Hello! I’m Payton, a former tea professional who loves to share.

Many years ago I worked for Dobra Tea in Vermont in the US, a small teahouse that is a franchise of the Czech company, Dobrá Čajovna (“Good Teahouse”).

Dobra Tea introduced me to the wonders of loose-leaf tea from around the world. In the US, most people don’t really know the difference between tea that comes from the tea plant (Camellia Sinensis) and tisanes (aka Herbal Tea), let alone the incredible history of tea and how it intertwines with cultures in China, India, Japan, Nepal, Korea, Taiwan, and many other places. I fell in love with both the subject and the beverage.

I learned as much as I could during those years, tasting High Mountain Oolongs from Taiwan, First Flush Darjeeling from India, Gushu Sheng Puer from Yunnan, Kabusecha from Uji, and also learning traditional methods of preparation from Masala street Chai and Moroccan Berrad pouring to Matcha ceremony.

Of course, my tea education was broad but shallow, so I travelled to tea-producing countries to learn more. I’ve now visited Taiwan, China, and Japan, speaking to tea merchants and farmers and discovering the culture and the extremely hard work that is put into something as simple as a cup of tea.

It was during these years that I started this blog, writing about what I learned and sharing my tasting adventures.

Being in the tea industry is a difficult job and I no longer work in the tea field, but I haven’t lost my love of its wonders. I hope the posts on this site can help others discover the world of tea and experience its delights for yourself!