Tea Journey Spring 2016

Here’s to a night of warmth, a touch of mischief, and stories that linger like shadows 🍂 Explore these hauntingly good reads to pair with your Halloween tea ☕ at the link in our bio.

Our senses shape the worlds we move through and the rituals we return to. In our latest feature, Horacio Bustos ( @instituto_de_te ) examines how sight guides beauty, scent recalls memory, and taste defines belonging. Link in bio.

From color to clarity 🍵 The new Tea Color Wheel by Australian Tea Masters ( @austeamasters ) fills a long-standing gap in tea education, setting a new standard for how we see and describe the beauty of brewed tea. Writer-editor Bhavi Patel's ( @banjaranfoodie ) speaks to Sharyn Johnston about this breakthrough — link in bio.

In Paris, a new kind of tea party is brewing. One that’s less about trends and more about connection. What began as a simple invitation to share tea has grown into a quiet movement. Founded by Maxime ( @sciencesthe ), a cancer researcher and tea writer, and Anh Truong ( @croco_tea ), a pharmacist with Sino-Vietnamese roots, the gatherings celebrate presence, conversation, and the joy of sharing a cup. Pull up a cup and join the Parisian tea party with Anne-Frédérique Dedeyan Dayraut ( @sanskriti.collection ) on Tea Journey at the link in our bio.

SUSTAINABILITY SYMPOSIUM TUESDAY | THAC (Canada) and UKTIA are co-hosting a special international symposium that will bring together global tea stakeholders to address a critical industry need - smarter, more harmonized data to drive meaningful sustainability outcomes. At IITC, Shabnam Weber and Sharon Hall teamed up for a compelling presentation on "Unlocking the Power of Agile Data in Tea." Don't miss this online event: From Field to Future on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Sessions begin at 8:30 am through Noon (ET) and 13:30 - 17:00 (UTC+1) | Register now to reserve a seat. Members of both associations attend FREE | Non-members $65 | Dan Bolton @danielwbolton | Link in bio.

Did you know the Amazon rainforest is home to a tea farm? Writer John Smagula (@crossingstea ) traveled to Palora, Ecuador, to meet Fernando Castillo Cruz, president of the Ecuadorian Tea Company (CETCA). At Hacienda Sangay, the only tea farm in all of Amazonia, he shared stories of the estate’s beginnings in 1964, when African varietals were first planted near the equator. Today, those same plants yield 600 metric tons of premium black tea each year. Explore this unique encounter in our newest story at the link in our bio.

Seattle’s biggest tea weekend is here 🌿 Now in its 15th year, the @nwteafestival returns with a chance to connect with vendors, sip rare teas, and join a community that celebrates tea’s timeless traditions and innovations. 🎙️ In conversation with @danielwbolton , festival coordinator Andrew Goodman ( @thehappyteaman ) and planning committee member Virginia Wright ( @gongfugirl ) offer a preview of what awaits. 📍 Sept 27–28 | Seattle Center Exhibition Hall | $25 for both days 🔗 Learn more at link in our bio

Oxygen is more than life-giving—it’s taste-shaping. 🌿 Through the lens of science, Bhavi Patel ( @banjaranfoodie ) traces how oxygen transforms fermentation, giving black tea its brightness, balance, and depth in the cup. Find the article at the link in bio.

Tea Journey Editor Bhavi Patel (@banjaranfoodie ) is covering the Indian International Tea Convention (IITC 2025) in Kochi and exploring scenic South India this week, returning as an accomplished journalist to a place of youthful aspiration. At the link in our bio, Dan Bolton ( @danielwbolton ), the vision behind Tea Journey & Tea Biz, offers his thoughts on her appointment.

Every cup has a story. Every taster, a journey. In our latest Taster Profile series, we follow Jan Dellwisch’s path from apprentice to General Manager and Senior Trader, as he explores the tea worlds of India, Sri Lanka, and Germany. A conversation with Marten Verch, read more at the link in our bio.

The scroll in the tearoom carried a simple word: “Enjoy.” At Sanshotei, Soten spoke of ichigo-ichie, the belief that every tea gathering is once in a lifetime. The host creates comfort, the guest engages the senses, and together they shape a moment that cannot be repeated. In our latest feature, Greg Goodmacher (@hotspringaddict) explores this fleeting beauty. Link in bio.

Steering our next chapter. We are pleased to welcome Bhavi Patel as the new editor of Tea Journey. Bringing insight from India’s tea heartlands, she joins us at a pivotal moment as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and look to the future of global tea culture. Read the full statement at the link in bio.

The last chapter of our three-part Chaozhou series by Adeline Teoh reveals a city steeped in tea, from the expected rituals of Gongfu brewing to the unlikely fame of Ya Shi Xiang, the “duck shit fragrance” oolong. Here tea is not confined to teahouses but flows through homes, businesses and community life. Read the full story at the link in our bio.

In Brighton, tea comes with domes, decks, and a dash of the unexpected. Discover it through the eyes of a seasoned tea drinker and recent arrival, @sabitabanerji Link in bio.