Tea of Our People

February 10, 2026

This edition of the newsletter is sponsored by

Hello everyone,

The Lunar New Year is almost here. How time flies!

I write this email from the Glendale Tea Estate in Coonoor, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. I am here to visit the estate and meet the people making the delicious teas here. Tomorrow, I am going to try out the unique and legendary tea leaf fritters, so I am super excited about it.

In today’s email, I bring to you a story of tea traditions of a tea sommelier’s ancestors, in her own voice. She explores the intriguing culture of tea in Russia, Norway, and Ireland, where she traces her roots.

From Emperor Shennong’s accidental infusion to the brass samovar, Norway’s community Tea Time, and Ireland’s reliance on black tea during famine, this essay weaves family stories and cultural history into a celebration of tea as a unifying, resilient tradition. Do check it out!

Until next time.

Don’t forget to share the stories with your friends, family, colleagues, or anyone who you feel would enjoy reading them.

Yours in tea,

By Eily Levson

Tea of Our People: Russian, Norwegian, and Irish Tea Traditions

Legendary beginnings meet personal memory. From Emperor Shennong’s accidental infusion to the brass samovar, Norway’s community Tea Time, and Ireland’s reliance on black tea during famine, this essay weaves family stories and cultural history into a celebration of tea as a unifying, resilient tradition.

We began this year with a very interesting POV about how 2026 might be the year that coffee drinkers embrace the tea leaf, discussing how coffee doesn’t have to compete with tea, but rather the two caffeine sources can peacefully co-exist for a happier and healthier consumer.

Check it out here:

By Bhavi Patel

Could 2026 be the Year Coffee Drinkers Embrace the Tea Leaf

Coffee sharpened modernity; tea preserved tradition. Together, they expand the map of taste. As 2026 begins, Tea Journey invites coffee drinkers to explore tea not as a rival but as a frontier.

We also have some very interesting points made in how our senses are rooted in our culture in this beautiful article by Horacio Bustos.

You can read the article here:

By Horacio Bustos

The Culture of the Sense: Tea and the Sensory Experience

A POV on how our senses of sight, smell, and taste are educated and shaped by cultural context, revealing that tasting tea is a culturally cultivated skill, and not instinct

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Until next time.

Bhavi Patel, Editor, Tea Journey Magazine

Bhavi Patel, known as Banjaran Foodie, is the editor of the Tea Journey Magazine and a distinguished tea and coffee expert with a background in dairy technology and brand building. As a trusted writer for renowned publications including Perfect Daily Grind, Barista, and STiR Magazines, she combines scientific expertise with storytelling to explore specialty beverages.

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Bhavi Patel

Bhavi Patel, known as Banjaran Foodie, is a distinguished tea and coffee expert with a background in dairy technology and brand building. As a trusted writer for renowned publications including Perfect Daily Grind, Barista, and STiR Magazines, she combines scientific expertise with storytelling to explore specialty beverages.