Colonial Bohea - 3oz Loose Tea in Signature Tea Tin

Colonial Bohea by Oliver Pluff & Co.: Tea with a tale to tell

Bohea tea, (pronounced “Boo-hee”), was by far the largest tea import during colonial times. Sometimes called Bohea Souchong or Lapsang Bohea, the blend originated in China with trade to the British and Dutch East India Companies. It was so popular that the word bohea became the slang term for tea. The blend varied wildly, consisting of broken orange pekoe, pekoe, and souchong dumped in a pile and then sifted, typically the scrap tea of lower quality leaves, but was considered high quality by the colonists. 

Pictured on the label is a political cartoon printed by Benjamin Franklin, which became a powerful emblem of colonial unity that resurfaced during the Stamp Act crisis and American Revolutionary war, symbolizing resistance against British rule. 

History: During the Boston Tea Party, 242 chests of Bohea were destroyed.  

Ingredients: Black tea leaves

Brewing tips: Brew at 195 degrees for 3 - 5 minutes

Size/Type:  3oz loose tea, sealed in matte black signature tea tin

Shelf Life: 3 Years

Hand Blended and Packaged by Oliver Pluff & Co. Charleston, South Carolina

A note from the Team at Oliver Pluff & Co.:

We are more than purveyors of tea—we are storytellers. Each blend we offer is a chapter in a larger tale: of trade routes and revolution, of distant tea gardens and colonial American hearths.

Our journey began with a simple question: What teas were thrown into Boston Harbor during the Tea Party of 1773? That inquiry led us deep into the records of the British East India Company and the bustling tea markets of Canton, China where we uncovered the names of the original blends (Bohea, Congou, Singlo, and more) and traced their journey from leaf to rebellion.

We’ve recreated these historic blends with care and fidelity, allowing you to sip the same teas that helped spark a revolution. When you raise a cup of Young Hyson or Bohea, you’re not just tasting tea—you’re tasting history.

Every Oliver Pluff & Co. blend invites you to slow down, steep deeply, and savor the story in every cup.