Good morning, it’s Sunday, 15 December. We’re bringing you a Special Edition on Tea in honour of International Tea Day so keep scrolling for nourishing recipes, tea ceremonies, cooling beauty rituals, intimate tea-based travel experiences and the tea brands you need to know 🗺️ 🍡
World Tea Expo: The World Tea Expo 2025 is from 24-26 March 2025 and will feature a Global Tea Championship (GTC), exhibitions for smaller tea brands around the world and networking sessions for tea lovers to connect.
Boom in Budget Bubble Tea: Even though the bubble tea explosion has primarily been premium brands, budget brands are now booming in China.
Higher Demand for Indian Tea: The country’s exports to over 25 countries, including Russia, Iran and the UK, increased by 13.8% this year.
Excess Kenyan Tea: In Kenya, tea leaves are at an excess as the country is looking to clear its inventory of over 7 billion tea cups.
Authentic Chinese Tea in The Philippines: Winchell Tan is using his newly-opened tea spot, ChaYi, to bring authentic Chinese tea to The Philippines.
Britain’s Changing Love for Tea: There is a faster growing love for bubble tea, kombucha, and energy drinks amongst the younger generation.
In certain regions, there are ceremonies and cultures solely dedicated to the act of brewing and drinking:
Chanoyu: ‘Chanoyu’ or ‘the way of tea’ is the term for the Japanese tea ceremony, where the finest matcha powder is made into green tea and served in a traditional tearoom. Try Chanoyu from the comfort of your home with this Matcha Starter Kit from Chalait.
Gongfu Cha: Gongfu Cha is the traditional Chinese tea ceremony where tea leaves are infused in small lidded bowls, or gaiwans. Try Gongfu Cha with your friends or family with this Pastel Gaiwan Set from Yunnan Sourcing.
Butter Tea Ceremony: In Tibet and other parts of the Himalayas, Butter tea or po cha is served in small Tibetan teacups at social gatherings. Make po cha yourself with this stunningly easy recipe.
Darye: In South Korea, the tea ceremony is known as Darye and it is surprisingly simple, involving green teas like sencha and matcha in a serene traditional tearoom. There are wedding daryes, royal daryes, and even daryes made specifically for women and men.
Atay Naa Naa: Atay Naa Naa is Morocco’s traditional tea ceremony and it is usually offered as a symbol of hospitality. Welcome your guests this month with a cup of Moroccan mint tea using this recipe.
We’ve curated a list of must-see and intimate tea experiences to add to your list when globetrotting.
From Nannuo to Hekai: Explore Yunnan’s tea fields in the winter season and get absorbed into the quietly brewing culture with Eastern Leaves’ curated itinerary and tour in China.
A Tranquil Life on a Tea Farm: In the heart of Nairobi, see how five generations of tea farmers lived on and grew a farm house on Kiambethu Farm.
An Intimate Tea Time in Delhi: experience a small-group afternoon tea experience at a local home with this Cox and Kings tour.
Visit The World Tea Museum: Nestled on the Makinohara Plateau in Japan, this museum holds the history of Japanese tea and a reproduction of Enshu Kobori’s tea house, one of the top tea masters in the 17th century.
Oolong in Malawi: Go tea tasting, learn about the history of tea production, and get tea-themed collectibles at the gift shop in Malawi’s Satemwa Tea Estate.
Reset and Detox: Reset after a heavy meal with Alice’s Chinese medicinal detox tea recipe which features Chinese brown sugar, red jujubes, and some mint for a healthy gut.
Boost Your Circulation: Improve your circulation with Zoe Lau’s 15-minute longan goji berry tea recipe.
No Bloating Allowed: Try the three-seed tea (also known as CCF tea) which has digestive benefits with Sruthi’s quick mix of cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds.
Relieve Discomfort: Try Swasthi’s Ayurvedic ginger tea recipe which is rich in antioxidants and has proven benefits in relieving menstrual pain and discomfort.
Deep Cleanse: Give your face a good cleanse with B_LAB’s Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser.
Tone with Tea: If you’re looking for a great toner with the antioxidant properties of tea, IsNtree’s Green Tea Fresh Toner is soothing, hydrating, and great for all skin types.
Hydrate: Give your skin a dose of hydration with this Green Tea Calming Serum from Beauty of Joseon or if you want light hydration, go with this Airy Fit Sheet Mask from Missha.
Wash + Condition: Strengthen and moisturize your strands with TEAOLOGY’s Matcha Repair Shampoo and the Peach Tea Hydra Conditioner.
A Scent Like Tea: Smell fruity with this Passion Tea Hair and Body Mist from TEAOLOGY. For an elegant evening out, try the Oolong Tea Fragrance from Hong Kong-based niche perfume brand One Day.
Tea is fragrant and pleasant, but the realities of making it are not always as great as its end product. Picking tea is labour intensive and back-breaking work and for the average tea picker in South Asia and Africa, the cost of your cuppa is life-altering.
Around the world, here are some of the current issues tea farm workers are facing:
Sri Lanka’s Hill Country Tamils: 200 years ago, the British empire brought Tamil workers against their will from southern India to Sri Lanka where they continue to live today, their lives still tied to plantations and facing low wages, poor conditions and discrimination.
Aid for Female Tea Pickers in Kenya: Several women tea pickers in the country still live in abject poverty and are at risk of gender-based violence, two causes the Ethical Tea Partnership is passionate about.
Poor Conditions for Bangladesh’s Tea Pickers: Tea exports are slowing down in Bangladesh, and tea workers are bearing the brunt with low salaries and a lack of protection.
Snake Bites in Assam: Many women tea workers in Assam, one of India’s tea-producing regions, suffer snakebites each year. And not many of them survive a cobra bite, owing to lack of timely access to antivenom.
Steep & Sip: Founded by Keyera and Treveon Williams, Steep & Sip curates tea blends designed with health benefits to help you heal naturally. For a start, try their Allergy Assassin which features rooibos, yerba mate, and ginger.
Amala Chai: Indulge in the finest cup of masala chai using chai kits and concentrates from Akhil Patel’s fast-growing conscientious tea brand, Amala Chai.
Cup’ital Tea: This Black woman-owned tea brand is all about fostering community through a flavorful cup of their rich and ethically-sourced tea blends. Try best sellers like their Blissful Grenadine Tea or their Sencha Rouge blend.
Bahari Teas: Born from Kenyan tea farms, Bahari Teas merges vibrant tea flavours with modern tastes like these Bergamot-infused Earl Grey bags, and Purple Iced Tea in pomegranate and orange.
