This month we strove to come together as a community with a sense of balance and a feeling of grounded vulnerability. With very honest discussions and openness, the session for myself was extremely reaffirming as many of the tea enthusiasts and professionals within have now known each other for nearly a year.
Just like last time, I’ve asked a number of individuals if they’d like to share a little bit about the tea they chose to drink and its significance as it relates to balance and resilience.
Michelle
Q: What tea are you drinking, and from where?
A: 2018 Lishan Oolong
Q: What about this tea holds a special place in your tea journey
A: It was my first trip to Taiwan after my tea travels in Japan 2019. I met a local who was a Taiwanese tea lover who gifted this tea to me. He said “if you like tea, this is the good stuff when it comes to Taiwan!” It was his generosity and pride in Taiwanese tea that made me cherish this tea. It also tastes amazing!
*Michelle is the owner of TOMO TEA, making Japanese teas available through their shop in addition to offering unique Airbnb experiences such as, Become a Japanese Green Tea Expert, through partnership with Okamoto Tea.
IG: @tomoteala
Shiloh
Q: What tea are you drinking, and from where?
A: 2016 Guangxi Jasmine-Scented Silver Needle from Enthea Tea House in Portland, OR
Q: What about this tea holds a special place in your tea journey
A: This is the cleanest and most grounding silver needle that I have ever tasted. It’s not easy to find a well-stored or aged silver needle. The Jasmine -scent is not overpowering, and blends perfectly with the natural aromatics of the tea. This silver needle reminds me of why I love this tea, and it remains one of my favorite teas. It is my go-to when I need to contemplate and ground myself. It tastes like summer in a cup.
*Shiloh is a ceramic artist, tea/tea-ware enthusiast, and mixed-media installation artist. You can find his works and statements at https://shilohgastello.wixsite.com/ceramics
IG: nuev_orden
Nazanin
Q: What tea are you drinking, and from where?
A: Bai Hao Oolong from Ching Ching Cha
Q: What about this tea holds a special place in your tea journey
A: I tried a similar tea (Wuliang Beauty from Blue Willow Tea) this fall and was wowed by the flavor. I had never tried an oolong like this. The tea brought me back to my childhood of eating lavashak (persian fruit leather). In times of self-distancing, this tea brings me back to a simpler and more joyful time.
*Nazanin is the creator and owner of Tea Thoughts, a blog and shop that celebrates the love of tea through beautiful creations and products. From enamel pins and handmade pottery to fun boxes with thoughtfully curated products, you’ll be certain to find the perfect gift for any tea drinker!
IG: @teathoughts
Sheilah
Q: What tea are you drinking, and from where?
A: Honeysuckle White Tea from Shang Tea
Q: What about this tea holds a special place in your tea journey
A: This was one of the first high-quality loose leaf teas I experienced, and it always gives me the feeling of coming home when I drink it. It is one of those teas that reminds me why I fell in love with tea when I come back around to it after exploring other types of tea. The Da Bai material and honeysuckle flowers are the perfect blend of warm and floral. It is reminiscent of a spring morning in Arkansas where I grew up, walking the streets by my grandparent’s house which were lined with honeysuckle bushes.
* Sheilah is an avid tea drinker with a love of all things chicken, tea, and nature. Be sure to follow her to see her beautiful tea-ware and outdoor drinking sessions
IG: @shelovestea92
It’s a joy to share what tea’s hold special meaning and why! As you can see, memories have the power to transport us and aromas evoke powerful feelings. I hope you’re enjoying tea yourself and let me know what teas you’re gravitating towards in order to achieve a little balance in your life.
Steep well!
-Marco
STEAP'D 
1 Comment