Questions, answered

You can fill your bag as a guest, but you’ll need to create an account or sign in at checkout, so your orders and their status are kept in one place.

Checkout runs on Stripe’s secure payment page, which takes all major cards and, where available, Apple Pay and Google Pay. We never see or store your card details.

Not while it’s in the bag: small lots can sell out. Once you start checkout we hold the stock for you for 30 minutes while you pay. If you leave or the payment fails, it goes back on the shelf.

Write to us as soon as possible at hello@oldroad.example with your order number. If it hasn’t been packed yet we’ll change it or refund it in full.

Every order and its status is in your account.

Within the United States for now. We hope to ship further soon.

We pack orders within 2 working days, then they usually arrive in 3–5 working days. Full details are on the shipping & returns page.

Unopened tea and unused teaware can come back within 30 days. Opened tea can’t, for hygiene reasons, but if you’re disappointed by a tea, tell us anyway.

Most teas want an airtight tin away from light, heat and strong smells, and are best within a year of opening. Pu’er is different: keep it with a little airflow and steady humidity, and it will keep improving for years.

Slide a pu’er knife or a blunt butter knife into the edge of the cake, parallel to the layers, and lever gently so the leaves come away in flakes rather than crumbs. Take 5–8 g for a session.

A ripe (shou) pu’er or a medium-roast rock oolong: both are rich and hard to over-brew. Our gongfu brewing guide and pu’er primer are good next steps.

Yes. Use about a third of the gongfu amount of leaf and steep for 3–4 minutes. You can usually re-steep the same leaves once or twice.