We are kicking of Women’s History Month with a Tea Taster Box!
We teamed up with Callisto Tea House in Altadena, CA to offer you an assortment of 10 different 1/4oz Teas, teas inspired by historical and current Drag Kings.
Callisto’s shop was affected by the Eaton Canyon wildfire in Los Angeles, CA. The box will be available year round.
A portion of every Tea Taster box goes towards raising funds for DragKingHistory.com
+ supporting a small business affected by the wildfires.
Please look up the performers listed below which we paired with each tea included in your box.
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.C.E.)
DA HONG PAO TEA – Oolong: Fujian, China
Our journey to today begins with the Tang Dynasty, the oldest known evidence of male
impersonation on stage in Chinese Opera. It was the reign of Wu Zetian, China’s first
and only female empress, who made profound advancements during the Tang Dynasty.
Women began to play male roles around the mid-Tang Dynasty where they played
emperors, scholars, military warriors and young men.
Mlle de Maupin (1690 – 1705)
SCHISANDRA – Herbal tea: China
In 1690 at the age of 17, Mlle de Maupin made her debut in the Paris Opera as the first mezzo-soprano in a leading role. Maupin appeared in 20 operas, 4 opera-ballets playing 41 roles, originating 25 of them. Mlle de Maupin was a wild character on and off stage. Over the years she has been the subject of books, biographies, several plays, a ballet, a film, numerous memes, cartoons and a French TV series.
Charlotte Cushman (1835 – 1875)
THE RED QUEEN – Black: Sichuan, China
Charlotte Cushman is considered one of America’s first great theater actresses with a career spanning 40 years. She specialized in breeches roles and male impersonation playing over thirty male roles including Shakespeare characters Romeo, Hamlet and Cardinal Wolsey. Cushman developed a wildly successful acting career, achieved great financial success, and lived publicly as a lesbian during a time of great repression.
Gowongo Mohawk (1889 – 1910)
CELESTIAL CLOCKWORK – Herbal Tea
Gowongo Mohawk was one of the first American Indian actors and the first known American Indian male impersonator. Mohawk wrote, directed and starred in several productions that she toured throughout the U.S. and Europe. Not only did she confront American Indian stereotypes but gender roles as well by portraying male characters. She signed her autograph as “Aboriginally Yours” reinstating her indigenous identity.
Gladys Bentley (1923 – 1952)
SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING – BLACK: FUJIAN, CN
Gladys Bentley is one of the most famous entertainers to come out of 1920’s Harlem. Wearing her signature white tuxedo and top hat, she pounded the piano and openly sang of bulldaggers and sissies. Bentley thrived on her own terms during the Great Depression and Prohibition Eras, and became an icon in both the drag and LGBTQ+ communities as she unashamedly lived her private life on stage as a bold, butch, black lesbian.
El Daña (1965 – present)
PEACH ELIXIR – Herbal Tea
El Daña, Mexican-American male impersonator from Fresno, CA, began performing in 1965. She impersonated Ritchie Valens, Frank Sinatra, Julio Iglesias, Elvis Presley, Bobby Vinton, Paul Anka, Vic Damone, Bobby Rydell and Tom Jones to critical acclaim. For 60 years, El Daña has been a beacon in the LGBTQ+ community, and is considered to be the oldest and longest running male impersonator/drag king today.
Photo by Ray Quenga
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Mo B. Dick (1995 – Present)
SILVER SPRING – White Tea: Tamil Nadu, India
Drag King Legend Mo B. Dick is the driving force behind Drag King History serving as the Exec Dir and co-founder. This wise-cracking, tough-talking knucklehead has been cited as one of the founding fathers of the modern-day drag king movement. He’s been featured in John Waters film Pecker, the documentary Venus Boyz, The Drag King Book, Story Corps, NPR, The NY Times, The Huffington Post, and more.
Photo by Heidi Calvert Photography
Papi Churro (2015 – present)
SUNDROPS – Green Tea: Japan
Papi Churro is a Two-Spirit Indigenous Warrior of Coahuilitecan (Quali-tee-Khan) and Nahua (Nah-wah) heritage. Originally from Austin Texas, he is happy to call the Bay Area his home. His life passions include advocating for Queer Indigenous rights, immigration reform and BIPOC voices. Winner of 2024 SF Drag King Contest and 2024 Mx Mosswood Meltdown
Photo by Papi Churro
Riley Poppyseed (2018 – present)
YELLOW BRICK ROAD – Black Tea: China
Riley Poppyseed is a multi-talented, award-winning, black drag king from Columbus, OH. He won “So You Think You Can Do Drag”, was the 1st Mx. Ohio Gay Pride 2023, the 1st black drag king/ black AFAB performer to compete on any drag competition television show when he made it as a finalist on season 5 of Camp Wannakiki. He was a headliner for Cleveland Drag Showcase, and Emerald City Kings Ball in Seattle, WA.
Photo by Camp Wannakiki
Kreme Inakuchi (2020 – present)
COOKIE-CHA – Green Tea: Kyoto, Japan
Kreme Inakuchi is an internationally known Filipinx Drag King from Toronto, CN. He is a multidisciplinary artist having studied special effects make-up, music production, visual arts, ballet, and the art of throwing sabres, flags, and rifles! He’s been a headliner for Emerald City Kings Ball, a featured artist for Pride Toronto, Fierte Capitol Pride Ottawa, Metro Manila Pride, and Austin International Drag Festival.
Photo by Quinton Cruickshanks