With anti-Asian American hate crimes in the United States on the rise, and with the horrific, systematically racist shootings in Atlanta on March 16th, many tea businesses and consumers are looking at ways they can support the AAPI community.
Here are just a few of the tea businesses that are trying to make a difference.
Three Gems Tea x Steep LA
Three Gems Tea is joining forces with Steep LA and many others across Los Angeles to raise funds for an AAPI anti-hate organization. The “Swing by Steep” event will take place on Sunday, March 28 at 11 a.m. PST. Locals can pick-up some sips and treats, and all proceeds will be donated to Stop AAPI Hate. See details below.
Tea For Change: A Non-Profit Traditional Tea Tasting with Activist Teahouse x Us Two Tea
Participate in Tea for Change with Activist Teahouse and Us Two Tea. The organizations are partnering to offer curated tea boxes with a cause, as well as a special virtual tasting on Saturday, April 10, 2021, from 2 - 3 p.m. EDT. To participate, purchase the Blossom Tea Set from Us Two Tea and then register for the free tasting at EventBrite. One hundred percent of profits will go to support individuals in AAPI communities who have been victimized by anti-AAPI hate crimes and systemic racism.
OneTea
OneTea says it will be donating 100 percent of all tea orders (through March 31) to AAPI Women Lead. On its website, the company says, “We are members of a global community of people who connect together over cups of tea. We break cultural boundaries through hospitality and learn about our similarities and differences in the process.” To shop their teaware, teas and bundles, visit OneTea.co.
Blue Willow Tea
Blue Willow Tea, a one-woman labor of love – owned and operated by Ali Roth since 2012 – is committed to providing single-origin teas directly from farms that are dedicated to sustainable practices and humane living conditions for tea workers and their families. The company offers a Tea Travels Postcard Set for $5, and they’ll be donating 100 percent of the sales of these postcards to local organizations that help support the AAPI community. The small batch of postcards are made from photos that Roth took when traveling around the world to source tea. Each one is ready to be stamped and sent and has a short explanation of when and where the photo was taken. The images are printed on recycled paper and are high quality matte cards. To shop, visit BlueWillowTea.com.
PARU
PARU – purveyors of specialty loose leaf teas, matcha and tisanes from around the world, and makers of modern tea blends – says a portion of proceeds (a minimum of $5,000 total) will be donated to organizations and fundraisers that are committed to protecting AAPI communities. PARU has a tea bar in San Diego, and they also offer a specialty tea subscription service, online orders and private virtual tea tastings, in addition to artisanal items like tea-infused chocolate, teaware, accessories and tea flight kits. To learn more, visit ParuTeaBar.com.
Key To Teas
Key To Teas is offering a 15 percent discount on everything until the end of April 2021. All proceeds (yes, that’s correct) will be donated to both local AAPI non-profits (across the greater Seattle, Wash. area) and national organizations that provide services for the intersectional areas of diversity, equity and inclusion for the AAPI community. Key To Teas is a tea company built on the personal story and expertise of Naoko Tsunoda, after working in the specialty food and beverage industry for more than 20 years. Spending her adolescence in Japan, Naoko experienced that tea was the way to connect – whether being invited to her Auntie's house, her mother hosting guests, or meeting up with friends after school. Today, this Seattle, Wash.-based business is a small, online loose-leaf tea and teaware shop with a mission to advocate for women and children in underserviced communities all year round. In addition, the company also promotes and encourages modern-day tea culture. To learn more or to order, visit KeyToTeas.com.
DAVIDsTEA
On social media, DAVIDsTEA said, “At DAVIDsTEA, we have a responsibility to our partners, colleagues and community to publicly decry the rise in anti-Asian & Pacific Islander violence. There’s an immediate need to take action, and we hope you’ll join us in supporting the AAPI community in any way you can. Whether you choose to engage on social media by liking and sharing resources, signing petitions, volunteering your time and/or donating – every effort makes a difference.” To further its commitment to condemning racism in any form, DAVIDsTEA said it will be donating to Stop AAPI Hate and the Chinese Canadian Council for Social Justice.
DAVIDsTEA also suggests the following website for resources and tips on how you can take action, support change or donate. Visit anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co.
If you know of a tea company that should be included in this article, email [email protected].