FLOWERS + TEA
represents everything that I am passionate about. A tea has the ability to represent its country of origin, the craftsmanship of its producers, and the personality of the one preparing it. Tea is so much more than just the second most consumed beverage in the world — it creates smiles and starts conversations. I have met so many wonderful people within the tea industry who have now become friends. Check out the Tea Community tab to see what some of my tea friends are doing!
I hope to use Flowers + Tea as a means to strengthen tea’s position within the United States through promoting the enjoyment of tea. You only need a great tea (or one that you think is great), some filtered water, and a vessel to drink from. Check out the Enjoying Tea tab for more information on tea preparation.
Over the last decade, tea has become something more than just a morning routine. Now, I dream about it.
BEHIND FLOWERS + TEA
My name is Alex Ahearn, and I have been fascinated with tea for over a decade. Growing up, I watched my parents drink and enjoy tea. Tea was present in my daily life, but I did not think anything of it until I was about eight years old when I had a sencha, a Japanese green tea, at a local Japanese restaurant. There was something so special about that moment. My excitement about finding a tea that I truly enjoyed made me want to recreate that experience at home. My love for tea mirrors my love for food. I have been baking since I was about six years old and knew that I wanted to someday pursue a career in the food and beverage industry.
Fast forward a few years to when I was working at L’Espalier as a pastry cook, I had the opportunity to learn from Cynthia Gold. She saw my interest in tea and taught me about the various types and preparation methods. She opened my eyes to how good a tea can be and we shared some cups of tea that I still think about today. Her interest in the connection between cooking, baking, and tea fueled my desire to continue to use tea in my baked goods while I was studying Baking & Pastry Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she also studied.
Throughout my time at Johnson & Wales, I continued to learn as much as I could about baking and tea. I incorporated tea into the majority of my papers and even wrote my thesis on the tea industry. By the end of my degree, I developed a tea evaluation guide so that I could better understand and document what I was drinking. After graduating, studying tea has become both a personal and professional pursuit. I hope to continue to focus on tea education and to share high-quality tea with you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tea Masters Cup USA | Participant - Tea Preparation | 2019
Thank you, @ritualmiami, for the fantastic photo!
October 28, 2022 — Review by Ricardo at My Japanese Green Tea
February 25, 2021 — Interview with Sara of Tea Happiness
March 16, 2020 — Flowers + Tea featured on Tea For Me Please
November 5, 2019 — Flowers + Tea featured on Tea Epicure’s 2019 Tea Book Roundup