My Tea Story - Don Mei
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- Don reveals his tea story and his journey to becoming a Teahead at Mei Leaf. Normal services will resume with proper tea videos but this is for all of those who asked us.
►SUBSCRIBE for more videos: goo.gl/zNzUVx
To taste Royal Peach Orchid Oolong (you really should!): chinalifeweb.com/shop/product/...
Watch a video of us tasting this tea: • Tasting Four Dancongs
Watch a video of us sourcing this tea:
• Understanding Dancong
To find out about Don’s other endeavours:
AcuMedic: clinic.acumedic.com
Crxssroads episode on CGTN about AcuMedic Clinic: • ‘Poop chart’ and fire ...
Sinensis Skincare: www.sinensis-skin.com
Chinese Medical Institute & Register: www.cmir.org.uk/
Join us on Instagram: @mei_leaf
Tweet along with us: @mei_leaf_tea
Write some friendly graffiti on our Facebook wall: @meileaf - Розваги
Honestly... a character in the series, "Avatar, last airbender" named Iroh got me into tea. His excitement for tea and love for Jasmine tea enticed me to try loose leaf. He always said, "tea is better when shared"
lmao exact same here, this is so true haha
same - Zuko's Uncle Iroh
this isn’t what got me into tea but this show is amazing!! hope you all are still enjoying tea.
I actually married recently to a Chinese woman. Her family sends me so much tea and nice teaware. I'm in heaven haha
SAME HERE!
Thanks for sharing your story. You mentioned that all tea heads experience a turning point in their tea journey and mine began through this channel. Tea has been my favourite drink for a few years now, but you inspired me to get to know real tea. Hearing you describe the richness of flavors and different notes on each type of tea made me want to get to know more and more about good quality tea. For the past few months I have been absolutely obsessed with tea and you are right, once we go down this path there is no way back. All you want to do is to share that passion for tea with everyone you care about. I feel I can never compliment this channel enough. Thank you for everything!!! I wish you success in everything you do!
Btw, I'm so happy to hear you and Celine are married. I love Celine! You guys are such a great match!
Denise, your story is so warming to us. When we started making these videos we really did not think we would be blessed with so many great people and to know that we have helped to shape lives and ignite passion is beyond our expectations. Thank you as always for commenting.
Same here on all counts!
I would love to hear Celine's Tea Story!
Well, we heard she was born after a 1988 tea came out, and her mother sets up many meetings with tea producer families, so, yes, she needs her background documented here, if only to show us she is Don's better half!. Haha!. And yes I can tell she has this expressive personality to compliment Don's analytical-driver (thinking-control minded) personality needed to cut through the myriad of completely in that business of sourcing the latest & greatest teas.
what a story of your father and you! from a physicist to a professor of Chinese medicine~from a musician to the owner of a tea shop~
Life has strange and meandering paths!
Hi Don, O'Supreme Tea Head! Big hello to the beautiful Celine, I love your art Celine! I really enjoyed hearing Dons tea story, I'm so impressed with you both, your UA-cam videos have been a revelation to me, I've learned so much!
I want to share My Tea Story with you because it really was transformative. I have a granddaughter, Ashley, who is about to turn 23 in March, recently she posted on Facebook an inquiry about where to find Puerh teas. I had never even heard of them and I consider myself pretty well informed on all things natural and/or herbal so, that set me to looking and before I knew what had hit me I was ordering a gaiwan and tea for she and I to share. In talking with her I learned her personal Tea Story which is a bit heartwrentching, I will warn you, she was introduced to Puerh tea by her friend Ian, I understand he was a very enlightened and sensitive soul who sadly took his own life this last December, 2017. For Ashley this was a tremendous blow he was such an inspiration to her and when he passed they had been at odds with one another which caused her tremendous feelings of regret and guilt. When she shared this with me I encouraged her to use the Gong fu cha ceremony and the delight she felt in drinking the Puerh teas to honor and remain connected to this lovely young man she had lost as well as a vehicle to share not only the tea but Ian's story. This has already helped her to move past her guilt and her heartache over his loss. Not to mention what the tea has done for me, it's like I've discovered an entirely new planet, I'm fascinated and as a natural result quit desiring coffee each more, instead my body's inclination has turned to tea, no cream or sugar required! And trust me, I've shared your videos with numerous folks already, the word is out!
Thank you Don and Celine, bless you both! Tea On!
I was in London for the first time in January 2020, visiting from the US and I discovered this channel in March during the quarantine. I am so upset I didn't know about Mei Leaf in January because now I want to go to London just to visit Mei Leaf and say hi to Don.
My tea story began a few years ago when my wife took me to an Asian supermarket in Seattle. Prior to this, I didn't care for tea much. All of the tea I had consumed either came from a bag, or had been served to me in a Chinese restaurant. It's not that I didn't like tea so much as I didn't see what all the fuss was about.
We weren't looking for tea this day, but while we were browsing the aisles, there was this guy in the supermarket selling whole leaf tea and serving samples. My wife tried it and liked it, and then he offered me a sample. I literally told him, "I'll try it, but I won't like it."
I took a sip of my first whole leaf tea, and I was shocked. With wide eyes, I looked at my wife, looked at the merchant, looked at the cup in my hand, and took another sip. Then, with wide eyes, I said, "That's good. That's really good." Thus began my tea journey.
+Keith Jacobson that salesman must have been so happy to watch that revelation of true tea!
Awesome tea story. My Tea story really Begins when my baby mama was hiding my daughter from me and i was fighting to get my daughter. Before that i was more into beer and whiskey, i did like tea but i wasn't that into it. I was told by people who have gone through the court process and by my lawyer that if it makes it to court she could request a surprised visit from the court and if they saw a lot of Alcohol that i wouldn't get my daughter. So that's when i really started drinking more tea to unwind and started to go down the rabbit whole to get my mind off the whole court process. The tea really helped me relax and focus. My baby mama surrounded my daughter over and now i have her full time.
came across this at midnight.. too late for caffeine and as much as I try I can't find an herbal tea I really love. So I'm gonna pause this video and pick it back up in the AM with my first cup of tea.
Wow, congratulations to you and Celine! I could feel a real synergy, love and appreciation flowing in the air between you both during your videos. Of course you're right not to bring out your relationship right at the beginning. For the viewers you both are two fabulous teaheads and for yourselves - you're two halves of one heart. Nice.
Thank you Apollo! It has really warmed both of us how this community has responded to this video. We feel blessed to have people like you watching.
Amazing story, thanks for sharing. My tea story actually starts in London even though I'm from the States. My grandfather was a prisoner of war during WWI and held captive in Romania. After the war, he was hospitalized in London and his nurse there introduced him to tea which he brought it home and shared it with me. I've been drinking tea all my life and learned it at his knee. Each cup reminds me of my Dad (that's what I called my grandfather) and it all started in your hometown. It really is a small world!
What a story, from hardship and brutality came a love of tea.
Despite your reluctance, you produced this video, and I am grateful. I sincerely enjoyed watching. Your life is interesting. I'm not idealistic, but the world needs idealists, and I am happy for each and every one of them (I hope that makes sense).
Makes perfect sense. More idealists = more chance of making these ideals reality.
Your story of two generations building bridges between east and west is very encouraging. I should learn from you. Traditional Chinese medicine and tea are definitely connected. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching.
I quit drinking alcohol (just to encourage better health and more life) last month and I have been absolutely obsessed with tea and just ordered Day Drinking Diva from you. Seeing your excitement about tea has been refreshing for me and has encouraged me in this new journey. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so happy to support your business and will make sure to stop by your tea shop when visiting London from Washington, DC!
For me the first door was Tie Guan Yin too! It was a gift from a wonderful Chinese lady. At that point I started to look at tea not as just a drink anymore, but as a symbol of feelings and values! Nice story!
TGY is a great gateway tea!
Your work will bring tea a long way, Don. You have thought me everything I know about tea and I'm very thankful, thank you for sharing your knowledge and your story about tea. Follow your passion as it may lead to more and more people finding theyr way in life :)
- Daniel
Thank you for your words of support and motivation.
Hi Don, my sister and I have managed to give up drinking alcohol for over one year now. We now drink tea instead of wine and chat on the phone everyday about tea. We are planning a trip to China next year to see some tea gardens. We also are spreading the word about Chinese tea. Your UA-cam videos are amazing. You are always smiling and a joy to watch. It would be great to see a bit more food pairing?
Amazing Story, Don.
please keep up the good work and keep the videos coming. This is one of the most honest channels I've found to date and it's always such a joy to listen to you.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Hi Don and thank you so much for sharing this! I know from your previous videos that it's your late night activity to read the comments, so here I hope to give you an interesting bed time story of my relation to tea and relationships that formed around it.
It all started in a high school in a Swedish city of Uppsala that I moved to to study in an international program. Soon enough, not knowing anybody in town or even in the school, I've heard of a mysterious place called the Tea Club, located in a little room in the school's loft. It was a club with a long history of over 40 years and many generations of students passing through it. What I knew about tea at that point was basically how much Lipton labels told me, so I got curious what such a club could be dealing with and almost suspected a second bottom to it all. Soon after I realized that I'm not alone and almost everybody suspects that tea is only a cover for something much different, as nobody (me included) believed that tea is enough to found a club around. Imagine my surprise when I came up all the stairs and entered the dim lit room to find that tea a topic far to big for one little student organization. I also realized what you mentioned in this video: tea is about bringing people together. The room was filled with people that never really fitted into the common social categories. Some less so than others. There were people with family issues, social anxieties, depressions and other horrible life situations, but what I noticed about them all is that they were truly happy there. In that room in school's loft, over a gong fu set, drinking an old pu-erh that some student long gone brought back from his trip to China, they were all at ease, feeling loved and loving others. Those people were not just a random collection of outcasts, but an inclusive family that formed around the concept of drinking tea together. Of course, I'm not saying that everybody there had a difficult issue, but when we were there, it didn't matter; the outside world didn't exist and the time itself slowed down for us. Two years later in my senior year I become the chairman and a tea-parent for the new generation of tea-heads.
This is how my tea journey started and although this happened for quite a few years ago, I now realize that it really is but a start. Tea has become my biggest passion in life, thanks to which I met my closest friends and found an interest in the Chinese language and integrative medicine that I'm currently studying. It is very heart-warming to hear that our paths in life have a similar direction, although you, Don, have obviously had come much longer on it. You are a real inspiration for me, and I'm sure, many other tea-heads out there and a bright star in this world.
Me and my tea-head friend have long dreamt of opening a tea house in Sweden, very similar to your own and want to spread the word about true tea ourselves. Thanks to you we have got many ideas and we are discussing of actually doing it someday. Without you, this dream would never come to this phase.
Thank you once again for this video and, quite frankly, the whole channel and for you being you, Don!
Send regards to Celine! :)
Keep shining!
Your admirer and true fan
Kai
Hi Kai,
Reading your comment has really brought joy to my heart (and a little tear to my eye). I read your friend's comment half an hour ago and this tea club sounds LEGENDARY! Tea is totally inclusive and for everyone although I do think that it has a special draw for those that wish to follow a path less trodden and I can imagine this group of 'outcasts' being in tune with the way that tea encourages a relinquishing of competition and ego.
People like you and your friend (Laura) can bring positivism and perspective and that is a power that you should use. I wholeheartedly support you and I am sure that you can make your own teahouse a great success!
Thanks for spreading the love, it warmed up a dark and cold Sunday in London.
PS. I have been to Uppsala a couple of times many years ago!
Thanks for sharing Don, what an amazing story! As a Chinese, I love what you have done. Thank you for spreading the Tea and Chinese culture and being the bridge in this divided world. It is so true that good tea brings good karma and builds strong relationship around people. As its magic manifests in my life too.
Mine Tea story began 3 years ago (i am 21 now) when I went to japan and my mom bought loose japanese tea leaf and matcha back and I fell in love with them
Thank you Don, I really appreciate your efforts and respect what you have and will do in your work. This channel has opened my eyes to the beautiful Tea culture and what it has to offer. As a Westerner, I chuckled when in one of your videos you mentioned reasons we drink. I fell into the gulping for thirst category…:). Now, I sit, reflect, relax and enjoy the nuances of the tea. Thank you, thank you, thank you~
almost made me cry with the tea ceremony at your wedding . . . all the work you are doing is amazing !
What a story. Your transparency here, and perennial passion in all your videos, is truly remarkable.
A plan is in action for me to open a Tea Shop.
And you are my Tea-cher .. Sifu Don ! 🙏
I watch your videos to learn about tea in these few months already... and will continue to do so.
Celine is a beautiful woman, you are a lucky man and maybe one day if the moon and the stars line up together with the sun, I'm gonna pay a visit to your store and shake your hand.
Definitely! Open the teahouse! Whenever you are in London come over and maybe we can share a chat and a tea session.
It would be an honour !!
Mei Leaf I thought u were Indian 😱
Incredible story! I enjoyed this and have been inspired by you and your family! Thank you for sharing your story!
I used to be a wine lover and then switched that focus to teas when I got sober. The world of tea is so interesting and delicious! Thank you for sharing your story and for all of your wonderful, educational videos!
thank you for sharing your incredible journey with us, Don. Your father would have been VERY proud. Looking forward to more of what you and celine may accomplish in the near future!
You asked me to pause the video and brew some tea, so I took your advice so I could share this tea moment with you from afar.
Thank you for your story! So glad you took the time to make a video about it. You have a beautiful respect for Celine (sp?) in how you did not want to be reductive and I think that is awesome.
You speak of tea in a way that reminds me of describing meditation and I think it's so true. It is a meditative process for me. Brewing, smelling, drinking- being present for the tea, trying to let the ego float away for a while (super hard for me, and many of us, I'm sure). Often, all I want to do is take pictures and talk about the tea I'm drinking. Some days it pays just to let all of that fall away- and be completely present for the tea and the tea only.
Hope 2017 brings many good things to you and yours :D
Yes Brandon! I totally agree that tea instructs and aids in this shrugging off of baggage. We have a similar issue in that tea is our passion but it is our work too and so we have to remind ourselves constantly to put down the camera and the notebooks and instead be totally present with the tea separate from working.
Thank you for sharing your story! I love you, your passion, and your channel! Keep being an inspiration! :)
This is fascinating Don! In short I got introduced to Gonfu over the summer of 2021, and then my friend who is a DJ and Producer of over 30 years introduced me to Pu erh, and it changed my life. I've become a wayyy more dedicated DJ and producer since gonfu has entered my life, it has helped my creativity flow, I thank all my recent successes to tea. Pretty interesting coincidence I have with you, I had no idea! Tea has quickly become a similar passion to what house music is in my life.
This was really fascinating and I absolutely love hearing where people's passions come from. Thank you for sharing this. Amazing story.
Your impeccable taste and love for all things tea is infectious. Keep it up Don you legend 💯
What a wonderful story! I want to thank you for being able to make these videos for all of us and introducing me to the world of tea through them.Even though you have all those responsibilities and limited time you still spread the word about real, good tea! Thank you very much and God bless you and your family.
:) thanks for your comment and blessings.
My tea journey started with a sencha in a local market in Japan. The lady made me try it and the taste in my mouth was something i would never forget. I explored Japanese tea for years and slowly getting to chinese tea. Your channel took me to the next level regarding chinse tea and i thank you for that.
Thanks Paul.
only good vibes from you and mei leaf as always. this whole package that is mei leaf has a wonderfully comfy, familiar and accepting atmosphere. my elder brother, who is also a huge tea head, showed me the mei leaf online page when i asked him where he was getting all these fancy teas and beautiful teaware from - that's where my zea journey began. this was two and a half years ago - since then my passion for tea, my knowledge and my appreciation for every step that brings tea into my gaiwan and my own love for identifying flavours and luxuriating in a good cup have all grown ENORMOUSLY.
so, in the name of all that, thank you!
holy shit! i love how you talked about a little bit of your personal history today, it wasn't really a bad change at all! very inspiring, how you r whole family is so ambitious and entrepreneurial. didn't expect you to be juggling s o much at once! it must be very overwhelming, but thank you for all the hard work you put into this yt channel!
Thank you for the amazing video, Don. It was great to hear your story and I admire you for your passion and your hard work in all that you do. You've inspired me to take on gong fu brewing and I've been brewing gong fu style for about a month now. I've gotten my girlfriend into it and she does it now too. This past Christmas I brewed for the whole family as we all came together and everybody had a great time and was impressed by the quality of the tea and the whole process of the gong fu brewing. On New Years I entertained some guests as well, and on my friend's birthday on another occasion. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and even though we haven't met I like to consider you my mentor. Happy 2017! Cheers!
There is no bigger pleasure for us on this channel to hear that the true tea message is being shared and thank you for watching and commenting.
Thank you! Your story is very inspiring! And I share the feeling with other people here that we can definitely see the quality work and honesty around your passion about tea. I have been learning tea in Taiwan now for nearly one year and it became very addicting! I can say discovering true tea is a real life changing time! I learn a lot from your videos too. Thank you so much! Merci!
I love this video! I really enjoy the tea geekery videos but I so appreciated the heart of your tea story and journey. Thank you for the glimpse into your life. I’m a little late to the party discovering this video. I ordered some tea from Mei Leaf and paid extra to get it to the States quickly! Love your videos because they have a sense of humor all while dropping serious tea knowledge.
Don, this was so touching it made me cry! Thank you so much for sharing your passion, your story and your wonderful idealism. You make the world a better place.
Thank you Chit, all of us teaheads are in some small way part of this movement too.
This is an incredible story! I feel honored to have discovered your channel :)
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. My partner has been refining his tea habits, each time finding better quality tea. After trying to pull me in for a couple months, I finally gave in. I love it! I love the ceremony and the presence of the experience. We are learning a lot through your channel and are looking forward to exploring. Thanks for sharing your tea knowledge.
What a wonderful testimony to share with us! Belated Congratulations on your marriage I HAD NO IDEA! hahaha- you guys make a great couple! I've waxed lyrical countless times of my appreciation of chinalife/Mei-Leaf and specifically these UA-cam videos for having introduced me to the world of real tea. I think I'll make my own video to share why I started that journey and what it has meant to me. But from one tea head in Scotland, Thank you. not only to you but to your fathers memory and legacy as he continues to impact lives even now.
Thank you so much for sharing your story Don. May you continue to share your passion for years to come.
:) thank you!
Nice story Don!!!! Love the holistic approach with health, tradition and tea! That’s the true gift if tea ! Community and tradition!
Don,
What an amazing video and story! Thank you for being open to all of us and allowing us to share in your celebrations and in your grief. My heart goes out to you in all that you do. Continue to be a source of inspiration!
Paul
Thank you Paul!
This entire story was fascinating. Your life is like a great movie or story. Knowing this small part of your father’s story and how important he was, in bridging that gap and bringing so much extremely valuable information on Chinese medicine and overall health has really impacted me greatly. What a legacy, what a great man. I’m so glad to have found your channel and company. It brings me such joy to hear all the good things you and your father have done and brought to the West. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for the Spirit of Tea. I just placed an order with Mei Leaf, to show my gratitude and to “taste your wares”. I will always remember to #Keep Tea Gangsta. Thanks again for everything!
Nick-
I've been waiting for this! Mei Leaf has been a wonderful part of my Tea journey and its so wonderful to learn more about it. I love to hear the experiences, philosophies and beautiful things that Tea brings into a person's life. And learning about you and Celine REALLY SURPRISED ME!!! IM SMILING EAR TO EAR HAHA! Thanks Mei leaf:)
:) thanks Joshua.
Don, thanks for another fascinating video, which I enjoyed to the serene accompaniment of a Laocong Shuixian oolong. It is certainly of great interest to know more about your background, and many things which I and other viewers will have speculated about are much clearer now. One thing that has always impressed me is is the very high standard of your video production and so learning about your background explains where this comes from. Your 'bloopers' video also shows how deceptive is the smooth delivery we have grown used to. I am sure there will be many budding UA-camrs who would benefit from a digression into how it is all put together. I am afraid I am now becoming as addicted to your videos as I am to good tea - and pray that neither of them dries up any time soon. Cheers!
Thank you Peter, many people think that Dancong and Shui Xian are direct relations so you were watching with quite an apt tea. I do have a love for photography but realised quite quickly that if I was going to make regular videos then I had to be able to make them alone and therefore it had to be a simple setup and as close to one-takers as possible. Hence the annoyance on my face when I mess up in some of the bloopers because it means starting fresh or having jump cuts (I may be on UA-cam but I am old-school in my dislike for jump cuts!). If enough people are interested I would be happy to show my set up and process.
Back in 2001 when I was in uni? My love for tea started from a cup of Tie Guan Yin! Great video and totally agree with you about how tea puts you in a state of great reflection! I am living in China right now and can’t be at a better place for tea!
What a lovely story for you to share! Your affectionate respect for your family is heartwarming. Good job with preventing being reductive about your partnership with your wife and colleague. “Mindful eating” doesn’t resonate with me but this video got me thinking about slowing down my tea time during the work day. The busier we are, the more those daily bubbles of slowness and simple ritual can help ground and balance us.
Hi Don, I've discovered your youtube videos a few days ago and I'm so impressed by your positive attitude, the way you give information and even how you decided to present Celine to allow her to shine and yet introduce your relationship in such a simple way.
Even to the point where you ask our tea story, and you answer every comment with care, your interest in people is genuine and this is something rarely found in tea companies.
So thank you, keep up the good work, because this is really amazing.
Thank you Yacine and welcome to our little world of teaheads! I appreciate your comments and I do try to reply to everyone (or at least read all comments). We will keep on going as long as we have people like yourself watching us!
What a lovely video. Thank you for sharing!
Awesome video. Thank you for telling us a bit about yourself and your journey! Have a Happy New Year.
Love your videos!!
Thank you!
Very much appreciate you sharing your story. Your father did important work and you carry on his legacy, that's very impressive and it's how all you have accomplished in your life pulled together for you, because you've found your niche.
Thank you Rolanda, I am always trying to continue his legacy whilst walking my own path and thankfully the two have coincided perfectly.
Thank you for recording this video Don... this channel has really impacted me. And I found myself grinning ear to ear when you stated that you and Celine were married, you both are amazing! I love your videos!! Keep on doing what you're doing. It's a blessing.
Thanks Jeremy, we are happy to hear that we give you a smile!
Thank you so much for your honesty and letting us into your life. You are such a joy to watch . I am new to tea and have ordered several taste packs from your company. We have no businesses such as yours in the US to my knowledge. Eventhough I am new to tea , i feel after watching your videos, I can trust your opinions and recommendations. Your explanation of teas and the process of tasting the teas is paramount for a great tea tasting experience. I am a coffee drinker presently, but hope to convert to a passionate tea drinker. Your videos are so inspiring , and already I want to learn all I can about true tea. Not bags!! Thank you Don, for sharing your story with us.
Hi Don, I've recently done some introductory courses in tea & have just found your channel afterwards when browsing for more information. I really adore the depth in which you present every single topic & the passion you convey through your videos. As a teacher of English, I try to spread the word about tea among my students, even thought about doing tea tasting in class (as a way to improve vocabulary to express feelings :) & I also show my family the teas I'm most passionate about (Uji Gyokuro & Tie Guan Yin at the moment). Wish you guys a lot of happiness and success with your tea house & I do hope to drop in when I'm in London next time!
You're absolutely right: tea is bringing together. I took part in vodka ceremonies with russians, beer ceremonies with germans, wine ceremonies with italians, whatever, but a real tea ceremony is something special. Tea really calms down and brings all participants on about the same wavelength, allowing them to communicate without much effort.
Thank you for sharing your story. I grew up drinking tea thanks to my mom but didn't really start getting into loose leaf until recently. Your channel has been great and I thank you for all the knowledge I've gained from it.
Thanks!
I am so happy to hear such a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing the knowledge, the love, the passion and all the positive energy that tea and Chinese culture have brought in your lives! That's just what tea is all about! It truly changes someone's life: it calms, it delights you with its taste, it's healthy, it helps you to master patience and much more!
You guys are doing a great job! Thank you :)
Thank you Valeria!
My tea journey started with a post-highschool job at one of those infamous shopping mall tea chains (take a wild guess which one) that was an awful lot like the one from your "Problem with Scented Tea" video. Working there started the obsession but as I did my own searching I realized that their tea was very poor and their business practices were borderline evil. I am grateful for it in a weird way because it has been very useful to get an education in how NOT to do tea right off the bat.
I get that - you had a quick shortcut into the dos and don'ts of tea.
I remembered we went to China when I was 11 for a holiday. I got to try some Oolong in specialised tea shop there. I LOVE IT! And we went home to Vietnam and I was trying to get more and I just never seems to find anything that I like. Then I moved to Ireland and fell in love with the sweetened milky black tea. By chance I stumbled on one of your video. I bought some of your Oolong, and I never went back. It was like a tsunami of memories, reminding me how I felt when I first got to try it. Now I'm a big big fan of yours, I tried everything and I LOVE EVERYTHING!
Knowing the story about where amazing, interesting and knowledgeable people come from is very interesting. You should start a project like "Teahead of the month/quarter/year" about people who influence and spread thethe word about the world of tea. This could push people towards creating their own content about tea and maybe even open a shop in their country. It could also be a way to appreciate people who already have influenced the world of tea during the years, but were left out of our sight due to the focus on a new Star Wars movie or anything else :)
Great idea, maybe we could collect nominations from all of you teaheads too.
Outstanding Video Don! Thanks
Mad respect for the way you live your life.
Great video! I have a beloved pen pal with whom I've shared a relationship long before our tea journey together, but the good leaf has created another thread that binds us two together. Your videos and work really help create that thread-thank you very much, Don & staff, your hard work is much appreciated. I also ordered a tea from you guys and can't wait until it comes in and hope to share the deliciousness with my family. Keep up the good work :)
Thanks Raquel, I am so happy that tea and our work helps bond stronger relationships. Enjoy the tea :)
Another great video. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Here's one of the many reasons I find tea so important...
For about the last 10 years I've been working in the tea business. One thing that deeply moves me about tea is when I realize who the clients I'm serving are: basically anyone. People of all ages, status, genders, ethnicities, etc... all come to tea for pleasure, health and maybe even a bit of enlightenment. Tea is common ground... tea is peace ✌🏼🍃🍵
Thank you for sharing your store!
Thank you
Fascinating story! Thanks for sharing. I've avoided caffeine all my life, but got into drink green tea on the advice of my acupuncturist. That led me to your channel. I like hearing the connection between TCM and tea drinking. I'm far from a "tea head" but your videos are inspiring me to want to learn more!
Really inspiring story. Especially because I think I am on the verge of big changes in my life, also related to tea. It has been a passion for me in the last 4-5 years, and by now it evolved into something bigger. I could picture my life later like this, or somehow attached to the world of tea, but for me I guess it is just the very beginning, and I am learning a lot from your videos as well. ^^
Hi Don! My grandpa is a Chinese too and he moved to Indonesia to study after WWII and met my grandma. I don't know the exact year to be honest, so I'm just guessing from my mom's age. We always hold tea ceremony in every single wedding in the family including mine. I'm a tea head since I was in college and it's been 10 years now. And watching this video kind of giving me a regret because on my wedding 2 years ago, I didn't quite focus on the tea ceremony which I think I should've done better. I let my aunt and in laws handled it and I have no idea what type of tea that they served to our families.
Anyway, I really love your channel, love to see a couple who enjoyed tea together. I'm still trying to get my husband to love tea as much as I do, trying to offer him tea everyday Lol. Please keep posting videos because I still need to learn A LOT about tea. Thanks!
I recently found you!! I can’t stop watching your videos. I recently found the benefits of tea after a health crisis and it has changed my life (dramatic but true). I really appreciate this video. Especially since I am a Master Aesthetician and newly self proclaimed Tea Head!! I look forward to learning more from you! ❤
I am definitely going to look into your skincare as that is my passion!!!
Your story is so beautiful... Thank you for sharing it with us. You know why I subscribe to your channel and watch your videos while drinking a cup of tea? Because of your passion... What you do is very inspiring, thank you again! Hugs for you and your tea partner!
Regards from the south of Chile :)
Thanks for sharing your awesome story!
Hi Don. Several weeks ago I stumbled across one of your Mei Leaf videos and enjoyed it. And since then have been going back watching earlier ones in chronological order. Thanks for this video about yourself. I can appreciate the mixed feelings about revealing yourself to the whole world. It is helpful, though, for me (and others) to know something about you, your motivation, base of knowledge about tea, the importance of this channel to you, and so forth. And it helps to feel more of a connection with you and the channel. So, Xièxiè. Looking forward to watching many more videos. ~ ml
This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Just bought silver needle, silk oolong and the much anticipated white gold from your online store. CANT WAIT 😋
Fabulous Thomas, thank you for ordering and enjoy the tea!
Thank you so much for sharing!!. You're a busy guy with a rich, interesting background. I accidentally stumbled upon your channel and have spent the entire evening watching your videos (you are a natural) and have learned so much about teas.....I had absolutely no idea (American girl raised on tea bags). I've had some experience with Chinese medicine...my holistic vet used them on my cat to cure his feline leukemia.I know just how powerful that form of medicine can be. And thank you for sharing about Celine....I thought I saw some chemistry there! Really enjoy and appreciate what you are doing...keep up the good work!!
Good afternoon Don, I'm really wondering if you have or will be making a video of teas that are good to drink at night? I really enjoy the relaxation of gong fu brewing with good teas. Here's my issue, I'm conflicted what or how to brew quickly at night without having to worry about many infusions or caffeinated teas. Do you have any advice? If it is a good enough topic, I think it would be really beneficial to do a video over. Thank you for the time!
-Jake
I really need some good night time teas, especially because I do not have much time to do a gongfu session in the morning.
OK Jake, added to our list thank you!
Jake RaptorBadger +Jake RaptorBadger good question. I've been experiencing a bit of insomnia lately, might be supported by tea. I'd be interested...
That's a question I've been myself a lot. As far as I'm concerned I drank quite a bit of long jing yesterday night and slept soundly afterwards indeed. Bao Zhong is quite OK too in that respect. But I've had the best night's sleep after several cups of ripe pu erh once, I would urge anyone to try that from my experience.
Hi Don, You and Celine are my new heroes!!
A whole new world of tea has been opening up for me
through your videos and my own tea exploration.
In the west we really have no idea how to drink tea but you are changing that!!
Thank you!!
Keep up the good work. You guys are amazing.
Thanks Brian, we are happy that we can be your partners in tea exploration. Hugs from London.
Wow, I am so impressed with your content and all the wonderful things you created. I must admit that I'm a fan somehow hahaha. I have been into tea for long now, and Chinese tea is now one of my passions too. The funny thing is that the first tea that really got me into Chinese tea is also Tie Guan Yin, It actually came as a revelation. Also, I came across your shop by chance when I was in London with my mum. My passion became even stronger and it made me realize that I had (and still have) so much to learn. I am really hooked now lol. True tea is such a wonderful thing. Thanks for sharing such amazing content and do it with sincerity. Keep it like that!
ps: I actually bought your Royal Peach Orchid Mi Lan Xiang Dan Cong (among other teas) and it is simply amazing!!!
Thank you so very much for sharing your story with us. I was pleasantly surprised when you spoke of attending college in NYC. I'm an ex- "New Yawker"-I grew up in the Bronx.
While looking for answers to overcoming symptoms of autoimmunity, I focused on green tea and viewed some of your videos. Tea was never very interesting to me. Your videos have changed that. I now have a desire to explore the world of tea.
BTW, green tea IS making a good difference in my energy and strength.
Thank you again. Keep those videos coming. They are a delight and I'm beginning to think green tea is not the only tea that will solve some of my health challenges. If you can suggest any other teas that might help, it would be greatly appreciated.
I grew up on tea bags but 2018 I learned about great tea! My fiancé and I are getting married this year! We love tea
Such a beautiful, touching & interesting story... I got into tea very slowly as my partner manages a shop in Lausanne (Hello from Switzerland!). About two years ago I started to work for the company and your video about the five types of tea was when I realised that this was something I could get to like. I totally understand what you say (near the end) about tea - it is a quiet, beautiful thing. I am learning so much about tea through your videos and I love the way that you present yourself and the tea culture. I no longer work for the company because, after watching many videos (including yours), I realised that they (the owners) were not as interested in the tea as they were in making money which didn't really sit well with what I felt it should be about. There is nothing inherently wrong with making money, just the way you do it. I would love to visit your shop & hopefully sit with you for 5 - 10 minutes and have a tea session one day (this year fingers crossed). Thank you for sharing your story (You and Celine make a beautiful couple). Namasté
Merci Wauner! Thank you for sharing your story. The equation between making money and passion is very clear in my mind too - your passion may bring money but the passion should never BE the money.
As an absolute beginner when it comes to tea i can say your videos are very accessible and informative for those who are used to the plain old teabags. Your undeniable passion for tea shines through every video i've watched so far.
Today i did my first eastern style brewing session (gaiwan) using a cup with a simple platter on the top for serving. It was wonderful experiencing tie guan yin in a way i never did before. Thanks for sharing your passion for tea with the world!
I am so happy to hear this Tristan, that is our aim. Thank you for sharing and for trying out the Gaiwan!
Great video, please keep the way you are doing it. Quality over quantity.
Thank you!
This is an amazing story that resonates a lot with me. Would love to visit Mei Leaf and say hi to you the next time I’m in London!
I’ve been enjoying your video while sipping a cup of Harneys tea. What a pleasure. Thank you so much for posting your tea story.
Rick
Tacoma Wa. USA.
I was thinking, this guy is just a you tuber? You seemed way more brilliant then just tea!
Thanks for the informative videos. My first cup of East Frisian tea was life changing. Happy I never tried tea bags. Keep up the great work :)
What a lovely man, and what a lovely video.
;)
It was weird to watch this because tie guan yin and Yunnan golden bud dian hong were the first 2 tea breakthroughs for me aswell :D Great videos!
I looked your father up! He really was incredibly influential in the west and east. Small world isn’t it. Very excellent video Don. :)
Thank you for kindling my passion for tea :)
Cheers Rok!
Hey Don, just wanted to wish you and your family a happy NY. I don't know how I came across your channel but I'm sure I've watched all of your vids, your passion about tea has truly inspired me. It was great to hear about your history and wish you all the best to the future. Kind Regards Ryan @ SG.
Thanks Ryan and happy 2017.
What a wonderful account of your family, your heritage, your journey towards, and in, tea and your relationship/marriage to Celene! I did wonder whether or not you two were married. Now I know :) Great stuff! Thanks for sharing that.
Thanks Kim!
Thanks for sharing your tea story with us Don! I really like videos like this one ^^
I can also really see my "path to true tea" in yours. I just got into high quality whole leaf tea last year, but just as you said, this whole new world filled with treasure is absorbing me already. Not only your videos, but the whole tea community is really helpful for newbies like myself and achieves to make me more and more addicted to the subject every day :)
I also got into all this because of my love for east Asian culture and philosophy. The peace and calmness of tea emphasizes these quite well and i found it to be a great medium to convey these simple values to friends, family and other people in general.
Now knowing your background really makes me understand and feel your passion for tea even more. This also seems to be pretty contagious ;)
I really hope I can make it to London in the near future. Both for a visit and maybe a good chat over a cup of tea!
Keep up the good work !
Thank you and yes please do visit us and we can maybe share a tea!