The process of getting tea from the plant to your cup involves many people. While TeaTiff solely focuses on companies that sell tea I also want to mention companies that not only sell tea but have a focus on other important aspects of the tea community. For many people being able to catalog their tea, likes & dislikes, timing, etc are very important aspects of their tea journey. This app is great for all those reasons and many more. Grab a pot of tea and enjoy this interview with Vincent who created MyTeaPal.
Website: https://myteapal.com/club/
Location:
- The company is based in Durham, North Carolina, and the founder Vincent recently moved to China to source premium teas directly from producers.
Company Focus:
- MyTeaPal started as a mobile application for tea drinkers and then opened a tea club to connect tea drinkers from all over the world. Its mobile application has functions to time tea infusions, record tea related items, write tea journals, and share tasting notes. Its tea club gathers members from over twenty countries and aims to facilitate community discussions and spread tea culture.
Does the company name have a meaning?
- Yes, to application users, MyTeaPal is a tea pal of theirs empowering them on their tea journey. Furthermore, on MyTeaPal, users are able to find many more like-minded tea pals from all over the world.
Do you participate in any charities?
- Not yet, because previously we only built a free app. Now as we started to feature more teas from Chinese tea producers, we’d like to be more involved with tea farming charities there.
What is your favorite tea?
- My favorite tea is Sheng (Raw) Puerh. Produced in Yunnan province of China, it has much depth in its flavor, which will change over years through fermentation.
What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?
- Over the past years, I’ve seen more tea vendors and brands sharing detailed information about their teas (particular specialty teas), which is a great thing. In China, there are efforts by some producers attaching QR codes including all the production information, and there are more standards and regulations in the market for increasing transparency. I hope to see the trend continue and will try my best contributing to that.
What role does tea play in our lives?
- Personally speaking, besides being a beverage, tea helps me relax and become more mindful. From my experience working on tea related things (running a tea club, developing a tea app, building a tea community), I find greater meaning in tea which is about people and culture. It’s amazing and fulfilling to see users of MyTeaPal connect with each other and discuss about tea, and as a Chinese I feel even more proud and motivated to spread the culture of tea.
Social Media:
Anything else you’d like to add?
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TeaTiff Picks: Once my first box arrives I will update this section. Much excite.
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