This year, I have been deeply moved by the compassionate actions and support for social justice I’ve seen small tea companies perform–acts of love and deep care for wider humanity. So, I’m thinking about love in a more communal sense and showcasing the work of a few tea companies.

Here are some companies I’ve watched share love through tea.

Anna Ye Tea

Anna Ye Tea is based in Queens, New York. This company sells tea and teaware. It also offers classes and events. I’ve fallen in a love with a number of their single origin Vietnamese teas over the years. I’ve written, for example, about their Wild Silver Tips (pictured in the nearby photo) and Lũng Phìn Small Leaf Green.

The company has been supporting charitable work and sharing love through tea for years. For example, in 2020, the owner started “Virtual Tea Classes for a Good Cause.” These early classes raised money for undocumented workers and the Chinatown community of elders.

Anna Ye Tea is back at offering a virtual class to raise money for a good cause. This time, proceeds from their Vietnamese Tea class on February 22, 2025 will be “donated to NYIFUP, the nation’s first and largest program providing legal representation to detained immigrants, and NYIC, a statewide coalition advancing immigrant rights.”

Being Tea

Being Tea offers tea education and trainings. The company is deeply committed to creating inclusive and supportive spaces for members, in their teacher trainings, and at their online offerings. They also have a wonderful tea tasting box club. I am a proud graduate of Being Tea’s Tea Teacher Training, by the way!

Sooz Hammond, the solo tea professional and entrepreneur behind Being Tea and in the photo generously provided by them above, does so much to offer inclusive and accessible online spaces. They offer sliding scale pricing for many events, model inclusive and accessible practices, and infuse trauma-informed teaching how they train future tea educators. Sooz also raises money for scholarships to help more folks with Being Tea membership, access the Tasting Box Club, or join the Teacher Training.

Another initiative that Sooz uses to share love through tea is their “community care box,” also supported through scholarships. Members can nominate themselves or others going through a hard time for a box. Then, Sooz lovingly puts together and sends that person “a personalized selection of 4 teas…and a hand-written card, plus other goodies like stickers, mindfulness practice cards, seasonal coaster, etc.” Making compassion a centerpiece of Being Tea, Sooz also includes a curated list of mental health resources at the bottom of their emails to members.

Cha House

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, Cha House is a “community hub centered around a tea house.” Their mission is “to connect the disconnected.”

Cha House encourages all kinds of collaborative events. Their website notes they have “weekly events with a variety of local teachers & facilitators.” They also share: “we want to provide space for you to express yourself and share your passion with the community.” Here’s another example: they offer “pay what you can events and teas at every price point.”

I’ve been lucky enough to be in online spaces to hear the founder, Cierra Lober, talk about her community outreach and how hard she works to cultivate Cha House as an inclusive, welcoming space. I really hope to visit one day!

(Photo provided by Cha House.)

Volition Tea

Volition Tea is based in Chicago, Illinois. Volition has lovely teas! I featured one of their white teas aged in a gin barrel, for example, in my Surprise Teas of 2024 post. They mainly sell tea, but also offer some tea ware and other merch. Volition Tea explicitly says that their company’s “ethos is grounded in humanity.” That’s a mission to share love through tea, for certain! What’s more, they back that up with action.

They designed and sell a t-shirt, for instance, which says “Humanity Behind Your Tea” on the back. The message is to encourage tea drinkers to think about the folks involved in producing and bringing the tea that we drink from the farm to us–from the growers, pickers, and processors, all the way to the folks who sell it retail. Additionally, Volition donates 10% of the proceeds of the shirt sales to Brave Space Alliance, “the first Black-led trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago.” (Photo from Volition Tea’s website.)

Volition Tea also recently offered a giveaway that exemplifies their commitment to spreading love and justice through tea. To enter the giveaway, people had to call their U.S. Senators and encourage them to vote against additional funding for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in light of the inhumane actions and human rights violations that ICE has been perpetrating against immigrants and peaceful protestors. (Full disclosure: I was one of the lucky winners of this giveaway!)

Love through Tea

Being part of a generous communiTEA like this has inspired me! For four years now, I’ve organized and led a yearly online fundraising event, Story of a Teacup. Each year since 2022, I pick a nonprofit to support. So far, this series has raised money for Erie Neighborhood House, Caring Across Generations, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and World Central Kitchen.

Tea–so embedded in many cultures as a gesture of hospitality and a cup of comfort–is perfectly paired with opening our hearts to others and taking action to care for their dignity and well being.

Let’s all work to share love through tea!

If you know of other tea companies doing work to support social justice work and create inclusive communities, I invite you to share in the comments.

Other Tea and Valentine’s Posts

I’ve written a number of tea and Valentine’s posts that share love for tea in other ways. They might interest a tea lover like you.

• Valentine’s Teas and Tisanes
• Korean Balhyocha for Valentine’s Day
• Tea-Infused Chocolates
• Tea Love Stories

The post Share Love through Tea appeared first on Tea Infusiast.

I have a confession. Despite being a hardcore tea lover, I have not usually enjoyed tea-infused desserts, including chocolates. For the most part, my taste buds find the flavor of tea in desserts distorted and unpleasant. To me, it often brings out tasting notes I don’t appreciate and that I don’t find when steeping those teas. Many tea-infused desserts taste unpleasantly grassy to me, for example.

Then, I fell in love with a handful of tea-infused chocolates. Remarkably, these chocolates deliver the tasting notes that I love in the teas they include, without any unpleasant or discordant notes. What’s more, to me, these flavors pair beautifully with the chocolate.

My favorite tea-infused chocolates are the three I’ve tried so far from a collaboration of Fossa Chocolate with Pekoe & Imp, plus one from Kettl. Shout out to my generous friend, Katharine, for first sending me one of the Fossa chocolate bars!

Honey Orchid Dancong Oolong

The tea in this tea-infused chocolate bar is Honey Orchid Dancong, sometimes sold as Mi Lan Xiang. It’s an oolong tea known for it’s honeyed and fruity-floral aroma and tasting notes. They come through beautifully in this chocolate bar.

I also love that this chocolate bar lists only 5 ingredients, and they are all foods!

Drifting Snowflakes Jasmine Green

This chocolate bar is infused with green tea which was, in turn, infused with jasmine flowers. That comes through delightfully in the chocolate, without being too strong. A lovely balance.

Duck Sh*t Dancong Chocolate

The flavors in this amazing dancong oolong tea with the unfortunate name, Duck Sh*t (Ya Shi Xiang), have been described by different tea lovers as longan, plum, almond, floral, and even malty. There’s no poop involved! There are many stories about how this name came about.

Another name for this tea is Yin Hua Xiang, which means honeysuckle aroma.

One vendor of this chocolate, Caputo’s, mentions that this chocolate bar is “enhanced by the Malaysia origin wine-barrel fermented cacao.” It’s delicious. If you love this tea and chocolate, it’s a sure bet!

Kettl’s Houjicha Chocolate

Houjicha, sometimes spelled hojicha, is a roasted Japanese green tea with a big following for it’s lower caffeine and cozy, toasty vibes.

It’s absolutely delicious in this houjicha tea-infused chocolate bar by Kettl. I mentioned it in my post “My Top Tea Experiences of 2024.“

The toasty, roasted grains, and slight nuttiness of the houjicha is in complete harmony with the “high cacao Belgian milk chocolate” Kettl notes is an ingredient.

Find These Tea-Infused Chocolates

These chocolates would be a wonderful treat for yourself or a loved one that enjoys tea. I wouldn’t even wait for Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day!

You can see the full range of chocolates from Fossa with Pekoe & Imp here. I bought them (at full price…this isn’t a sponsored review) from a place in the U.S. that carries their chocolates. The internet is your friend here. I note they have several other tea-infused chocolates that I haven’t tried yet. You bet I plan on doing so, since each one that I have tried so far has been so delicious!

You can find Kettl’s houjicha chocolate on this page.

Looking for unflavored teas that taste of chocolate or pink and red drinks for Valentine’s Day? Check out my post “Valentine’s Teas and Tisanes.”

The post Tea-Infused Chocolates to Delight appeared first on Tea Infusiast.

Marriages and friendships have been made and celebrated through a shared love of tea.

Tea, Love, and Marriage

The potter who created @HerbTheTravelingTeaTurtle of Instagram fame, Michell Hovey, first interacted with her future husband through a friend’s Instagram live.* Michell said their tea love story began when Derek said he would be coming to Seattle for the Northwest Tea Festival and was looking for recommendations. Michell messaged him some suggestions and they “chatted a bit each day before his trip.” At the festival, they shared tea and saw each other during his visit. Derek was living in a different state at the time. On day two of his five-day stay, they realized they were falling in love. A year-and-a-half later, he and Michell married each other! Awwwww.

Speaking of tea and marriage, friends and family members were aware of my love for tea when my husband and I became engaged. So, tea is also part of my love story. Friends threw us a lovely tea engagement party at their house. And, my family organized an afternoon tea for my bridal shower. At the shower, Black Currant was one of the teas served. I loved it! To this day, it is one of the few fruit-flavored teas that I enjoy. Every time I see it on a menu or take a sip, I remember that special time in my love story and the kindness of our friends and family.

Roam Love and Frens-ship

Speaking of beloved teas, Crimson Lotus Tea forms a thread that stitches together Michell, me, and several tea pet friendships!

Michell told me that she and Derek first shared tea from Crimson Lotus Tea. I had heard of this tea company, but never had any of their tea until Michell generously sent me some of their Roam, a loosely pressed Dian Hong. She included it in a package along with Bonsai, an adorable tiny clay tea pet turtle she made. Bonsai and I were fast friends at first sight! It really was love at first sight. As for the tea, I enjoyed Roam so much that I began to purchase it from Crimson Lotus. This tea isn’t showy. It’s cozy and comforting, like your favorite cardigan on a chilly day.

Another person is woven into this Roam tea love story–namely, the “hooman,” as he would say, who runs the Instagram tea account @GeraldAndFrens. This Instagram account shares the shenanigans of his three tea pets, Gerald (a dog), Ringo (a pig), and Hops (a turtle). When Michell sent Hops (another tea pet turtle she made!) to him, she included some Roam tea. Like Bonsai, it was Hops’ first tea. All the tea pets and their hooman reported loving “the cozy aspect of the tea and [how it] really helped create a sense of home and belonging.”

Sharing Tea Love in Community

In addition to the love spread for Roam tea, @HerbtheTravelingTeaTurtle and his siblings are forging new tea and friendship love stories. They have created a community of friendship through mutual love of Herb and following his travels around the U.S. (and abroad). Likewise, tea lovers lucky enough to become a human companion to one of Herb’s tea pet siblings tend to follow, get to know, and support each other, too. It’s a lovely tea story!

I was honored, for example, to help Michell organize an online event in late January. About a dozen tea lovers joined to drink tea and share our stories and love for Herb and tea pets. Those who gathered were among former hosts of Herb and/or have one of his tea pet siblings. We’re all part of Herb’s bale now! (And some of us, including me, had to look up the word “bale!”) It was lovely to honor Michell for all the tea and turtle love she has brought into this world and share our mutual love for our tea pets and their stories.

Bonding over Tea

I’ve made so many connections, absolutely lovely friends, through the online tea community! One of the lovely tea friends whom I have also had the pleasure of meeting in person is Taniya from @YogaTeaPoetry. I first saw Taniya reading her original and powerful poetry at a Being Tea Women’s Day event several years ago. Then, we started following each other and interacting a bit on Instagram. We also attended a lot of the same weekly Being Tea sessions and other events. Without planning, we both signed up for Being Tea Teacher Training at the same time! We spent seven months of roughly biweekly and very interactive classes together, plus attending each other’s graduation class. And, we spoke a lot in between! Since then, she’s joined me as a special guest or co-host on at least two virtual tea events.

This past autumn, luckily for me, Taniya traveled to New York City–just a short train ride away from where I live. And, we met at tea house. It was so nice to finally get to drink tea with Taniya in real life! (We’ve done so virtually many times.)

I’ll leave Taniya with the last words here about tea and love. She dreamily shares: “If heaven exists, it’s in a cup of tea. There is so much to learn and love with tea.”

Do you have a tea love story–romantic, friendly, tea-pet related, etc.? We’d love you to share your story with us in the comments.

*You can read more about Herb the Traveling Tea Turtle at my post, “What a Tea Pet Can Add to Your Practice.“

Interested in teas and tisanes particularly suited for Valentine’s Day vibes, check out my post, “Valentine’s Tea and Tisanes.”

The post Tea Love Stories appeared first on Tea Infusiast.

What’s more Galentine’s and Valentine’s than chocolate, pink, and red? Here’s a fun way, with a twist, to infuse the flavor of chocolate and the colors of the holiday into your February. I heartily recommend three Valentine’s teas and three Valentine’s tisanes that will get the job done deliciously.

Valentine’s Teas

Black Teas with Chocolate Notes

I have never loved teas with added chocolate “flavoring.” (If you know one, please let me know in the comments!) Happily, some unflavored teas–i.e., pure leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant–naturally have delicious chocolate notes. Let’s start with three teas that don’t contain any added ingredients or flavors, but deliver chocolate in their flavor profiles. 

Black Matcha according to the Tea Dealer’s website, is a black tea from Korea, “stone ground using the same machines as traditional Japanese matcha, resulting in a powdered tea similar to what was used during the Song dynasty in China.” (It’s powdered Balhyo Cha tea, I later learned from Soocha Tea.) Tea Dealers’ tasting notes for Black Matcha include cocoa. The first time I saw the tea, I was sure it really was cocoa powder and that I had misread the description! When I whisked up a bowl, I couldn’t get over the deep cocoa flavor in this tea! My favorite way to prepare Black Matcha is with cooler water than recommended. At around 160F, it whisks well and delivers maximum cocoa notes. It’s also delicious as a latte. (You can read more about this multiple ways to serve this tea in this post I wrote focusing on Balhyo Cha.)

Feng Huang is a hong cha (what is called “red tea” in China and “black tea” in the West ). It’s great brewed and served hot. I never noticed any chocolate notes when preparing it the traditional way. The description from Camellia Sinensis–the Canadian tea store from which I bought it–also doesn’t mention chocolate in the tasting notes. (Fair enough: tasting notes are based on how a tea tastes brewed the traditional way.) One summer I cold steeped it and I was very surprised by the delicious chocolate flavor that appeared! Cold steeping is an easy and low-energy way to make delicious iced tea. For the basics on how to cold steep tea, check out this helpful guide by Sara @tea_happiness, a knowledgeable tea blogger.

Matcha That Tastes of Chocolate

Kiwami from Kettl, is a matcha with pronounced chocolate notes. I was skeptical when I read the tasting notes–“creamy, chocolatey matcha tea with zero astringency and a long lasting finish.” How could a pure matcha taste anything like chocolate? I don’t know how, but it absolutely does take like cream and chocolate. This matcha delivers lush flavors and umami. Kiwami has pushed my understanding of how complex, delicious, and naturally sweet a very high-quality matcha can be. Whisk up a bowl or chawan of Kiwami and enjoy the chocolate notes in this matcha.

What goes better with tea than cookies? If you are interested in baking some homemade cookies to go with your Valentine’s teas, check out my post on Earl Grey and Orange Zest Shortbread Cookies!

Looking for tea-infused chocolates, I’ve got you covered with another post: “Tea-Infused Chocolates to Delight.”

Pink Valentine’s Tisanes

Maybe you would like to avoid caffeine, or would simply enjoy a pink latte or tisane to toast Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day. I recommend some delicious Valentine’s tisanes.

For a lovely floral latte, try this beautiful and aromatic recipe from a wonderful tea blogger with great recipes, Daniela @teacachai. Her Rose Latte includes a (natural) secret ingredient that increases the pink power of this fragrant drink. I really love it. (My personal preference is to halve the amount of the secret ingredient in the recipe.) Click here for her Rose Latte recipe (and to find out the secret).

If you are in the mood for something sparkling and cold, try my Rose Ginger Bubbler variation. Rose and ginger are heavenly together. Make the rose base according to Daniela’s Rose Latte recipe and add a few slices of fresh ginger root while it’s infusing. Chill the infusion and sweeten, if desired. Pour over ice and top with seltzer. It’s also good hot.

Red Valentine’s Tisane

Maybe you’re more #TeamRed than #TeamPink. I suggest my favorite hibiscus blend, the Hibiscus Cinnamon tisane from Taka Turmeric. I enjoy this blend without adding more sugar than I am comfortable using (an issue I have with some hibiscus tisanes). The cinnamon beautifully balances the hibiscus and adds a natural sweetness. I love it! (It also contains turmeric and other ingredients.) You can buy the tisane here if ordering from the U.S., here if ordering from the UK or another country. You can, of course, drink it hot. Personally, I love to pour it over ice. (Note: I have no financial arrangement with Taka Turmeric, but I did receive this tisane as a free sample with no obligation to post. It’s the only tea or tisane in this post that I didn’t pay for myself.)

If you have tried any of these recommended Valentine’s teas or tisanes or have a favorite chocolate, pink, or red tea or tisane to recommend, please tell us in the comments. Cheers!

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