Tea Fascination is a podcast about the mystique, lore, and history of the world’s most popular beverage. Season one takes the listener on a journey of a tea leaf, how it gets evaluated, priced, grown, and the many different facets of the leaf once it is in your cup. Learn how tea prices get set, the history of afternoon tea and tea leaf reading and what efforts are happening here in the US to grow tea as a profitable crop.
We talk to experts around the world that help explain all the different facets of tea. In Episode One, the World’s Most Expensive Tea, we speak to Mike Bunston, OBE, about the London Tea Auctions. He was chairman of the London Tea auction when it was closed in 1998. He also chaired the International Tea Committee for 20 years and in 2014 was appointed honorary tea ambassador to the Ceylon region.
Episode Two lets us speak to the tea leaves. We interview Rae Hepburn, tea reader extraordinaire. We hear about how she became a world renown tea leaf reader and discuss her efforts to both legitimize and standardize the art.
While Episode Three takes us to afternoon tea where we are able to discuss the history and the customs that have created this wonderful tradition. We speak to Angela Renals who created Destination Teas and ask her about her favorite spots for tea in the US and what to expect from a classic afternoon tea now in 2022.
The season ends with a two-part episode and in-depth interview. These Episodes are called from Leaf to Cup, US Grown Tea and they cover the history of growing tea in the US and discuss why tea has not flourished here in American as a crop. We examine the new measures that are being taken to grow tea here in the US. Featured on these episodes is Andrea McDonald, the president of the US League of Tea Growers, and Timothy Gipson, co-founder of the Great Mississippi Tea Company. A tea company growing and processing their own award-winning tea right here in the Southeast.
There are also bonus episodes of complete conversations with these industry professionals. If you are into tea, curious about how it is made, the industry, and its impact on society, then these podcasts are made just for you.
All in all, this podcast is designed for both the experienced tea lover and tea novice. It brings to light issues and stories of the beverage everybody loves. Be sure to follow and rate Tea Fascination. You don’t want to miss Season Two, where we focus on tea through the ages and discuss everything from different brewing styles to ancient tea ceremonies around the world, to tea in the digital age.
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