Your Journey Continues - Chaozhou Tea Traditions Newsletter

Bhavi Patel

July 10, 2025

This edition of the newsletter is sponsored by

Hello everyone,

Ever wonder about the hands that shaped your favorite teapot?

But who really has the time to think about that?

Around the world, today, traditional handmade pottery is a dying craft. To those who retain these skills, pottery is more than a livelihood. It represents decades of family history and traditions that have been passed down through generations, a heritage that is now striving to stay alive and relevant, a culture that one wishes more people knew about.

One of our writers, Adeline Teoh, discovered the story of Yujian Cai, a young potter keeping centuries-old Chaozhou tea traditions alive. She got an opportunity to meet him while he was perfecting pear-shaped teapots in his workshop. Interestingly, these are the same designs that graced Qing Dynasty tea tables.

What struck me the most about Cai’s story?

He literally grew up sipping Phoenix Dan Cong tea and playing with clay in his family’s studio. Now he is creating teapots that enhance the very teas that shaped his childhood.

The delightful twist: alongside perfecting ancient designs, he crafts quirky tea pets, including an adorable therapeutic bovine with a thumb-sized dent for anxiety relief. Who knew pottery therapy was a thing?

This article beautifully captures how passionate artisans preserve traditions while making them their own. Perfect read if you love stories about craft, culture, and following your passion.

So, bring out that teapot you have sitting on your shelf, brew yourself some tea, pour a cup, and enjoy reading our new article.

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

Yours in tea,

teajourney.pub

Potter Carries Chaozhou Tea Traditions into a New Era

Chaozhou is the epicentre of Phoenix Dan Cong (Fenghuang Shan), a diversely aromatic oolong. Discover how Yujian Cai, with his family history in pottery, is shaping the future of Chaozhou tea traditions and culture, taking them forward into the new era.

We celebrated the Iced Tea month in June and published our Summer 2025 issue.

Do check it out.

Iced Tea, Tea

By Bhavi Patel

Beyond the Kulhad: India’s Cold Tea Revolution – From Traditional Sips to Global Sensation

Explore the fascinating juxtaposition of India’s hot chai culture with the burgeoning trend of iced teas and cold brews, and delve into how traditional Indian tea consumption is adapting to modern preferences for cold beverages, especially among the younger generation.

teajourney.pub

Sourcing and Making Cold-Infused Tea with Henrietta Lovell

Cold extractions can be just as good as hot tea, and sometimes even better, if you keep the basics–quality sourcing and proper preparation–in mind. You’re not damaging the leaf; you’re allowing a gentle process to unfold, pulling out amino acids and cold-water-soluble polyphenols.

In our next newsletter, we take you to Sri Lanka, to a beautiful beach-side bar that is revolutionizing tea cocktails made using locally-source and home-made ingredients. So, stay tuned.

Until next time.

Bhavi Patel, Editor, Tea Journey Magazine

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.