May 30, 2017
Far Leaves is a treasure in Berkeley, CA. A place to enjoy a pot of luxurious teas from Asia or simply buy a canister to take home — Far Leaves is an oasis of calm, nestled on a busy, industrial section of San Pablo. I always look forward to visiting for a cup of tea with […]
August 25, 2016
Far Leaves Tea in Berkeley sources exceptionally high-quality teas from around the world. We now carry three Far Leaves premium teas at Umami Mart for your sipping pleasure: Far Leaves Matcha Sencha If you need a little caffeine boost during the day, we recommend Matcha Sencha. It combines two traditional Japanese green teas – sharp, […]
April 11, 2016
The first time I learned how to make matcha was from my grandmother, Baba-chan, in Tokyo. I was in second grade when she first showed me how to make matcha. I quickly forgot about it when I moved back to California in fourth grade. Oddly enough, while I was listening to industrial music in my […]
March 17, 2016
Last year, we sold out of our limited-edition porcelain travel mug designed exclusively for Umami Mart by Studio Arhoj. We got so many emails and walk-in customers asking us – sometimes begging us – to bring it back. One customer wrote, “It is my favorite mug and I cannot find it anywhere on your website. Do you […]
January 7, 2013
It’s so cold in the woods these days — cozy up with a warm cup of Chai-Nog! Just mix one part chai tea (loose leaf or from a tea bag) with one part egg nog, then sprinkle with nutmeg. Spike it with a bit of whiskey or rum for a nightcap! This will surely warm […]
December 4, 2012
 On a combined wedding/tour/family holiday in Sri Lanka in mid-November, I had two days in Colombo with my parents. One of the things I’ve been trying to do for the past few years was to visit Euphorium Tea Salon which supplies Ceylon tea to Lanka, a Japanese pâtisserie in London. But each time I’ve […]
October 29, 2012
We are extremely excited to present yunomi (teacups) exclusively made for us by our dear friends Jay + Rie of Atelier Dion. They have been running their ceramic studio in West Oakland since 2010, and for years we’ve been in conversation with them to make something just for Umami Mart. Our wish has finally been […]
October 1, 2012
Happy October! The air is a bit crisper, the leaves, brighter. What better way to get ready for the colder months than to cozy up with coffee and tea? We’ll be celebrating the mighty bean and tea leaf all month, with warming posts on the subject, and a sale over at the Umami Mart Shop, […]
July 19, 2012
Tea estates in Darjeeling are very aware that organic sells. Some tea estates convert their whole operation into an organic one, while others simply can not afford the high costs that are needed to apply for certification. It takes about three years for inspectors to certify a tea estate as organic. But considering that the […]
July 12, 2012
Out of all the tea plantations I went to during my trip, Castleton seemed to have the most modern and well-kept facilities. The operation is large and the tea estate itself supports the livelihood of thousands of families. One of the defining characteristics of Castleton for me was the emphasis they put on “clonal teas.” […]