Heritage Leaves is more than a tea company; it’s a way for me to honor my roots and invite you into the story that continues to shape who I am. 

My name is John Lin, and Heritage Leaves is a reflection of my journey—a path that began in the tea-covered hills of Taiwan and continues today in the United States, one cup at a time.

I was born into a family of tea growers. In Taiwan, tea was woven into the rhythm of everyday life. I grew up on my family’s tea farm, surrounded by the scent of freshly picked leaves and the quiet focus of careful processing. From a young age, I came to understand the value of patience, the importance of craft, and the deep respect that each harvest deserved.

In the early 2000s, I moved to the U.S. for school and I adjusted to a new pace and new priorities. Tea became just another drink, and I lost touch with the heritage that had shaped so much of who I was.

Years later, after settling into life here and starting a family of my own, I began to feel a growing need to reconnect. During a return visit to Taiwan, I found myself walking the same tea fields where I had once played as a child. I sat again with my family, sharing tea slowly and mindfully, and was reminded of everything I had left behind. That experience stayed with me—it rekindled not only my love for tea but a desire to share it with others in an honest and meaningful way.

That’s how Heritage Leaves was born.

All of our teas come directly from my family’s farm in Taiwan. We grow, harvest, and craft each batch by hand, using the same methods that have been passed down through generations. There are no intermediaries and no shortcuts—just a commitment to quality, tradition, and the land we know intimately. Each leaf carries the character of our farm, our family, and the place we call home.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

John Lin
Founder, Heritage Leaves