Tealosophy › Farm to cup

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of attending an origin tasting session at the World Tea Expo, hosted by the remarkable Joyce Maina, who was there to present the Myanmar Tea Producers Association (MTA). If you’re familiar with the tea world, you’ll know it’s a close-knit community, so it’s no surprise that I was introduced to Joyce through my incredibly well-connected co-founder at East Forged, Tania Stacey. Tania truly has her finger on the pulse of the best in tea. 😉 Meeting Joyce in person was an absolute honor. Her deep knowledge of tea and her passionate work in...

I first encountered Marjolein Raijmakers via her beautifully curated Instagram feed all about her passion for tea. We love her images but you will understand (because we like our words) that we enjoy reading her captions equally as much. She takes the time to describe the moment, the intention, the experience so well that you feel as though you are right next to her on the journey. Whilst participating in the 2018 Japan Tea Export Council's tea study tour who did I happen to be sitting next to on the first day? You guessed it. The most kind-hearted and loveliest tea person...

What an honour to receive a phone call last Sunday (29/7) that one of our favourite black Chinese teas had been given a very deserving honour of being named the 2018 Grand Champion tea at Hobart's Royal Agricultural Show Fine Food Awards. At The Steepery Tea Co. our main objective is to source and curate a selection of pure leaf teas ('true teas') from various growing regions across the world to showcase the diversity of the leaf and the tea makers craft in producing exceptional tea. Searching for tea and continually cupping samples is where we dedicate a significant amount...

Taiwan has a special place in my heart. Not only do they produce exceptional pure leaf tea; I was born there. For those who don't know I am adopted. I consider myself an Aussie raised with western traditions and it hasn't been until later in my life that I became curious about my heritage and culture. I feel I came into tea on purpose and tea is a culture bridge linking the two pieces of who I am and why I am. Thanks to So Han Fan for putting this concept into words in an article 'Tea is a Culture Bridge'...

As I approach the third year of being in the business of tea I have become quite philosophical about my role in the industry. My appreciation of tea deepens and my personal tea journey continues and I find myself spending more time as a tea evangelist for pure leaf tea. As a tea lover I feel it is a responsibility to see pure leaf tea being enjoyed and appreciated more widely. The challenge I have in my local market is that ‘real’ pure leaf tea, the tea produced from a specific variety or cultivar of the Camelia Sinensis tea plant,...