Developing curiosity

"For locals, they might initially find Chinese tea flavors like Tie Guan Yin quite 'robust' and perhaps somewhat bitter, so we also offer options like white peach oolong tea or fruit-infused teas as more approachable choices. However, as they continue to explore, they often develop a curiosity about authentic Chinese tea and an urge to better understand Chinese tea culture. Then, they might start asking about specifics, such as the age of our Pu'er tea, which shows they have a growing interest in the nuances of Chinese tea," Wang said.

"Our hope is to create a space …where people can come together as friends, sit down and enjoy a peaceful chat while having tea.

"Tea holds a multitude of memories for me. As a younger-generation Chinese immigrant, it connects me to my homeland and reminds me of my identity," Wang said."From childhood to adulthood, we have always had tea as a part of our lives. The older generation has already brought tea culture and Chinese traditions to the US. While I may not be running a 'grand cultural tea establishment', I hope to introduce more young Americans to Chinese tea culture in a fashionable and blended way, and help them to connect with this rich heritage."

The endeavors of Smagula, Tuisku and Wang will bear fruit because, as Lu Yu said in The Classic of Tea, tea tempers the spirit, harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens the thought and prevents drowsiness.