Tea importer David Lee Hoffman travels throughout China--sometimes on foot--in search of handcrafted premium teas. Follow this adventurer as he discovers exquisite teas and attempts to overcome bureaucratic obstacles to buying tea directly from farmers. Hoffman is most interested in teas that have been handpicked and carefully dried and heated to create the fragrance, color and taste unique to each tea-maker. As he admires a cup of tea, he describes the care that went into picking each tea bud, then mourns the tea-makers who may not be around much longer. China's emphasis on factory-produced tea treated with chemical fertilizers is endangering the small farmer who has produced organic tea for generations. Hoffman's goal is to open the Chinese tea market, support the small farmers and make high-quality handmade teas available outside of China. The documentary also reveals every step of the tea-making process, from the picking of the buds to their slow heating over a wok. Tea experts discuss the history and tradition of tea drinking and its health benefits.