About Ivy Hermit Because modern life pulls us outward while demanding constant attention. Ivy Hermit responds by helping people reclaim their time. In the middle of New York’s relentless pace, tea becomes an intentional pause—a way to reset without leaving the city behind. Ivy Hermit exists for those who move fast but want to stay centered, using tea as a daily ritual to restore balance, presence, and clarity.

Solomon, founded Ivy Hermit, who grew up in San Francisco and later moved to New York in 2021. Raised in a Cantonese household shaped by yum-cha, he learned early that tea sets the tone for conversation and care—good tea is not optional, it is expected. When he arrived in New York, he saw how often quality was sacrificed for convenience. He built Ivy Hermit to reimagine tea for New Yorkers and educated the 7 main categories of té/cha/Camelia Sinensis: uncompromising in quality, thoughtfully designed, and made to fit real life in a fast-moving city.

The name Ivy Hermit draws from Xu Wei (徐渭), the Ming dynasty artist and tea fanatic also known as 青藤山人, the “Ivy Hermit.” Xu Wei lived fully within society while maintaining inner freedom, creating art guided by feeling rather than perfection. Ivy reaches outward toward growth and connection; Hermit turns inward toward stillness and reflection. Together, they express the philosophy Ivy Hermit carries forward: time is the ingredient, and tea is how we choose to hold it.