The Story Behind TeaHoppers
From France to the Soul of Asia
Some passions cannot be learned from books. They take root over time, shaped by the land, mountain mists, and the rhythm of the seasons.
This is the story of Stephen Mangin and his lifelong pursuit of exceptional tea.
Based in Taiwan for nineteen years, Stephen has dedicated the past seventeen years to exploring the world of fine tea. His journey began in France, where he created his first tea import business. However, a deeper calling eventually led him to Asia.
He chose to build his life in Taiwan, close to the tea farms and the people who cultivate them. Over the years, he explored high-altitude plantations, developed relationships with local farmers, and discovered the extraordinary diversity of Taiwanese tea.
Today, TeaHoppers represents the culmination of that journey.
The name itself carries a poetic connection to the world of tea. TeaHoppers refers to the tiny insects that feed on young tea leaves. When these insects bite the leaves, the tea plant naturally reacts by developing distinctive aromatic compounds.
The result can be remarkably sweet and complex, with pronounced honeyed notes and a naturally silky texture.
This delicate transformation captures something essential about TeaHoppers: exceptional tea does not always come from controlling nature. Sometimes, it comes from understanding it.
Where It All Began
When Stephen Mangin arrived in Taiwan nearly twenty years ago, his original plan was simple: study Mandarin at university.
He could not yet imagine how deeply Taiwan would transform his life.
Coming from France, where tea had mostly meant tea bags and sweet milk tea, Stephen discovered an entirely different world. The mountains, the tea gardens, and the care given to every leaf opened the door to a new way of experiencing tea.
He soon discovered gong fu cha, the traditional art of preparing tea with patience, precision, and attention. More than a brewing method, it introduced him to the deeper cultural and human dimensions of tea.
Through farmers, producers, and tea masters, Stephen gradually discovered cha dao, the Way of Tea.
The generosity he encountered in Taiwan left an equally lasting impression. Tea was often shared freely, with visitors welcomed into farms and homes around a simple cup.
Wanting to share this culture with tea lovers in France, Stephen eventually created his own tea import business. As his roots in Taiwan grew deeper, the business evolved alongside him.
Today, his search has expanded far beyond Taiwan. Yet the connection that first began in the mountains of Taiwan remains at the heart of TeaHoppers.
A Life Between Tea, Culture and Asia
Discovering Stephen's tea selections means discovering more than exceptional leaves. It means entering a world shaped by culture, craftsmanship, and human connections.
Over the years, Stephen learned Mandarin to a fluent level. This allowed him to build deeper relationships with people across Taiwan and mainland China.
His passion for cultural exchange naturally led him to work in tourism in Taipei. Through this experience, he became a bridge between East and West.
His approach has always focused on authentic encounters rather than standardized experiences. He seeks to share Asia through its people, traditions, landscapes, and cultural heritage.
This same search for authenticity extends beyond tea.
Stephen has a longstanding fascination with natural materials shaped by the earth. He has developed a particular appreciation for precious and semi-precious stones, especially jade. He regularly visits Taipei's renowned weekend jade market and also follows the world of natural gold and raw gold nuggets.
For Stephen, these interests are connected.
Tea, minerals, philosophy, and craftsmanship all reflect the same relationship between nature and human hands.
This vision influences the way TeaHoppers approaches premium tea from Taiwan and Asia.
The Art of Rare Tea
At TeaHoppers, the finest teas have a very specific characteristic: rarity.
Our most exclusive teas come from private gardens where production remains naturally limited. These gardens do not pursue mass production.
For the highest grades, a complete harvest may produce no more than thirty kilograms.
In many cases, production remains far smaller. Some exceptional lots yield around seven kilograms per harvest.
Certain high-altitude teas become available only once each year.
Such limited production creates a different relationship with tea. These are not products designed for unlimited availability.
They are rare expressions of a particular place, season, and harvest.
TeaHoppers therefore applies strict quantities to some of its most exclusive teas. Individual allocations may be limited to a specific number of grams per person and per harvest.
This approach helps preserve access for passionate tea lovers. It also respects the natural scarcity of these exceptional lots.
Rarity alone, however, is not enough.
The finest lots can also undergo meticulous hand sorting. Imperfect leaves are removed individually to preserve the visual and aromatic character of the final tea.
The result is tea approached with the precision of fine craftsmanship.
Our Commitment to Purity and Fairness
Quality begins with the tea itself. However, it also begins with the people and practices behind it.
Stephen places particular importance on the purity and safety of every tea selected for TeaHoppers.
Where appropriate, teas undergo strict chemical testing. These analyses help verify the absence of unwanted residues and provide an additional level of quality control.
This commitment extends throughout the supply chain.
TeaHoppers places strong importance on fair relationships with farmers and producers. The objective is simple: recognize the value of their knowledge, craftsmanship, and work.
For Stephen, exceptional tea cannot exist without the people who cultivate it.
The relationship between producer and tea merchant therefore matters as much as the final cup.
Respect for the land, respect for craftsmanship, and respect for people form the foundation of the TeaHoppers approach.
The Vision of Universal Teas
Exceptional tea can sometimes appear intimidating.
The rarer and more delicate a tea becomes, the more precise its preparation may seem. Water temperature, infusion time, and technique can all affect the final result.
TeaHoppers explores another approach: universal teas.
These are exceptionally harmonious teas designed to express their character with remarkable ease.
They are forgiving and naturally balanced. Even small variations in water temperature or infusion time should not prevent the tea from expressing its qualities.
This philosophy allows exceptional tea to become more approachable.
TeaHoppers seeks these remarkable teas across Taiwan, China, India, Nepal, and other tea-producing regions.
The objective is not to collect origins simply for the sake of variety.
Instead, the search focuses on teas with exceptional character, balance, and personality.
Why We Do Not Permanently Stock Green Tea
Stephen has a particular passion for Chinese green tea.
However, TeaHoppers does not currently maintain a permanent green tea selection.
Exceptional green tea depends heavily on freshness. Its character can change considerably as time passes after harvest.
Rather than offer a green tea once it has passed its ideal period, TeaHoppers prefers to wait for the right harvest.
Future pre-orders may provide an opportunity to offer exceptional green teas at their freshest.
Looking Beyond Darjeeling
TeaHoppers is also exploring new possibilities beyond traditional tea regions.
Darjeeling remains famous for its exceptional teas. However, Stephen has increasingly looked toward Nepal and its emerging tea regions.
Nepal offers remarkable mountain terroirs and distinctive growing conditions. Some producers work with extremely small lots, sometimes producing only a few kilograms per harvest.
TeaHoppers is particularly interested in farms following biodynamic principles and in the potential of these Himalayan terroirs.
Stephen also seeks opportunities to share cultivation and processing knowledge developed across Taiwan, China, and Japan.
The objective is to help reveal the potential of exceptional tea regions beyond the most established names.
Looking Ahead
The TeaHoppers journey is still evolving.
Our search for exceptional tea will continue across Taiwan and throughout Asia.
Future selections may include remarkable Chinese white teas, chosen for their delicacy, visual beauty, and natural purity.
TeaHoppers also hopes to rediscover exceptional Second Flush Muscatel teas from Darjeeling when the right quality becomes available.
Some of these teas are associated with the distinctive effects created by tea leafhoppers, which can contribute to their characteristic muscatel and honeyed aromas.
The search will always remain selective.
TeaHoppers would rather offer a small number of exceptional teas than a catalogue filled simply for the sake of variety.
Teaware: Simplicity in the Service of Tea
Exceptional tea deserves an equally thoughtful setting.
Our approach to teaware follows the same philosophy as our tea selection: simplicity, balance, and purpose.
The collection remains deliberately limited.
Each piece should help create the right conditions for enjoying tea without adding unnecessary complexity.
From time to time, TeaHoppers will also introduce unique pieces created by exceptional ceramic artists or distinctive bamboo craftsmen.
These objects may be rare, beautiful, and highly individual.
Yet their purpose remains simple: to serve the tea and enhance the experience.
For TeaHoppers, beauty should never compete with the tea.
Instead, form should serve function, and function should serve taste.
The TeaHoppers Philosophy
TeaHoppers is ultimately about a simple idea.
Exceptional tea begins with exceptional places, people, and moments.
From the mountains of Taiwan to emerging tea regions across Asia, we search for teas with a genuine sense of origin and character.
We select them in limited quantities, work closely with producers, and share them with people who appreciate the difference.
TeaHoppers is an invitation to discover tea differently.
Not simply as a beverage, but as an expression of land, craftsmanship, culture, and time.
