Richard and So-Han welcome special guest Mike Groener of Creador Spirits and Bar Singular at West China Tea for an enlightening discussion about mezcal, traditional tea, and the fascinating parallels between these two artisanal beverages. In this episode, we explore the complexities of clay-distilled mezcal from San Bernardo Mixtepec, paired with a smoky 2019 wild Tianjian fermented tea from Hunan, China. The conversation delves into the cultural significance of both beverages, traditional production methods, and the importance of agricultural heritage in both Mexican and Chinese traditions. Mike shares his extensive knowledge of mezcal production, including insights about denomination of origin regulations and the authentic spirit-making practices that exist outside official designations. Through the tasting experience, we discover surprising similarities between the smoky profiles of both beverages, while discussing the importance of artisanal production methods and how they affect the final product. This episode offers a unique perspective on how traditional beverages connect us to the land, culture, and the people who craft them. ⸺ credits ⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺ Richard Amiro - host http://richardamiro.com So-Han Fan - guest https://www.youtube.com/@TeaHouseGhost - https://westchinatea.com/ Cory Cranfill - a really helpful guy https://youtube.com/@shedlogic - https://www.righttoolmedia.com Guest - Mike Groener IG - @creadorspirits, @lamataspiri https://www.barsingular.com ⸺ socials ⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺ Website: https://whiskeyprovisioner.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whiskeyprovisioner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiskeyProvisioner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiskey_provisioner Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhiskeyProvis