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On this week’s SEASON FINALE, guest Sanaya El Sayad spills all the tea by answering your most asked questions!
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here
About the guest: Sanaya El Sayad
Sanaya has been working at DAVIDsTEA for over 10 years now. She initially started as a seasonal hire in-store while working towards a history degree at McGill University. Although she was passionate about her field of study, tea became somewhat of a calling she just couldn’t ignore. She began working at our Head Office in Montreal, where she eventually became the Senior Director of Buying, Tea & Product. Her passion for tea—and sharing it with others—made her an integral part of the team. In fact, Sanaya often has the final say on which teas are released into the world. Cool, huh? She’s also traveled with DAVIDsTEA to visit the beautiful tea gardens of Sri Lanka and had the opportunity to work on a water impact project in Kenya. Fun fact: Sanaya’s love of tasting and experiencing new things extends to her love of trying new restaurants and sipping natural wines!
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This week, we’re talking to Chantrelle Edwards, founder and CEO of Hella Tea, all about POC representation in the tea community.
Today's episode is brought to you by Glitter & Gold
About the guest: Chantrelle Edwards
Chantrelle Edwards is the founder and CEO of Hella Tea. While growing up in Oakland, California, drinking tea was always an escape for her when life got tough. From losing her 17-year-old brother to gun violence to becoming a mother at a young age, she was determined to beat the odds. In 2007, Chantrelle decided to start her first tea business, Raised Pinky Teas, whose target market was children and women’s groups. One day, while seeking help from a marketing professional, she was challenged to adjust her branding strategy. After much thought, prayer and reflection on her life experiences and interest, Hella Tea was born. Hella Tea specializes in artisanal tea blends that pay homage to the diverse population of the Bay Area and its hip hop culture. When Chantrelle isn’t sipping tea (or thinking of clever tea puns!), she enjoys skating, attending concerts, family gatherings, giving back through community outreach and taking spontaneous road trips to Napa and Monterey.
To learn more about Hella Tea click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
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This week, our guests Celia & Kelly discuss sweetener in tea—from the ones you add before you sip to those already built into your favourite blends.
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here
About the guests: Celia Aceae & Kelly Miller
Celia Aceae
Celia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could sip. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea, Herb & Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia has also completed an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!
Kelly Miller
Kelly Miller has been tea obsessed for nearly a decade. What is the source of her obsession, you ask? It all started when Kelly visited a DAVIDsTEA store for the first time to buy a gift for a friend. Intrigued by our Birthday Cake tea, she gave it a quick sip. And just like that Kelly, the tea sommelier, was born. THAC (Tea and Herbal Association of Canada) Certified, Kelly currently works as the Research & Development Lead at the DAVIDsTEA headquarters. Her generous and exploratory nature makes her an indispensable member of the team as she continuously pushes for new flavour innovations. Since her first introduction to the world of tea, she has tried over 10,000 teas AND her personal collection exceeds 1,500 unique teas and blends! -
We invited Research & Innovation expert, Dr. Robert Sobel, to help us unpack what natural and artificial flavouring really means.
Today's episode is brought to you by S'mores Chai
about the guest: Dr. Robert Sobel
Dr. Sobel began his career in the flavour industry at McCormick FONA (Flavors of North America) in 1999. Over the years, he has taught general chemistry, quantitative chemical analysis and instrumental analysis and published manuscripts in Analytical Chemical Acta, The Journal of Chemical Education and Perfumer & Flavorist. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from Northern Illinois University, his M.A. in Educational Leadership from Aurora University and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Northern Illinois University. As the current Vice President of Research & Innovation at McCormick FONA , Dr. Sobel directs technology and innovation efforts for new and novel flavour encapsulation delivery systems. If there’s anyone who can unpack the complexity of flavouring, it’s him!
To learn more about the world of flavour innovation, listen to McCormick FONA's Flavor University Podcast
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
Who says tea is only for drinking? This week, returning guest Nadia De La Vega talks to us about how to integrate tea into your everyday cooking and which ones are the best to cook with!
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here
about the guest: Nadia De La Vega
Nadia De La Vega's tea journey has been anything but linear. Growing up in Mexico, tea was not a common beverage... but luckily for Nadia, her mother would brew black loose leaf tea every morning. She completed her science degree in Montreal, where she developed an affinity for food pairing and recipe development. Joining the DAVIDsTEA family in 2012 (and we are SO glad she did!), she put her superpowers to use to help develop tea-based recipes. As the Director of Tea Sustainability and Content at DAVIDsTEA, Nadia and her team primarily oversee sustainability initiatives and tea knowledge across the brand while ensuring all tea information is authentic, fun and relatable. You can normally find her drinking a cup of Orange Pekoe or Organic Jasmine Black Pearls, while working on impact initiatives and indulging in some serious tea talk! -
For many, meditation is key to maintaining a sense of balance in their life. But it’s not as easy as it seems. We talk to yoga and mindfulness instructor—and tea enthusiast—Sara Gallagher Bloom to discuss the benefits of meditation and how tea can fit into your routine.
Today's episode is brought to you by Organic Serenity Now
about the guest: Sara Gallagher Bloom
Sara Gallagher Bloom has been teaching yoga, movement and mindful practices for close to 20 years. Her yoga journey began with hot yoga in Montreal, with a group of friends that eventually formed the studio known today as Modo Yoga. She’s certified in Katonah and Kundalini Yoga, has mentored countless new yoga teachers and has led workshops for many styles of practice around the globe. You may know her from her Montreal studio, Morpho Bleu. Today, not only is she a studio owner, she’s also a yoga teacher, a community leader, a mother, a meditation teacher and a spiritual guide. Her mission is to empower humans to develop their mind and body through yoga and meditation practices—no matter where they are on their journey!
To learn more about Sara and her work, click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
And the spotlight goes to… mmm matcha! This week, we’re diving deep into the creamy, energizing & traditional world of matcha with none other than our four-time returning guest, Celia.
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here
about the guest: Celia AceaeCelia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could sip. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea and Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia has also completed an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!
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We have invited Victor Yu, of the Random Cuisine Blog, to walk us through the latest tea flavoured trends brewing all around us. Find out about the latest and greatest in tea beverages, desserts and beyond!
Today's episode is brought to you by Organic Hojicha
about the guest: Victor Yu of @randomcuisineVictor Yu is the food writer behind the Instagram @randomcuisine. But he has a wide range of interests and creative pursuits. He successfully defended his PhD thesis in 2018 at McGill University in Montreal, where he studied the quantum regime of 2D materials at absolute zero temperature. After an immense contribution to the field of science, Victor closed the chapter of academic research, and now works as a digital and social media strategist for Nourish Food Marketing, a Toronto-based food agency representing some of the largest food brands in Canada. Victor is always on the lookout for the next exciting food and flavour pairing trend and loves learning about food cultures from around the world. In his free time, he gives food tours of Chinatown in Montreal on Airbnb Experiences and helps promote small businesses and local restaurants through his Instagram.
To learn more about Random Cuisine click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
In our longest mini episode to date, we take a deep dive—or at least a shallow dip—into all things caffeine in tea. Returning guests Nadia & Celia help unpack the not so simple topic that’s on the minds of many tea lovers.
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here
About the Guests:
Nadia De La VegaNadia De La Vega's tea journey has been anything but linear. Growing up in Mexico, tea was not a common beverage... but luckily for Nadia, her mother would brew black loose leaf tea every morning. She completed her science degree in Montreal, where she developed an affinity for food pairing and recipe development. Joining the DAVIDsTEA family in 2012 (and we are SO glad she did!), she put her superpowers to use to help develop tea-based recipes. As the Director of Tea Sustainability and Content at DAVIDsTEA, Nadia and her team primarily oversee sustainability initiatives and tea knowledge across the brand while ensuring all tea information is authentic, fun and relatable. You can normally find her drinking a cup of Orange Pekoe or Organic Jasmine Black Pearls, while working on impact initiatives and indulging in some serious tea talk!
Celia Aceae
Celia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could sip. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea, Herb & Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia has also completed an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!
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Want to learn how to pair teas and impress your guests next time you invite them over? Well, let Kevin Gascoyne give you the rundown on all things tea pairings!
Today's episode is brought to you by our Garden to Cup Collection
Kevin Gascoyne: about the guest
Tea has been running through Kevin’s veins since he was a kid. Born in Yorkshire in the North of England, his interest in tea grew in his teen years after backpacking through the Himalayas, where he first tasted fresh leaf tea straight from the source. A true lifelong obsession was born! He started writing about Darjeeling tea and buying small amounts of rare tea to re-sell, mostly to fund his own passion for tea. He registered his first company, “Kyela Teas” in the early 1990s and then met Hugo, François and Jasmin in their quirky teahouse. Their mutual interest in all things tea fuelled a strong friendship and they merged their two companies in 2004. The Camellia Sinensis Tea House was born. When he’s not busy on his quest for Darjeeling’s finest leaf, you can find Kevin giving lectures on tea all over the world and is involved in many projects dealing with consulting, publication and trade development. And, of course, he still does what he does best—drinks tons of tea!
To learn more about the Camellia Sinensis teahouse click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
Kelly joins us this week as we attempt to unravel the mystery behind tea drinkers’ longstanding love for Pu’erh, one of the most ancient tea types.
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here.
about the guest: Kelly Miller
Kelly Miller has been tea-obsessed for nearly a decade. What is the source of her obsession, you ask? It all started when Kelly visited a DAVIDsTEA store for the first time to buy a gift for a friend. Intrigued by our Birthday Cake tea, she gave it a quick sip. And just like that, Kelly, the tea sommelier, was born. THAC (Tea and Herbal Association of Canada) Certified, Kelly currently works as the Research & Development Lead at the DAVIDsTEA headquarters. Her generous and exploratory nature makes her an indispensable member of the team as she continuously pushes for new flavour innovations. Since her first introduction to the world of tea, she has tried over 10,000 teas AND her personal collection exceeds 1,500 unique teas and blends! Please give it up for Kelly, everyone! -
We sat down with Jenny, Executive Director at the ETP, to get a better understanding of how our industry is working together to create a fairer and more sustainable tea industry for workers, farmers and the environment.
Today's Episode is brought to you by Silk Dragon Jasmine (Organic)
Jenny Costelloe: about the guestJenny leads the Ethical Tea Partnership’s (ETP) global team to drive long-term, systemic change across three areas in tea: economics, equality and environment. She’s passionate about mobilising ETP’s global team to develop programs, run pilots and influence policies, and create transformative change across tea supply chains to achieve ETP’s vision of a thriving, socially just and environmentally sustainable tea sector. In 2016, Jenny was appointed Ambassador for the World Economic Forum’s “New Vision for Agriculture” after her role as Director of Country Partnerships at Grow Asia (a World Economic Forum focused on sustainable agriculture in ASEAN). To call Jenny’s accomplishments impressive is an understatement.
DAVIDsTEA is looking forward to joining key players in the industry, like Jenny, at the leading tea sustainability conference in June 2022 with the Ethical Tea Partnership and IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative. This event will explore the sector’s most significant and challenging issues and will investigate learnings to improve the sustainability of tea now and in the future.
To learn more about ETP click here
ETP is hosting TEAM UP 2022 and there is still time to join!
They are looking forward to joining some of the key players in the tea sector at the leading tea sustainability conference with the Ethical Tea Partnership and IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative on 21 June 2022 in London: TEAM UP 2022: Sustainability Solutions.The event will explore the sector’s most significant and challenging issues and will look at learnings to go forward to improve the sustainability of tea now and for the future.
They'll be joined by Oxfam GB CEO, Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO of the Kenya Tea Development Agency Foundation Sudi Biko Matara, CEO of Rwanda's National Agricultural Export Development Board, Claude Bizimana, the Managing Director of Taylors of Harrogate Andy Brown, CEO of ekaterra John Davison, Unilever's Senior Social Sustainability ManagerWinfridah Moraa Nyakwara, Dr Paula Hamilton, Head of Collective Action Ethical Trading Initiative and many more!
There is still time to join them for this one day event, either virtually or in person at RIBA, Central London: https://bit.ly/38q4gpE
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
We acknowledge that there is no DAVIDsTEA without a healthy planet. So, who better to define what that means to us than Nadia, our Director of Tea Sustainability & Content?
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To see what we are doing to promote a sustainable future click here.
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here.About the Guest: Nadia De La Vega
Nadia De La Vega's tea journey has been anything but linear. Growing up in Mexico, tea was not a common beverage... but luckily for Nadia, her mother would brew loose leaf black tea every morning. She completed her science degree in Montreal, where her love for food pairing and recipe development came to be. Joining the DAVIDsTEA team in 2012 (and we are SO glad she did!), she put her superpowers to use to help develop tea-based recipes. As the Director of Tea Sustainability and Content at DAVIDsTEA, Nadia and her team primarily oversee sustainability initiatives and tea knowledge across the brand while ensuring all tea information is authentic, fun and relatable. You can normally find her drinking a cup of Orange Pekoe or Organic Jasmine Black Pearls, while working on impact initiatives and indulging in some serious tea talk!
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Carolina Levy, owner of tea company Soy Té, shares insight from her personal experience of bringing tea to Mexico.
Today's Episode is brought to you by Cherry Blossom
Carolina Levy: about the guestSay hola to Carolina Levy, our first international guest! She started her tea company, Soy Té, 10 years ago after travelling to rural Mexico for work. She was inspired to source local ingredients in an effort to reduce food waste, and to broaden cultural appreciation for tea and herbs in her home country of Mexico.
Carolina explores tea through rituals and tools such as Gong Fu Cha and tea pets, and uses sensations and emotional cues to educate and interest people in more traditional tea culture. Her secret to connecting with others through tea? Making it accessible! Through TikTok, leading online tea-tasting sessions, and simply sharing conversation over a cup of tea, Carolina invites people to try new things or to experience familiar flavours in different ways.
From cold brew to frappes and flavoured tea lattes, Carolina's enthusiasm for all things tea (and beyond!) was the inspo behind the name of her company, Soy Té, which translates to "I am tea" in Spanish. How fitting!
To learn more about Soy Té click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
Want to sip outside the box? This episode’s for you! We’re exploring all the different ways to make a cup with Freedom, our Social Media Lead and resident rule-breaker.
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here.About the Guest: Freedom Taylor
Meet Freedom! He first joined the DAVIDsTEA team back in 2011 with our Spring Collection starring a ton of seriously stellar hits like Goji Pop, Movie Night and Lime Gelato. If you happened to shop in our retail stores between 2011 and 2018, chances are you browsed displays designed by yours truly. This delightful human bleeds teal and can often be found drinking a huge mason jar of iced tea while writing jokes for DAVIDsTEA’s social media accounts (that’s his new gig and he like totally digs it). Obsessed with mixing teas together, nostalgic flavours, colourful iced teapops and experimenting with layered lattes, Free (FYI we call him Free because well, he embodies it oh so well) proves that tea rules are meant to be… adapted? PS. Freedom and the term “fun steeper” are pretty much synonymous because he’s actual living proof that it’s okay to think outside the cup. In fact, here at DAVIDsTEA, we encourage it.
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We invited Tao Zrafi, the Traveling Bartender & Mixologist, to share his secrets on the best ways to mix tea with alcohol.
Today's Episode is brought to you by Blood Orange Boost
Tao Zrafi: about the guestTao Zrafi is a mixologist, bar program consultant and globetrotter. If you’ve ever been to any of Montreal’s popular cocktail bars, then odds are you’ve probably tasted one of Tao’s concoctions. After moving to Canada from Tunisia at the age of 20, Tao made a life-changing decision to test his luck in the bar industry, something entirely new to him by the way! He never even had a sip of alcohol until he was 23… but he quickly became fascinated by the art of mixology. Tao worked at various restaurants and bars across North America and even entered numerous competitions. He eventually started making a name for himself and found his unique style that resonated with the masses. Unfortunately, restrictions implemented throughout the pandemic put a hold on his plans but that didn’t stop him from making new ones. Instead, Tao focused on consulting, sharing his knowledge, launching pop-up shops, and planning his lifelong goal of creating his own funky bar project. And so, he did! Keep your eyes (and taste buds) open for what Tao has in store next…
To learn more about Tao Zrafi click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
Did you know the type of water you use to steep your tea makes a difference? Find out how on this week’s episode with Quality manager and Straight Tea Specialist Ravi Pillai
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here
About the Guest : Ravi PillaiTo put it simply, Ravi Pillai is one heavy dude. Let us explain. You see, Ravi is many things. He’s a certified Tea Sommelier, Tea Specialist and Tea Professional. He has over 35 years of experience in the tea industry with 20 years of that dedicated to the management of tea estates, overseeing tea processing, pre and post harvesting practices… the list goes on! *Takes a deep breath* Not to mention, Ravi has also worked in international trading and managed the purchasing of teas at auction and developed customised blends for companies all over the world. Pretty cool, huh? But hold, please. We’re not done yet. Traveling all over the Middle East, Europe and East Asia, Ravi also served on the Board of Directors of the Tea & Herbal Association of Canada AND the Board of the World Tea Expo. Ravi has been with the DAVIDsTEA family for 11 years (that’s over a decade!!!) working as the Manager of Tea Quality, Straight Teas & Sachet Development. So, it’s basically a proven fact that he has an incredible wealth of knowledge (though his humble nature would never admit it…) but what we really love most about him is his generosity, kind-heartedness and his ability to tell a good tale about his very many adventures.
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Join us as we talk to Tea Horse about their unique take on wild rice and the role that tea plays in bringing people together.
Today's Episode is brought to you by Manoomin Maple
Tea Horse: about the guestToday we’re sitting down with Tea Horse, a woman-led, Indigenous-owned tea company, to help us get a better understanding of wild rice. Tea Horse was founded by Denise Atkinson, who is Anishinaabe ikwe (meaning Ojibwe woman) and her partner Marc Bohémier. Located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Peoples in Northwestern Ontario, Tea Horse focuses on bringing people together through high-quality teas featuring roasted manoomin (wild rice in Ojibwe). So, who better to teach us about this truly unique ancestral grain?
To learn more about Tea Horse click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com -
Join us this week for a deep dive into what seems to be one of our most polarizing ingredients: licorice. With Tea Specialist Celia Aceae
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com
To shop our website and discover your next favourite tea click here
About the Guest: Celia AceaeCelia’s obsession with tea began as soon as she could drink. Motivated by her love of plants (and insatiable curiosity), Celia studied conservation and natural resource compliance at Lethbridge College in Alberta. She went on to obtain a Red Seal in horticulture from the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, and currently works as a Tea and Sustainability Specialist at DAVIDsTEA. But we’re not done yet! Celia is also completing an additional bachelor’s degree of Science in Horticulture, basically proving that her love of tea and plants is no passing fancy. With an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and their various impacts on individuals as well as the planet, Celia has committed most of her time to the proliferation of tea and plant knowledge. As a trained Tea Sommelier, she brings joy to those around her by sharing a cup of tea with anyone and everyone, at any time. Fun fact: she lived in Japan for three months studying matcha production and the Japanese tea ceremony, so quiz her, she loves it!
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On this week’s episode, we sit down with Mamas for Mamas’ founder to explore all the amazing work the organization has accomplished to help moms and caregivers in need.
Today's Episode is brought to you by Organic Mother's Little HelperAbout the guest
Shannon Christensen was born and raised in Kelowna, BC where she currently lives with her husband of 16 years and their two boys. Her passion for working with marginalized populations led her to pursue (and complete) a BA in Psychology and a Master of Counselling Psychology. From there, her desire to make the world a better place manifested itself in the launch of Mamas for Mamas. This project has since become a national non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the negative impact of poverty on low-income mothers and their families. Shannon
has been recognized as a top 40 under 40 recipient, featured in “Women to Watch,” AND was a top 3 finalist for “Woman of the Year” through The City of Kelowna Civic and Community Awards. Most recently she has co-authored a best-selling book about motherhood and has brought home the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada for her work with Mamas for Mamas. But also… Shannon really likes pickles.
To learn more about Mamas for Mamas click here
For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com - Vis mere
