I grew up in a small village tucked in the lower reaches of the Yangtze river in China, near mountains that produced green tea. In my family, whenever we had visitors to stay, my parents would serve a cup of green tea for each guest. We would sit and chat with the tea cupped in our hands the whole time. This is my earliest memory of tea: a connection between people.

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For many years I have been drawn to the beautifully peaceful way of life that the Chinese people of the Song dynasty lived. From the literati to the commoner, simply brewing a cup of tea or appreciating the beauty of a painting was an integral part of their lifestyle. Learning tea in the modern world remains an effective way of approaching a more tranquil slowness in life.

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I have studied gongfu tea brewing methods with masters based in Beijing. No matter whether it is the tea leaf itself, or the aesthetic that it is framed in, the different ways in which people have taken tea in the passing millennia, or even the scientific studies of plantation methods, tea is can be both a small thing but at the same time so deep and wide-reaching.

 

Tea can have a profound influence on so many people's lives, including mine. It has changed my view of the meaning of my life, and of the world. I really want to share this beautiful experience to people all over the world.​