Osada Tea Japan

I think that tea made with a “gentle and organic heart” full of perseverance and joy for nature is the best way to go about it.

– Natsumi Osada

The deeper you dive into the world of tea the thicker the liquor becomes. I discovered Yamabuki Nadeshiko tea through Zerama in 2021 and instantly fell in love with it. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this is a unique tea produced only by Osada Tea which I discovered through World Tea News (read the article it’s awesome!). Osada-san and HIRO-san were extremely kind to allow me to interview them over Google Meets. We had a wonderful talk and now I am happy to share it with you all below!

Website:  https://osadateajapan.com/en

Location(s) Headquarters:  Shizuoka, Japan.

Company Focus:

  • Organic Japanese Tea. Though the organic label is not required domestically, this is mainly for international consumers.

Most popular company tea(s)?

Does the company name have a meaning?

  • Named after the owner, Natsumi Osada, who is the fifth generation of a line of tea producers. This is a family business.

Do you participate in any charities?  

  • Not currently listed on the website but will be added soon.
  • Shuchi Noein Farm – Many older farmers are at risk of losing their fields that they can no longer farm. Shuchi Noein comes in to help them while still allowing the original farmer to keep his fields. You won’t be able to find any mention online but HIRO mentioned this amazing farm and I want you all to know about it too.
  • TeaTiff also wants to add that the work OSADA Tea does to support producers that wish to go organic and keep supporting them speaks volumes. Japanese tea farming is becoming harder with older farmers and with not many of the younger generation wanting to join in because of the hard work. Supporting the farmers is incredibly important.

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

  • We drink Yamabuki Nadeshiko every day! HIRO – Koshin oolong cultivar.

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?  

  • It is important for us to know where the tea is coming from and the farmers who grow the tea. In order to grow good tea we have to make sure the farmer’s needs are met. We also need to understand consumer wants and needs. Do they like the tea and how do they feel about it?

What role does tea play in our lives?

  • It is a little hard to explain but we see it as a triangle. A cycle where each point is important: farmer, customer, us (Osada). The tea industry develops to become better with organic relationships.

Anything else you’d like to add? (Feel free to add codes here for customers if you wish)

This company created Yamabuki Nadeshiko!!

TeaTiff Picks: Yamabuki Nadeshiko. If you enjoy dark tea you won’t want to miss trying this tea. Actually, I don’t care what type of tea you like, just try this tea. This one-of-a-kind tea was made by Natsumi Osada in a unique manufacturing method you can read more about here. Yes, it is a dark tea. And yes it does have notes that are reminiscent of a dark tea with musty and earthy tones but it also has intense woody and minimal varnish notes, barely any astringency, and some unique very dark chocolate aftertaste flavors. I also get a slight sensation of a homemade waffle cone as it slides down my throat.

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Be Still Tea

Introspection. Reflection. Mindfulness. Stillness. Connection is an important piece of the puzzle in the world of tea. TeaTiff discovered this company via Being Tea. Francina and I are both students of tea through Sooz and as soon as I heard Francina talk about tea and her company I knew I wanted to learn more. Francina is building her company not only around calm but also around understanding the importance of learning to be still through tea. We had a wonderful discussion over Zoom and I’ve done my best to transpose her answers below.

Website: https://bestilltea.com/

Location Headquarters: Los Angles, California

Company Focus:

  • Tea that makes you feel and be still. Tea is a tool for stillness and introspection. It helps others develop stillness, awaken their senses and connect to awareness through tea.

Most popular company tea(s)?

  • Paradise.  – Like none other. Joy Berry – New Hibiscus blend infused to deliver joy! Dream Blend – Connection can happen at any time, a blend to reduce anxiety to bring stillness. Calmathy – Bringing stillness through helping calm one’s mind. Seasonal Lebkuchen Christmas Tea –  Christmas tradition in a cup. A honey-sweetened German cake molded cookie or bar cookie. Jasmari – Named after a friend who helped start the company.

Does the company name have a meaning?

  • Eight years ago after struggling with life in a very dark time I went through intense therapy. The therapist helped me really dig into my feelings. He said, “Go home and feel”. The only thing that helped to make me feel still is tea. In stillness was the release. I have a tattoo on my arm of a lotus with reminds me that like a lotus growing out of the mud that good things can come from mucky places. With the opportunity to be still in my life and realize how important it was to be disconnected and fully immerse in tea. To be still.

Do you participate in any charities? 

  • 10% goes to the Adoption fund to support birth mothers. Amplify the mothers who choose to place babies for adoption and loving them as they walk the road. Healing and peace to birth moms

What is your favorite tea?  

  • All of my teas are good. Similar to not being able to pick a favorite child, I can’t choose a favorite tea. My favorite isn’t your favorite. I don’t want to minimize what you like.

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?

  • Incredibly important. A lot of teas carry a tremendous amount of legacy of hurt, trauma, and pain. People don’t realize where their tea comes from. Such as English Breakfast and the legacy the name holds. Tea doesn’t come from England, it’s not grown there. I will be looking to source better. For my English Breakfast, I plan to source from Kenya. With a focus on growth practices and living wages.

What role does tea play in our lives?

  • Tea plays the role of being a soft, beautiful, cozy, comfortable place to land and show up to be yourself without judgment. A portal to connect with oneself and to that place of stillness. For me personally, it is connecting with how God perceives me and not the world.

Social Media:

True jasmine tea is not only physically demanding to make but time-consuming.

TeaTiff Picks: Jasmari. Jasmine scented green tea is known around the world. It comes in balls, tea bags, loose leaf, and can even be black! So what would make me choose something that I could find other places? As well-known as this tea is it is also one of the least understood. True, pure jasmine tea is a time-consuming, physically demanding process. Jasmari is a pure Jasmine scented green.

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Ordering? Be sure to tell them TeaTiff sent you!

If you already love them, tell us what you love below!

 Jenier Teas

Truly stumbled upon this awesome company. Like many companies, they started with humble beginnings working out of their garage. They are now known in over 34 countries around the world for their quality and commitment to the leaf we all love so much. Also, be sure to check out their Cup of Kindness website below. Nothing cheers up a dreary heart like a cuppa.

More on the company name:

  • Jenier Teas ( Jenier Limited – trading as Jenier World Of Teas (Wholesale) and Jenier Local (*New* Retail)

Website:

Location(s) Headquarters:  27 Earl Haig Road, Hillington Park, Glasgow, Scotland.

Company Focus: 

  • Sourcing really good tea then looking after teas when they arrive with us so we send out to our customers the best product we can. Customer service is very important to us – we really do care.

Most popular company tea(s)? 

Does the company name have a meaning? 

  • No, although I understand it is used as a name in some countries.

Do you participate in any charities?  

  • Yes, quite a few. We started a Cup Of Kindness after the 2020 Pandemic to help as many charities as we could. Locally we support Glasgow’s Children’s Hospital.

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

  • The Balmoral Blend – a blend we made for the Royal Balmoral Estate

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry? 

What role does tea play in our lives? 

  • What is life without tea? It is more than just a beverage, it is (for us) a way of sharing moments. Taking time to enjoy, encourage, support, pause, help, listen whilst refreshing the body with great tasting tea.

Social Media:  

Anything else you’d like to add?

  • TeaTiff20 – this will give 20% off the first purchase on the retail Jenier Local and gift store, Cup of Kindness.
Just looking at it makes my mouth water

TeaTiff Picks: Balmoral Blend Tea. One of the great parts of discovering new tea companies is discovering new tea blends. This delicous looking tea is a pure blend of Chinese, Sri Lanka, and Indian black teas. I will update this once I have tried it.

Sip some tea & leave a comment

Ordering? Be sure to tell them TeaTiff sent you!

If you already love them, tell us what you love below!

Plum Deluxe

If you are a fan of blended teas or a previous fan of Teavana be sure to give this company a try. They have unique blends and a heartwarming backstory. My first discovery was through Steepster but I was reintroduced once again through my interactions with The Tea Brigade. This is a company built not only for loving tea but also to bring encouragement.

Website: https://www.plumdeluxe.com/

Location(s) Headquarters:  Portland, Oregon USA

Company Focus: 

  • Flavored loose leaf teas, sweets (like lemonade, hot chocolate), and thoughtfully curated teaware

Most popular company tea(s)?  

Does the company name have a meaning? 

  • Plum is an old English word for something lucky or delightfully unexpected.  And deluxe reminds us to treat ourselves and enjoy the good things in life.  That’s what we think of when we think of tea blends.

Do you participate in any charities?  

  • We work with a variety year-round but don’t have a specific 5013c partner.

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

  • Office favorites include Blackberry Mojito Black, Self Care Herbal (add a splash of cream!), Buttery Shortbread Herbal, and Fog Cutter Black tea for mindful mornings.  We love taking the time to make a good tea latte!

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry? 

  • I think, for the most part, given the variety of independent players in the tea industry (particularly here in the USA), there is a lot of good conversation about transparency in the industry.  For example, when I first got into tea I remember a lot of tea packaging didn’t even have ingredients on it!  So I think we’re headed in the right direction.
  • I’d like to see more conversation and support on the farmers and businesses that grow the product.  Even we could do a better job of highlighting the efforts we go to in order to ensure living wages and sustainable agriculture.  We also emphasize USA-grown products where we can!

What role does tea play in our lives?   

  • I always think of tea as something that brings people together, that warms thoughtful conversation, and that helps us find things in common.  Tea is also a beverage of calm and respite. And I can’t think of anything that describes what we desperately need more of in these times than all of that.

Social Media: Steepster

Anything else you’d like to add?

  • Don’t be afraid of tea or think it’s too difficult or too complex.  Just jump in and experiment and have fun.  You’re never doing it wrong – if it tastes good to you and you’re having fun, you’re doing fine. – Andy Hayes
Autumn Vibes Cinnamon Hazelnut Black Tea

TeaTiff Picks: Autumn Vibes Cinnamon Hazelnut Black Tea. Instead of looking around and choosing what I thought looked best, I decided to take the Plum Deluxe Quiz. And based on the results I chose one of the suggestions. I adore hazelnuts but almost every tea blend that has them has almonds too and being allergic to almonds I no can do. The blend looks fantastic and I can’t wait to give it a try. Will update this when I do.

Sip some tea & leave a comment

Ordering? Be sure to tell them TeaTiff sent you!

If you already love them, tell us what you love below!

TEATSY (HONG KONG) CO., LIMITED

Every once in a while I run across a teaware site that I think sells tea but doesn’t. Until now I haven’t added any of them wanting to stick more with tea companies but every person that loves tea should also have a good appreciation for teaware. Grab your favorite pot and tell it it’s time for a new one.

Website: www.TeaTsy.com

Location Headquarters: Hong Kong

Company Focus:

  • Quality teaware

Most popular company tea(s)?-

  • Yingde Black Tea

Does the company name have a meaning? 

  • With inspiration from Etsy.com, we aim to create an e-commerce site for tea that truly respects craftsmanship in this industry.

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

  • Bi Luo Chun/Phoenix Dan Cong

What are your thoughts on transparency in the tea industry?

  • The key to a sustainable future for this industry

What role does tea play in our lives? 

  • A lifetime companion.

Social Media:

Anything else you’d like to add?

  • At TeaTsy, tea is our passion and we are committed to designing, curating, and sourcing the highest quality tea goods in the world. We are a small team of passionate Chinese oversea returnees with the mission to provide global tea lovers with a one-stop solution for all their tea needs. 
All things small for tea are irresistible

TeaTiff Picks: Serendipity” – High-grade Borosilicate Heat-Resistant Glass Mini Teapot. I used to have a mini glass teapot. It worked for all things and I adored it. Until it broke. But I know where I’m getting my next one from now.

Sip some tea & leave a comment

Ordering? Be sure to tell them TeaTiff sent you!

If you already love them, tell us what you love below!

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