Staff Picks: James Touzel

James has been with Imperial Tea Court since 2005, working in the original Chinatown teahouse, the Ferry Building, and Berkeley. A native of Georgetown, South Carolina, James loves all Yunnan tea, but his current pick is Sword of the Emperor. In his words:

There's something really special about Yunnan that makes the tea from there so amazing. I like this tea's character of malty and fruity and sweet. The leaves are so beautiful, and it has an incredible smell. It gives you a buzz that just feels good. It's very different from other green tea. To get the full effect, I like to brew this tea in a gaiwan.