Benny Tsai grew up in Taichung Taiwan, the birthplace of the modern tea cafe and the home town of boba tea. Just as Seattle is the epicenter of coffee culture in the US, Taichung set the stage for new generation of tea.

When Benny moved to America he was dismayed by the poor quality of tea he found here. After years of searching for an authentic, Taiwan-style tea shop, Benny decided to start one on his own. With urging from his friends and family, Benny opened the first Shinka Tea in 2003 in Seattle's thriving University District.

Benny's vision for Shinka Tea is to showcase the two sides of modern Asian tea with a focus on quality, authenticity and natural tea flavor. Shinka Tea presents the playful side of tea with a menu of classic Taiwanese tea drinks prepared traditionally from recipes Benny brought to America from his home town. At the same time, Shinka Tea is a destination for tea lovers who enjoy the taste of traditional Asian tea. With a special focus on classic oolongs from Taiwan, Shinka Tea offers a wide selection of affordable but high quality loose leaf teas sold by the pot or in bulk.

Benny's favorite tea is Ti Kuan Yin (or ''Iron Goddess of Mercy'), a roasted oolong with a complex, toasty flavor. Benny's milk tea of choice is traditional black milk tea, unflavored and lightly sweetened with raw sugar syrup.