It’s time for tea lovers to unite

Recently, while working on a coffee story, I couldn't help but feel that Indian speciality coffee is driven by enthusiasts who are curious, invest in equipment, spend on good coffee, and talk about it.

- Aravinda Anantharaman

It made me wonder what tea needed to inspire that same love. This month, I saw that change is brewing, still nascent, but unmistakable.Even five years ago, the idea of “speciality” tea (styles beyond the staples, like oolong, white, and several kinds of high-grade black and green teas) drew blank stares; mass green tea and blends claiming to boost immunity dominated the shelves. Handmade or hand-rolled teas were a lesser-known secret. Cut to today and much has changed.