. Better still, visit his tea house and experience it for yourself.

What is Dim Sum? Do you know? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Until next time . . . Travel Light,
SuZan