While at the Chicago Tea Festival (Apr 12-13, 2025) I had the pleasure of meeting many new (to me) tea companies. One in particular caught my eye with their distinctive design and commitment to transparency. It was not Annie at the festival but the entire design of the booth was amazing. Annie Xiang is a busy mom who is dedicated to not only introducing people to amazing teas but also to spreading the word of why transparency is so incredibly important.

Website:  https://www.volitiontea.com/

Location(s) Headquarters: Chicago, IL, USA

Company Focus:

• Single Origin, pesticide free teas with the heart being transparency.

Most popular company tea(s)?

• Big Red Robe (accessible for everyone, even first time tea drinkers) and Mo cha.

Does the company name have a meaning?

• People often ask, “Is it about your volition?” It’s more than me, it’s about the farmers, day after day, year after year. To give more voice to the farmers. Being organic  is increasingly difficult with climate change. They don’t become organic  just as a trend but because they see how it affects us and the environment.  What we put down impacts everyone. It’s incredibly difficult to sustain. Its an evolving game to learn how to deal with the current climate and bugs, etc. Volition is a tribute to the farmers who do the right thing despite the difficulties.

Do you participate in any charities? 

• Local and nationwide.

What is your and/or your co-workers’ favorite tea?  

• It is similar to when people ask, “Which is your favorite child?” But right now I enjoy Beauties Waist as it gets warmer. I love the experimental nature in the farmer who makes the tea. The name does not mean weight loss but what is left of the stem. It is a little longer than most, to the waist. The farmer is both producer and poet.

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?

• So many thoughts. Transparency in the tea industry… it’s nonexistent. No where near coffee. We do 100% traceability. It has to be the object if that’s what you are going for. But for many it’s just marketing. But we do more than just the name, we tell you where the farm is. The farmers are at the bottom of the totem pole and we need to turn this around. Without them there is no tea. Many are ageing and they will just quit if they don’t have enough presently and for when they retire. I feel passionate about this topic and I hope more people can become more educated on this to help our farmers. The legacy is far more important than trying to maintain the source.

What role does tea play in our lives?

• Everyone has a different answer. I can only tell you my personal story. Everyone sees and uses tea differently. I was a previous tax manager.  I enjoyed the work I did but when I had my first born everything changed. I was drinking lots of coffee and the hours were long. I went back to tea because the baby kicked harder when I drank coffee. I realized tea is not as transparent as coffee.  This was a sharp pivot to tea business but I want to change what I can. I know the language, I have an obligation to help tell their story (farmers). I have had very diverse and deep conversations not just about tea but about their lives. Tea is such a great way to share their stories on Asian life.  

Anything else you’d like to add?

• Compared to most tea purveyors, Volition has a decisive way of curation that goes back to the farmers. It takes time to build this and we would much rather keep building these relationships. We don’t want to offer all the usual and basic teas; for us it is more important to share teas that have a story and transparency. 

Social Media: Steepster

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• Facebook

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TeaTiff Picks: Beauties Waist: A tea that goes beyond the flavor. One with with a story and character. I chose this tea because of the story that Annie. It is a truly one of a kind tea. You can read my review on Steepster.