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# Editorial Conversation: Tea with Max Falkowitz of Leafhopper
- URL: https://www.teatechnique.org/posts/editorial-conversation-tea-with-max-falkowitz-leafhopper/
- Published: 2025-09-16T12:00:33.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-16T12:00:32.000Z
- Author: Jason M Cohen
- Tags: Podcast

In this special edition of Tea Technique, Jason sits down over pu'er with Max Falkowitz, author of the popular tea newsletter [*Leafhopper*](https://leafhopper.substack.com/). 

Read Max's article on this conversation:

[Merchant myths and tea hot takesA conversation with Tea Technique’s Jason Cohen.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/0d/530dc7be-3103-44b3-ac0e-9e5fa86c285e/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Fb90df163-bb15-41bd-8cd9-125016e806e8-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)LeafhopperMax Falkowitz![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/0d/530dc7be-3103-44b3-ac0e-9e5fa86c285e/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F7993ab14-eff6-41c1-a51f-1fb3c2b183f6_4032x3024.heic)](https://leafhopper.substack.com/p/tea-technique-jason-cohen)

Listen to the podcast [here](https://tea-technique-editorial-conversations.simplecast.com/episodes/tea-with-max-falkowitz-of-leafhopper?ref=teatechnique.org):

The episode is also available on [YouTube](https://youtu.be/6EtSSwEWA3I?ref=teatechnique.org) (with video!) and [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0045GU8ZzPjrKa7Yuvw5PK?ref=teatechnique.org).  
See Max's article on the conversation in place of a transcript. 

Chapter Discussion Sections: 

- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:54 Max's Journey in Tea
- 05:21 The Dowry Tea for the Conversation
- 07:11 Processing Experiments Effect on Taste in Tea
- 10:22 Aging and Storage of Tea
- 12:24 The Demand for Gushu and the Invisible Market
- 22:04 Appellation Identity and Yesheng debate
- 31:28 What is Deep Forest Tea
- 41:17 Wuyi under the Microscope
- 47:50 Learning to Taste and Preference Ladder
- 54:49 The Lonely Hermit Online Forum Problem
- 59:35 Building a Better Media Environment
- 01:08:01 The Role of Cultural Context in Tea Appreciation
- 01:21:06 The Evolution of Tea Production Techniques
- 01:28:05 Factory Tea vs. Boutique Tea
- 01:34:43 The No Patina Club
- 01:36:00 The End Game in Tea
- 01:40:31 Future Passion Project
- 01:52:46 Hot Takes on Tea Culture
- 02:02:25 Tea Drinking Habits and Writing
- 02:09:47 Conclusion and Farewell

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