Set up in September 2004, Choi Time is the dream-child of Melissa Choi.
Melissa moved to London over seven years ago and has been serving her friends
the elixir of life ever since. Having grown up with Chinese tea a dietary
staple, Melissa, who is half Chinese, would insist her friends have a
cup whenever they dropped in. She would give delightful little boxes
of tea as presents to friends. After much urging, she decided to convert
and educate more people on the truly holistic benefits of Chinese tea drinking.
Born in Hong Kong, of a Chinese father and Australian mother, Melissa was introduced to Jasmine tea at a very young age:
“When we were growing up, my sisters and I spent a lot of time with our Chinese grandmother whom we adored. She was always telling us that drinking Jasmine tea would ward off any illnesses and would keep us young, beautiful and always slim. My grandmother would insist that we have at least 3 cups a day, she was a living testament to the benefits of the tea, she was always so beautiful and looking back on photographs of her, you can see her skin barely had a wrinkle even at the age of 75.”
“I love the ritual of drinking Chinese tea. It brings back all the
wonderful memories of sitting with my grandmother around her beautiful
old blackwood table. Every Sunday she would bring out the family glass
tea set, which belonged to my great-grandmother, and my sisters and
I would sit and watch her drop the bulbs of tea in. They unfurled as
she poured in the boiling water delighting me when I saw
them blooming like an underwater garden.”
“I chose the name Choi Time as it is a part of my heritage. My surname is Choi which was my Grandmother’s name and Choi Time evokes the memories of the time I spent with her ”
“Chinese tea was my best kept beauty secret until setting up Choi Time. I drink about 10 cups a day, I truly believe that it not only keeps me healthy inside but also helps maintain my weight and keeps my skin soft and supple. I’m always being told how young I look; I’ve learnt to appreciate this as a compliment as I've got older.”
“My friends are all hooked on Choi Time Tea, even the biggest coffee addicts have become converts after experiencing the benefits of it, and it’s not only so good for you but tastes wonderful too. Drinking Chinese tea isn’t a new thing, the Asians have been doing it since their civilisation began, I’m sure that’s why they all appear so young and slim.”
