About Bana Tea Company

Founded by Linda Louie in 2008, Bana Tea Company has been dedicated to the discovery and appreciation of exceptional Pu-erh tea for more than eighteen years. Through Linda's study with renowned Hong Kong tea expert Master Vesper Chan, extensive travels in the tea mountains of Yunnan, and relationships with tea farmers and producers, Bana developed a carefully selected collection ranging from distinctive young raw and ripe Pu-erh to rare and vintage teas.

In 2026, Linda retired and entrusted Bana Tea Company to Wendy Chen and Nathan Epstein, founders of Callisto Tea House. Wendy and Nathan continue Bana's commitment to quality, education, and responsible sourcing while building their own relationships with farmers and producers in Yunnan and seeking exciting new teas for Bana's collection.

Wendy & Nathan with Yi Luo, standing in front of lush green tea trees in the tea forests of Jingmai Mountain
Wendy Chen & Nathan Epstein with Yi Luo of the Bulang tribe at her tea forest on Jingmai Mountain in Yunnan

Our mission remains what it has always been: to share the fascinating world of Pu-erh and offer teas selected for their quality, character, provenance, and ability to provide years of enjoyment.

Sourcing & Selection

At Bana, we believe exceptional tea begins with careful selection and an understanding of where and how a tea was produced. Our collection includes teas sourced through direct relationships with farmers and producers, as well as carefully selected vintage and factory-produced teas whose quality, provenance, or character has earned them a place in Bana's collection.

For the teas we source directly in Yunnan, we seek out farmers and producers who share our commitment to quality and responsible stewardship of the land. Many of these teas are made from leaves harvested from old tea trees growing in the mountain regions of Yunnan, where tea cultivation is deeply connected to the traditions of the local communities.

We select teas for more than pedigree alone. Aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, body feel, finish, complexity, and the way a tea develops through successive infusions all inform our choices. Some teas distinguish themselves through the character of their origin or old-tree material; others through skilled craftsmanship, aging, storage, or simply a quality in the cup that we find compelling.

Whenever possible, we provide detailed information about a tea's origin, vintage, production, and storage so that tea drinkers can understand not only what they are drinking, but why we chose to offer it.

Wendy and Nathan are spending their first year with Bana studying closely with Linda and learning from her eighteen years of experience sourcing and selecting fine tea. Together, they are meeting and building relationships with Linda's longtime contacts among tea farmers, producers, collectors, and experts in Hong Kong and Yunnan.

Their 2026 sourcing trip to Yunnan marked the beginning of this next chapter for Bana, with new teas selected firsthand at their source. A trip to Fujian is already planned for 2027, continuing Bana's search for stand-out oolong, white, and black teas alongside its specialty in Pu-erh.

Linda Louie, founder of Bana Tea company

Linda Louie, Founder: "As a lifelong tea aficionado, I have long been intrigued by the history, culture and science behind Pu-erh tea. My tea master, Vesper Chan, is a renowned Pu-erh tea expert and owner of The Best Tea House of Hong Kong. With him, I have traveled extensively through Xishuangbanna Prefecture of Yunnan Province in China to visit the ancient tea gardens. Bana Tea Company was named after this beautiful, exotic and famous tea-producing region.”

Retail Outlets

Looking for a local shop to try Bana Teas? These retailers carry select varieties:

Happy Lucky’s Tea House - 236 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Tin Roof Tea - 419-B Daniels Street, Raleigh, NC 27605

The Cultured Cup - 13714 Gamma Rd., Ste., 104, Dallas, TX 75244

Callisto Tea House - 1359 N Altadena Dr. Pasadena, CA 91107

Visit Callisto Tea House