The Qi
The Qi is a New York brand founded by Lisa Li around whole-flower infusions. It turns the flower itself into the centre of a drinking ritual, with the bloom visible in the cup. Shangri-la Rose offers that approach through individually packed rose flowers from Yunnan.
The Qi: origin & history.
Lisa Li’s idea grew from memories of drinking herbal infusions with her grandmother and a later encounter with roses in Shangri-la, Yunnan. Living in New York, she began researching whole flowers and visiting their sources, tasting many varieties before shaping the collection. The Qi was established in 2019. Its American origin is distinct from the Chinese growing regions that give the flowers their names. Shangri-la Rose is one of the clearest expressions of the idea: one intact flower opens in hot water, so the preparation can be watched as well as tasted.
Read the official history ↗︎- Country of origin
- New York · United States ↗︎
- History
- 2019
- Founder / documented history
- Lisa Li
- Product world
- Rituals to sip ↗︎
Discover the The Qi selection.
A few pieces tell the story in their own way, through a shape, a material or a familiar gesture.
Shangri-la Rose · 9 Flower Packets →
Shangri-la Rose contains nine individually packed whole rose flowers in one box. The flowers come from the Shangri-la area of Yunnan and produce a floral infusion without tea leaves or caffeine. Place one flower in a cup or teapot, cover it with hot water around 88–93°C (190–200°F) and keep it submerged during a three-to-five-minute infusion. The same flower can be steeped twice more, according to The Qi’s directions. A glass cup lets you watch the petals open, though ordinary teaware also works. This is the one-box option, not a multi-box offer or a teaware set.
Royal Chrysanthemum — 9 Flower Packets →
The Qi’s Royal Chrysanthemum turns a whole yellow flower into an infusion to watch unfold. Each of the nine individual packets holds a dried chrysanthemum flower that opens again in hot water, giving a light, mellow cup without caffeine. The brand’s twenty-seven-cup count includes two further infusions of each flower, rather than twenty-seven separate packets. Its pale flavour and large golden petals offer a different floral ritual from the brand’s Shangri-la Rose.
A closer look.
What catches our eye.
A transparent cup makes the preparation part of the pleasure. The appeal is visual and aromatic: an intact flower, a short infusion and the choice to steep it again.
Where does The Qi come from?
The Qi is a brand of United States origin. This describes where the brand began; individual products may be made elsewhere.
Discover more brands from United States →Where can I buy The Qi?
Where to find The Qi.
Official website ↗︎Delivery and store links checked 2026-10-27. Check the official site for subsequent changes.
Sources & image credits
Editorial product selection, not a bestseller ranking.
Editorial reviewed 2026-10-27. Design perspectives express the Selezio editorial view.
Official brand imagery · The Qi