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!

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

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 guest

Jenny 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!

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 guest

Say 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.

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 guest

Tao 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 Pillai

To 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.

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 guest

Today 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 Aceae

Celia’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!

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 Helper 

About 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

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! 

On this week’s mini episode, we’re delving into the challenging yet welcoming base of white tea, and how to blend it, with our Director of Tea Development Billy Dietz

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

To learn more about white tea click here

To shop our white tea selection click here

About the Guest : Billy Dietz

Billy’s journey into the tea world began at the early age of 15, when he started his formal education at the Specialty Tea Institute. By 17, he became the youngest Certified Tea Specialist in North America (yes, you read that right!). He went on to study at FONA International, where he completed Flavor 101 and Beverage 101 – two comprehensive courses on the science of flavor, and more specifically, beverage flavor. In August 2013, he obtained his Barista certification from the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe at the Better Barista Academy in Singapore. And by 2014, he became a certified instructor for the Specialty Tea Institute. But if there’s one thing you need to know about Billy, it’s that he has quite the adventurous spirit. His passion for flavour has taken him to many parts of North America, Europe, Asia and Africa where he studied how food and drink are integral to each of their cultures. In 2015, Billy joined the DAVIDsTEA family as a Tea Products Developer. Today, he’s the Director of Research and Development. What exactly does that entail? Well, Billy works closely with our Tea Department to research, develop and create innovative tea blends, like the ones you all love SO much!

Our season 2 premiere tries to answer one crucial question: How do you build an inclusive tea community in an increasingly divided world? Tune in to find out.

Today's episode is brought to you by The Tea That Got Away. Shop our retiring teas here. 

Who is Tea with Jann? She is many, many things. For instance, Jann is a self-proclaimed, dorky, 40-something year old living in a small town in Nova Scotia with her wife Jeanette, and their kitty Gary. Though we can’t find the right ways to describe her undeniably unique character, here’s our attempt: Happily introverted, free spirited, true lover of dance parties when no one’s watching, Scorpio, cat lover, living with (but not defined by) fibromyalgia, overthinker and Apple fan girl. If that’s not an eclectic bunch, we don’t know what is. But most of all, Jann seriously loves tea. Share a (virtual) cup of tea and follow along on her You Tube channel,  Tea with Jann, where she talks tea and life, and connects with kind people around the globe every sip of the way. 

Learn more about Jann here

To watch Jann's videos click here

For a complete transcript of this episode visit davidstea.com

We are back!!

  Welcome tea loving listeners to the second season of Steeping Together!

 Now our first season focused greatly on the work we do here at DAVIDsTEA, gaining insights to the behind the scenes goings on of what our team works tirelessly to do every single day to bring you the best possible cup. And although we will continue to provide this content throughout this season, we felt it important to branch out beyond the walls of the tea team, and speak to a larger community about what makes tea so amazing. 

 This season we will speak to industry insiders and tea fanatics alike, delving deep into topics like the art of mixology, tea pairings, the lack of representation in the tea community, how to build an online tea community, what is flavouring exactly and much, much more. 

So grab a mug and join us, each Friday starting March 25th,  as we continue to pair the best thing you can with tea… conversation.

Catch up on all our previous episodes at DAVIDsTEA.com

Today we talk to the director of tea about the most loved, yet underrated teas in our collection this year.

Today's episode is brought to you by : Alpine Punch

This week we learn about a famous yet little known terroir of Nepalese teas. This region produces some of the best teas on the planet due to a multitude of factors, and our guest Peru is here to give us the history, and possibly what the future looks like for these amazing teas!

Today's episode is brought to you by The Favourite Tumbler

For a transcript & shop this episode, click here

Pour obtenir une transcription et pour magasiner les articles présentés dans cet épisode, cliquez ici 

Today we talk to Freedom Taylor about liberating yourself from the traditional rules of steeping and choosing a drinking vessel that truly reflect who you are.

Today's episode is brought to you by: the Nordic Mug

For a transcript & shop this episode, click here

Pour obtenir une transcription et pour magasiner les articles présentés dans cet épisode, cliquez ici 

Join us today as we deep dive into the creation of flavoured teas with our head of R&D Billy Dietz!

Today's episode of Steeping Together is brought to you by: Organic Emerald Jade

For a transcript & shop this episode, click here

Pour obtenir une transcription et pour magasiner les articles présentés dans cet épisode, cliquez ici 

Join us today as we talk to Ravi Pillai about working in the tea industry around the world for the past 35 years. Ravi shares stories, insights and tips on how to taste tea on a professional level, and his answers may not be what you expect at all.

Today's episode is brought to you by Magnolia Oolong. Pinkies up!

For a transcript & shop this episode, click here

Pour obtenir une transcription et pour magasiner les articles présentés dans cet épisode, cliquez ici 

In today's episode we dive into the world of plants and herbs that are best for sleeping. Celia Aceae walks us through the multitude of options before us and explains why there is no one size fits all answer to getting a good night's sleep.

Today's episode is brought to you by Sleepy Lychee. This fruity, linden packed gem is here to calm the anxious mind.

For a transcript & shop this episode, click here

Pour obtenir une transcription et pour magasiner les articles présentés dans cet épisode, cliquez ici 

How do you choose a tea online, when you can't simply follow your nose? Today Kelly Miller joins us with tips and tricks to finding the best teas for you online, either from DAVIDsTEA or one of our many, many competitors! We want you to find your cup of tea, regardless or whether it is ours or not! Today's episode is brought to you by:

Sweet Potato Pie: as a tea? Yeah, we went there!

For a transcript & shop this episode, click here

Pour obtenir une transcription et pour magasiner les articles présentés dans cet épisode, cliquez ici 

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

Why do we love tea so much? Not just at DAVIDsTEA, but as a culture? Today, Nadia de la Vega joins us to help us count all the ways we love the world's second most consumed beverage. Filled with tea talk, tea love and tea trivia, our first episode is brought to you by:

Forever Nuts: our bestselling tea for over the last decade! Why you may ask? Honestly...we don't know!

For a transcript & shop this episode, click here

Pour obtenir une transcription et pour magasiner les articles présentés dans cet épisode, cliquez ici 

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? 

This podcast was inspired by the conversations that happen across DAVIDsTEA—in our stores, our office & with our online communitea. 

Simply put, we LOVE tea talk. But even more than that, we think our tea people (yes, we mean you!) are the coolest. Sharing our passion for tea culture, tea trivia and tea recipes is what we’ve always wanted to do. And so, here we are, ready to take on the world of tea with you, one episode at a time.

Steeping Together is THE podcast for anyone who knows that the most meaningful moments of your life happen when you make a connection with someone and learn to appreciate their perspective… and it’s just oh so much better with a cup of tea in hand!

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 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 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!

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 @randomcuisine

Victor 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 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!

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!

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