☀️Tea found me, and we never let go
I've always been obsessed with tea. My mom introduced me to the art of drinking and enjoying a good cup of tea when I was young, and it has followed me to this day. There's something about holding a warm cup, about the ritual of steeping, about the quietness it invites into your day that feels both ancient and deeply personal.
I was drinking ceremonial matcha years before it became the trend it is today, back when you couldn't find it in every café corner with strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate added to it. Lil’ disclaimer: you can enjoy your matcha as it best fits you, no judgment on my end! For me, the magic has always been in the simplicity: just matcha and hot water.
One more thing about me: I never liked coffee (neither the taste nor the smell). Tea has always been my way of pausing, of slowing down and enjoying the present moment.
Around the world, across centuries and cultures, tea has been bringing people together while keeping them healthy. It's the rare thing that feels both ancient ritual and modern science. Now, let’s dig a bit deeper into this topic!
📖 3 Articles to Spark Your Curiosity
Is matcha healthier than coffee?
A calmer buzz from L-theanine, a little fibre, and what the science really says about polyphenols and brain health. The answer isn't which one is "better", but which one suits you, and whether you enjoy drinking it.
→ Read on Substack
Famous Tea Ceremonies: Explore Global Traditions
From Japan's Chanoyu to British afternoon tea, Moroccan mint rituals to Tibetan butter tea, every culture has found its own way of turning leaves into ceremony. They're all about harmony, respect, presence, and connection.
→ Read on Paper & Tea
Tea-rific History: Victorian Afternoon Tea
The iconic British tradition that pushed forward the world’s obsession with tea. Back then, afternoon tea was all about ritual, refinement, and the social fabric of Victorian society.
→ Read on British Museum
🗞️ 3 Headlines Worth Exploring
Japan's green tea exports surged in fiscal 2025 amid matcha boom
Exports of green tea reached 13,125 tons, up 42% from the previous year. The world's appetite for matcha shows no signs of slowing down, but domestic Japanese tea production faces real challenges as farmers age and switch crops to meet global demand.
→ Read on The Japan Times
Move over matcha. Hojicha is coming to a cafe near you
While matcha dominated the conversation, hojicha, a Japanese tea dry-roasted at high temperatures for a distinctive nutty flavour, is quietly creeping onto café menus. Is this the next big thing, or just another chapter in tea's evolution?
→ Read on BBC
Donald Trump's Iran war withers Kenya's roses and strands its tea
Global conflict and its ripples: Kenya's tea industry, the largest in Africa, is losing 20 to 25 percent of its exports to the Middle East. Millions of kilos are held up at ports.
→ Read on Financial Times
☀️ 3 Actions to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Attend a tea ceremony (or create one at home)
Whether it's researching a Japanese Chanoyu, a Moroccan mint tea ritual, or simply establishing your own daily tea practice with intention, experience tea as a ceremony rather than convenience. Notice how different it tastes when you’re present in the moment, not checking your phone in parallel.
Try a tea you've never had before
Matcha, hojicha, sencha, oolong, pu-erh, jasmine, or any of the hundreds of varieties are waiting for you. Each one has its own vibe, story, and way of opening your palate and your mind. Who knows, you might just discover your new favorite thing.
Learn how your favourite tea was made
Pick up a tea you love and trace its journey: where it was grown, how it was processed, whose hands touched it.
⚡ 6 Quick Sparks
🧠 To check: The Benefits of Tea: 28 Important Teas for Optimal Health
Tea leaves contain powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that help prevent cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and other chronic problems.
→ Read on My Tea Drop
💫To keep in mind: What Happens When You Drink Tea Every Day
In the blue zones where people live longest, tea is thought to be healthier than water.
→ Read on Blue Zones
🎬 To watch: The History of Tea
Trace tea's origins from ancient China to becoming the second most consumed beverage in the world.
→ Watch on YouTube
🖼️ To admire: Time for a Cup of Warm Tea in Paintings
See how painters across centuries have captured the quiet beauty of a cup, the ritual of steeping, and the contemplation that tea invites.
→ Read on Daily Art Magazine
☕ To know before ordering: Understanding Ceremonial Matcha vs. Culinary Matcha
Ceremonial-grade matcha is designed to be whisked with water and consumed on its own. Culinary-grade matcha is formulated for cooking, baking, and blending into lattes and smoothies.
→ Read on Senbird Tea
🎨 To know: Different Tea, Different Processing: The 8 Main Tea Processing Methods
Tea processing is an ancient art that extends back thousands of years, with each of the 8 steps transforming a leaf into something entirely new.
→ Read on Australian Tea Masters
🎲 This week’s wonderfully random corner of the internet
🫖 The 3D Teapot
How would your ideal teapot look? Have you ever wondered what a 3D teapot would look like in its rendered version? Well, good news: this website has a simple 3D teapot prepared for you to play with!
Play with your 3D teapot at realtimerendering.com/teapot
📝 Word of the Week
Chanoyu (Japanese) - in its 1:1 translation, it means "tea water". But it has a more complex meaning.
It's the art of brewing tea as a ritual where every movement is intentional and carried through according to age-old traditions. More than just a practice, it's a philosophical journey rooted in Zen Buddhism and the aesthetics of Wabi-Sabi, celebrating beauty in simplicity and humility. The word reminds us that tea is a doorway to presence and a way of honoring the people around you.
🧘♀️ Question of the Week for Introspection
What tea ritual, whether it's a morning cup, an afternoon pause, or an evening wind-down, has become non-negotiable in your life? And if you don't have one yet, what might it look like if you permitted yourself to create it?
See you next Sunday! Until then, keep your eyes open, your questions big, and your sense of wonder alive.
Your curious internet friend,
Ruxandra
