Hi all,
In rare but wonderful moments, everything clicks. That’s how I felt, at least, when I was asked to join the True Tea team this spring. I had been traveling around Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan, connecting with tea producers, writing for my own Substack, tagging along on other tea companies’ sourcing trips, and visiting farms. But this was all on my own dime, and tea was becoming a rather expensive hobby. Here was a chance to carry on the work I’d be doing on my own, for a company that shared the same values: uplifting small producers and supporting sustainable production methods.
We have a small but mighty team at True Tea that coordinates orders, manages wholesale accounts, and in general does all the little things that make my new position–our tea buyer–viable. My own role will be to maintain our connections with our current producers and seek out new ones as well, all the while being a source for tea education for our customers and clients. The goal is that I’ll be visiting producers in person from time to time, sourcing new teas on the ground and writing updates from the road–so it feels like a good time to introduce myself now as we begin to expand our offerings.
I’ve worked in the service industry in many different roles, from running a baking school in North Carolina to interning at restaurants abroad to now running the restaurant at a winery here in Oregon, and tea has been one of those few constants I’ve had amidst it all. It’s been grounding, centering, and one of those interests in which there will always be more to learn. As someone who cooks for a living, flavor in tea comes first and foremost for me. I’m drawn to it the same way others are drawn to wine or coffee: the constant wow moments it provides. It’s the producers and processors that usher forth the best aspects of high quality ingredients, grown in high quality soil, that I want to shine a spotlight on.
Some teas I’m excited about now? Our Jasmine Green, which is truly the real deal, layered with far more jasmine than the typical blend. I find it to be enlivening, mind-clearing, and highly aromatic without being overwhelming. In the afternoons and evenings, I’ve been loving our Summer Breeze, which soothes and cools as the weather warms here.
You’ll be hearing more from me, surely, as I write about new loose leaf options I’ve brought on, relay updates from our matcha suppliers, and more. We’ve got a new iced black tea I’m excited about, for example, that I’ll be writing about soon. If you ever have questions on our sourcing, or are looking for a specific tea for a specific purpose, don’t hesitate to reach out. For now, I’ve got countless tea samples to drink, the World Cup to watch, and a whole lot of matcha to buy.
Warmly,
Brennan Johnson
Tea Buyer, True Tea