Introduction
I had the pleasure of meeting Lucy and Benjamin from teafriend.shop at the Summer Tea Fest in Berlin this past July. Their deep knowledge and passion for Taiwanese tea immediately stood out, and their approach to tea as more than just a drink—seeing it as a way of life and a connection between people—was truly inspiring. After experiencing their exceptional teas firsthand, I knew I wanted to bring their story to a broader audience. Lucy and I had a wonderful conversation online in September, and Benjamin kindly provided his insights afterwards. I’m excited to welcome them to the WanderlusTea stand at the Berlin Tea Festival on November 23, 2024! Join us to taste their exceptional teas and to meet Lucy!
Questions for Lucy (Co-Founder of TeaFriend)
Lorela: Lucy, it’s a pleasure to have you here online today. Could you start by sharing the inspiration behind teafriend.shop and your vision for promoting Taiwanese tea culture globally?
Lucy: Thank you, Lorela. I’m equally excited about the Berlin Tea Festival! The inspiration behind teafriend stems from my deep connection to Taiwanese tea. I’ve always had a passion for promoting the globalization of Taiwanese tea. Even before starting the tea brand, I worked with the Tea Research and Extension Station in Taiwan. Since 2019, I have assisted in educating international tea professionals about Taiwanese tea, and it fueled my desire to bring our tea culture to a broader audience. teafriend.shop was born from this vision of sharing not just the tea itself, but the philosophy behind it—how tea can connect people and become part of their daily lives.
Lorela: That’s beautiful. You and Benjamin emphasize the idea that tea is more than just a product, but a medium to connect people. How did this philosophy shape the development of your brand?
Lucy: Yes, that’s very important to us. In Taiwan, there’s a saying that tea brings people together— when we share tea, we form deeper connections. Tea is more than just something to drink; it’s a way to bond with others. The name “teafriend” reflects this idea of creating friendships through tea. Benjamin and I wanted to create a space where anyone, regardless of their knowledge about tea, could feel welcome and part of the community. While enjoying happiness in our cup is wonderful, the joy of sharing it with others is even greater.
Photos by Liang Zhu.
Lorela: I love how approachable you’ve made the tea experience. Many newcomers to tea feel overwhelmed by the more traditional tea ceremonies. How do you and your team help people new to tea appreciate its depth without feeling intimidated?
Lucy: We’re very mindful of that. For beginners, we start with simple tea tastings, allowing them to enjoy the tea without overloading them with too much technical information. We want people to feel that tea is for everyone, not just experts and to experience it in person. Our goal is, to foster a neutral, open space where people can start their tea journey at their own pace.
Photo credit: Samuel Jaramillo
Lorela: That’s a fantastic approach. Now, teafriend.shop focuses primarily on Taiwanese tea. In your opinion, what makes Taiwanese tea unique, and how do you preserve its authenticity while sharing it with a global audience?
Lucy: Taiwanese tea is incredibly diverse and innovative. Many of the tea farmers we work with are second or third-generation farmers, and they continuously experiment with new ways of processing tea. For example, in the same tea farm, you might find different types of tea—like oolong, black tea, or even white tea—being made depending on the season. This diversity, combined with a deep knowledge passed down through generations, makes Taiwanese tea truly special. We maintain close relationships with our farmers, ensuring that every batch of tea we offer is true to its origins. We also keep the process transparent, from the tea’s cultivation to its production.
Lorela: It’s clear that your connection to the farmers plays a big role in teafriend.shop's success. How do these collaborations impact the quality of the tea you offer?
Lucy: Absolutely. We view our farmers not just as suppliers but as partners. This trust allows us to work together on experimenting with new tea processing methods. For example, one of our farmers tried a new method to make GABA oolong tea. Even though the taste wasn’t perfect at first, we supported them by purchasing the entire batch because we believed and still believe in their innovation and effort. It’s important to us that we help foster creativity and growth in the tea-making process.
Tea Identity: Charcoal Oolong
Origin: Nan Tou, Taiwan
Cultivar: Jin Xuan (TTES. No.12) and Cui Yu (TTES. No 13)
Harvest: Spring,April, 2023
Partial Oxidation Level: High
Roast Level: Heavy
Farming Method: Organic Farming
Lorela: Supporting farmers through that experimentation must help elevate the tea scene. Now, sustainability is a key part of your business. How does teafriend.shop support eco-friendly tea farming practices?
Lucy: Most of the teas in our collection are made using eco-friendly farming practices, meaning no pesticides or herbicides. While this can make the tea leaves harder to work with, we believe it’s essential for protecting the environment and maintaining biodiversity. Our farmers use organic farming methods, which means they have to be more skilled to produce high-quality tea, but it also makes the tea more flavorful in a "natural" way.
Lorela: That’s wonderful to hear. Finally, what role does education play in your mission to introduce Taiwanese tea to an international audience?
Lucy: Education is so important to us. I come from a background of studying tea systematically, and I believe that understanding the history, culture, and processes behind tea makes the experience even richer. We hold workshops and open tea parties to help people learn how to brew tea using traditional methods, like a gaiwan or teapot. It’s about giving people the tools to feel confident and comfortable with tea, whether they're complete beginners or seasoned tea drinkers. I want to share the beauty of Taiwanese tea culture step by step.
Photos by Liang Zhu.
Lorela: teafriend.shop blends business with ancient philosophy. As the brand grows, how do you ensure that the core values of righteousness and tea culture remain intact?
Lucy: From our perspective, if the original intention is wholesome, it will naturally lead to a wholesome outcome. Intention comes from the mind, not from the business itself. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a team with the same mindset, so you can share these values with your tea friends. Benjamin and I shared this vision, which led us to found teafriend.shop, creating a platform in the form of an online shop. I feel very fortunate to have had Benjamin with me at the time to establish the brand and the platform. Even today, we continue to exchange ideas and support each other.
The foundation of our brand is rooted in ancient philosophy and personal beliefs. It’s also very important to us who we collaborate with, especially when it comes to tea farmers. I’ve known each tea farmer for at least three years, and Benjamin and I personally visit and source teas directly from them. Since we all share similar philosophies, it’s relatively easy to stay aligned and on the right path by working with the right people.
Lorela: That’s inspiring, Lucy. I’m looking forward to having you at the Berlin Tea Festival on November 23, 2024, at the WanderlusTea stand. I know attendees will love meeting you and experiencing the wonderful world of TeaFriend.
Lucy: Thank you so much, Lorela. I’m excited to be there and share our tea with everyone!
Questions for Benjamin (Co-Founder of TeaFriend)
Lorela: Benjamin, you view tea as a meditation object. How has this perspective influenced teafriend.shop approach to creating mindful tea experiences?
Benjamin: From my perspective, anything can serve as a meditation object, but I find the breath to be one of the most effective. The breath is always accessible, regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. When we encounter obstacles—such as fear, anger, or greed—we can turn inward and use our breath to calm and clear our minds. This is often much more challenging if we rely on external objects like tea, as it requires us to set up a specific environment to engage in our practice.
Ultimately, the choice of meditation object, whether it’s tea or something else, pales in comparison to the methods we employ and the perspectives we adopt in facing reality. It is not merely about the external circumstances or phenomena; it’s about how we perceive and interact with them.
I don’t claim to have profound wisdom regarding tea or meditation. However, through my shallow understanding, I utilize meditation to cultivate a clearer mind. I draw upon ancient philosophies that guide me to avoid harm in my thoughts, words, and actions. This understanding extends beyond just having mindful experiences with tea; it emphasizes a broader approach to life.
Mindfulness is not limited to the practice of drinking tea—but rather, it encompasses a way of living. One can be fully present and mindful in any context, even in activities that might seem unrelated, like hunting. However, even if a hunter practices mindfulness, it raises important questions about the implications of their actions—specifically, what they choose to do with that mindfulness. A mindful hunter can still cause significant harm through the act of killing. Therefore, it's essential to consider how our mindful awareness is applied and the impact it has on others and the world around us.
When someone approaches the practice of treating, serving, drinking, and sharing tea with this kind of understanding, it can indeed create a positive impact at the tea table and beyond. It’s about creating a mindful connection that resonates within ourselves and with others.
Lorela: Can you share how your training in Chan meditation and Buddhist practices has shaped the rituals and ceremonies teafriend.shop offers?
Through my Chan training, I've learned to appreciate the simplicity of serving tea. It's not about having a fancy setup or using specific utensils; it's about being present with what we have at hand.
Photo credit: Samuel Jaramillo
There’s no need to judge the environment or the tea itself, whether it's a rare variety or a common one. Let go of expectations and simply observe the moment. Just observe without attachment or dislike.
Benjamin
Lorela: How do you bridge the spiritual elements of tea with the everyday experience for someone new to both tea and meditation?
Just having tea. Just sharing tea.
Benjamin
Lorela: What are your hopes for how people experience and interact with tea through teafriend, both as a product and a lifestyle?
Benjamin: In response to your question, I don't hold specific expectations regarding our impact; rather, I believe that by cultivating our minds, we can naturally provide positive impulses for others. The teafriend.shop brand and our online shop primarily serve as a platform to offer exceptional tea from Taiwan. While we enjoy sharing our thoughts and believe they can have an effect, we remain open-minded and without any concrete expectations about the outcomes of our interactions.
Lorela: Teaware and tea: what are your views on using a certain teaware for certain tea?
Benjamin: Can be fun but not necessary.
Conclusion:
As I review this interview, it’s clear that Lucy and Benjamin's passion for tea goes beyond the cup. It is deeply rooted in ancient philosophy, personal beliefs, and a genuine desire to connect people across the world. Their unique approach to tea—one that emphasizes mindfulness, sustainability, and human connection—truly sets them apart.
At teafriend.shop, tea is a bridge, fostering relationships, and allowing moments of reflection and presence. From their thoughtful collaborations with tea farmers to their mindful tea experiences, they continuously work to elevate Taiwanese tea culture globally.
With the Berlin Tea Festival on the horizon, we're excited to see how Lucy and Benjamin will bring their philosophy and passion to more tea lovers. Thank you to both for sharing these insights, and I look forward to many more meaningful tea moments together.
To all tea enthusiasts: don’t miss the chance to meet Lucy at the WanderlusTea stand on November 23, 2024, at the Berlin Tea Festival. Taste the wonderful world of teas from teafriend.shop and experience the magic of Taiwanese tea firsthand.
All pictures were provided by teafriend.shop.
Comments