One thing I love most about tea is the tea industry “family”. I haven’t been able to meet many of the people I have gotten to know through blogs, Twitter, and other online/social media venues in person, but the ones I have met have never been a disappointment. And that theme continued on a recent Saturday afternoon when I got to have lunch with someone I’ve wanted to meet for awhile now, a fellow contributor to our beloved T Ching blog, Dharlene Fahl. It was nice to find she had recently moved to an area just a short drive away, so we met at an eatery in rustic Old Town in the city where I live. We just wanted to talk tea and that is what we did. Of course, isn’t that what tea people do?
Dharlene has written books and poetry about tea and has traveled to tea-growing regions. I especially enjoyed hearing about her trip to India, where she was hosted by another contributor to this blog, noted Indian tea authority Rajiv Lochan of Lochan Tea, who I was also privileged to meet at the 2014 World Tea Expo. She is planning another trip soon to another tea-growing region, and I look forward to hearing about her stays on the tea estates, where visitors are treated like royalty and experience the estate’s culture, interface with workers and growers, and come away with a better understanding of how the industry actually functions on a day to day basis.
In talking with Dharlene, it made me aware of how many opportunities there are in the tea industry. Dharlene is not only an author but a consultant to retailers who aren’t familiar with the specialty tea niche. I thought about how we all fit together as a culture. I’ve been a retail store owner, and now am working on brewing technology opportunities, with the possibility of getting back into retail again while growing the business central to the technology. On the other side of the world, growers (hopefully all or most) continue to look for ways to improve not only the condition of the workers in the fields but the quality of the tea. Between there and here, the importers and blenders do the ‘finish work’ to provide the market with its growing demand for quality tea and tea blends.
To date, tea has never had the almost manic culture that coffee has, at least not in the U.S., with coffee’s continual industry events and competitions, trade shows, and new technologies, but George and Kim Jage certainly helped get it started with their World Tea Expos debuting in the early 2000’s. They helped take awareness of tea as an industry from a smattering of “tea houses” to a contemporary mass market awareness of how far tea could go and how many opportunities there are.
As the years go by, I hope tea will develop its own distinctive space in the global retail/cafe marketplace, and not just an add-on to coffee-house culture. Our retail store put it “Tea & Coffee Brewery”. Coffee & Tea has had its time. Now it’s time for tea to step up and claim its rightful place, as the most consumed beverage on the planet after water. The general global tea industry want ad might read: “Tea – A limitless opportunity in all areas. Creative minds welcome.”
How right you are Diane. Tea must take its rightful place in the global and national tea industry. Each year, more and more tea shops seem to sprout up. Each one a bit different from the last, providing consumers a delightful array of tea experiences. So glad we’ve finally moved away from the British ideal and are crafting an American look and feel. I must agree that for the creative entrepreneur, there is indeed “limitless opportunity”. Well said!
Your experience meeting a tea person is one that I’ve experienced as well. It reminds me of my experience as an East coaster living in the Pacific northwest. When I meet someone new, sometimes I seem to pick up something, nothing that I can exactly identify, only to find out a bit later that they’re from the East coast. There’s a connection that can’t be ignored. Meeting a “tea person” is also such an experience. Our shared love of tea seems to provide an instant bond between two souls.
I hope we get to meet one day, Michelle. I feel like we have that ‘tea bond’…in a special way.
You too have touched my heart Diane. I know one day we will indeed meet in person.
After wandering all over the place and expecting every tea wanderer to visit us whenever in Darjeeling we have stumbled upon so many chances, personalities and stories that the word “tea family” has really meant so much to us. Thanks Diana Walden for taking notice of us…
My first partner and I were invited to visit Walters Bay in Sri Lanka way back in 2006 or so and never did. They literally had a coffee table book with gorgeous photos of the estate. They had their own medical clinic, school for t he workers’ children (as I recall), and more. They also had the best Earl Grey I’ve ever had, but it is not available anymore in small lots to retailers as loose tea. I hope there is more and more opportunity for each part of the ‘family’ to get to connect as the industry moves forward.
Gosh, I didn’t know this post was out there. Thank you so very much, Diane. What a pleasure it was meeting you in person, too. T’is now the season — hope we can spend a few moments together again real soon. Would you like to come to Canyon Lake?
Hi Dharlene,
I’d love to get together again early in 2016. These holidays are so busy this year, for some reason. I’d love to meet in Canyon Lake next time.
Gee, Diane — the holidays slipped past us, didn’t they? Let’s make some time to visit later in the month — these first few weeks are going to be a bit mad for me. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours! Yes, come to Canyon Lake! Talk soon.