These are gorgeous vintage tea tins from #Japan, from a time when tea was stored and distributed very differently than it is today. Before sealed pouches and modern packaging, tins like these were used to protect the leaf from light and moisture while it made its way from producer to consumer. Many of them were labeled by region, like Nagasaki or Sayama, reflecting where the tea was grown and processed.
What’s really interesting to me isn’t just the design, but what they represent: a period when tea was more localized and when trust was often tied to origin rather than brand.
At Art of Tea, we may use more modern ways to package and transport tea, but the focus is still on honoring where it comes from. The focus remains on sourcing with intention and preserving the character of the tea from the moment it leaves the farm. We work closely with our partners at origin and are mindful of how the tea is handled every step of the way.
Hiring isn’t just about resumes, it’s about alignment. I've always looked for people who don’t just get the job done, they take pride in doing it with excellence. That’s how we’ve built such a strong, dependable team at Art of Tea and why we fiercely protect the culture we’ve worked so hard to create. I owe it to my team to bring on people who can they can depend on.
Would you wait a few years for the perfect tea? What you’re looking at here is part of the aging and fermentation process used for teas like pu-erh. These large earthenware jars create a controlled environment where the tea continues to evolve over time. With airflow, moisture and microbial activity all playing a role, the character of the tea slowly changes over months or even years!
#Puerh is very different from most teas people are familiar with. Instead of bright or floral notes, you’ll often find deeper, more grounded flavors (earth and woody). Over time, the texture becomes smoother and more integrated, with the sharper edges softening into something more balanced.
Have you ever tasted a pu-erh tea?
Single origin matcha can be fantastic and incredible quality. But with a blend, you have the ability to shape the profile more intentionally, bringing together different regions and cultivars to create something that feels more balanced and special. I hope you try our new Halo Matcha which does just that.
To me, tea feels like a global language. Every place has its own rituals and traditions, but there’s a shared understanding in how it’s experienced. This voyage with @HollandAmericaLine through Vietnam and Singapore, along with hosting tea events onboard, brought that into focus in a really meaningful way. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do work that allows me to travel, learn and connect with people through tea.
A great tea program isn’t defined by how many teas you offer. There are a few things I always look at, including when I worked with @HollandAmericaLine to bring @artofteala on board.
1️⃣ First, where the tea comes from, how it’s processed, and whether it can hold its character over time, especially when you’re serving it at scale.
2️⃣ Second is preparation. Water temperature, steep time and proportion all sound simple, but they’re often where things can break down at scale.
3️⃣ Third, I consider context and how the tea is actually served. Is it part of a structured experience like high tea, or something more casual? The same tea can perform very differently depending on where and how it’s presented.
4️⃣ Finally, consistency is key. In a hospitality setting like this, the goal is for every guest to have the same experience, regardless of when or where they’re being served.
When all of those elements are aligned, the tea doesn’t feel like an afterthought, but rather an experience.
If you could ask Peter Diamandis anything, what would it be?
I recently had that opportunity and out of all the directions I could have gone (AI, exponential tech, future development), I chose something more personal.
I asked him:
“I have a daughter that is interested in a career or potential business in wellness and longevity. What advice would you give her?”
I was thinking about my daughter and her future trajectory. She’s curious, driven, and pulled toward building something meaningful in the wellness space and like most at that age, still exploring the path.
It made me realize that questions shape direction. I would tell her everyday before dropping her off at school when she was younger to ask a good question.
And sometimes the highest leverage question isn’t about markets or technology… it’s about people we care about and the decisions that will shape their lives.
So I’ll pass it along in this video:
If you had one question for Peter Diamandis what would you ask? #Longevity #growth #parenting #wellness #ceocoaching
It was truly amazing to be on a voyage with @HollandAmericaLine , a cruise line with over 150 years of heritage and award-winning hospitality, and see @artofteala everywhere! Together, we’ve created an exclusive Holland America Line Tea Sampler that allows you to savor the journey whether at home or on board.
In late 2024, I traveled to Amsterdam with @HollandAmericaLine to gather inspiration for a custom tea blend that would eventually be served across their ships. I sampled local flavors and scents... a process which led to the Dutch Tea Time Blend, a black tea layered with citrus, orange zest, and softer floral notes. Being onboard their ship last month and seeing it served in its intended setting was an incredible full circle moment!
A highlight of my time on board @HollandAmericaLine was an elevated afternoon tea experience, where I hosted an Exclusive High Tea that paired the ship's refined service with storytelling and my tea expertise. At this level, it’s less about the individual elements and more about how the entire menu comes together: the tea, the food, the pacing and the overall experience.
One of the stops on @HollandAmericaLine 's cruise was in Vietnam, where I had the chance to experience #lotustea at its source. The tea is scented using fresh lotus flowers, by placing the leaves directly inside the blossom to absorb the aroma over time. It’s a slower, delicate process that produces a beautiful floral and balanced tea.
One of the things I spoke about onboard @HollandAmericaLine was how tea functions as a ritual across different moments of the day. On a ship like this, the same tea can show up in very different ways. As part of a structured high tea service, in a more casual setting, or in quieter, personal moments throughout the day.
