This next interview is on a tea blog I have been in love with for quite some time. I was eager to learn more about the blog and the author and now I’m delighted to share with all of our readers! Enjoy.
Alexis Siemons, a graduate from Lafayette College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication in Culture, has been making her way into the world of tea a little over three years now. Her love for tea began to bloom when she stumbled upon a sip of Harney & Sons Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea. From then on she could not stop herself from steeping, so she made her way into a Philadelphia teashop and explored the different blends of teas. In hopes of documenting her adventures with the leaf (which she does very well!), Alexis created her blog teaspoons & petals while juggling a teacup in one hand. While she often dreams about spending her days blogging about tea, she admits that she loves her job as a creative business consultant, freelance writer and tea consultant. Continue to read on as we take Alexis on a trip down memory lane while she gratefully answers some questions for us so we can all get to know her a little more.
What is your favourite cup of tea? And favourite brand?
I really adore too many brands, that I can’t possibly list them all here. I respect and appreciate all brands that share fresh, beautiful tea. I will always have a special place in my tea-loving heart for Teance’s Lu Shan Clouds and Mist (an unforgettable sip). This spring I couldn’t live without a Japanese sencha. At the moment, my fridge is filled with iced milk oolong and rose water masala chai iced lattes.
What is your favourite tea treat?
I love to pair tea with the sweet, small bites of a French macaron. They’re the perfect nibble when you’re sipping a cup of tea, and can be crafted in so many delicious flavors.
What is your favourite tea quote?
On a peaceful Saturday morning, I was sipping genmai cha and soaking in tea wisdom on the Philly tea blog in a post about tasting tea. I stumbled upon this quote within the post and will carry it in my heart and treasure its simple and poignant grace.
“When we talk about the taste of tea, usually we’re talking about the literal flavor, but I think that any tea person would agree that the real taste of tea is in the heart, and not on the tongue.”
Where does the name teaspoons & petals come from?
My tea blog was originally named, myteacups. After discovering that the tea blog was something that I was passionate about pursuing, I felt that it was necessary to change the name to something that made my heart sing. After several pots of tea, my imagination led me to the name, teaspoons & petals. t&p captured the essence of my relationship with tea. Considering that I have a love for floral teas, delicate teaspoons, and that one of my favorite memories is standing under a flowering tree as petals gracefully fell and rained down on me, I knew that teaspoons & petals captured my whimsical & elegant relationship with tea.
It is made aware that you have launched a series of culinary tea classes. Can you give us more details about that?
My relationship with tea has blossomed well beyond the sip into a lifestyle. I began cooking with tea, crafting little tea gifts for friends, and sharing emails and words with friends about tea basics. This inspired me to team up with a friend to teach classes about tea, and her specialty, beauty. After teaching a handful of tea classes, I’ve started to offer tea tasting and create signature tea blends for local brands and events. I will be teaching a few tea classes this summer at Philadelphia’s COOK.
Where did you come up with the idea for your haiku tea ware line and how did you get started?
As I started to appreciate the art of the tea sip and the peaceful moments spent while steeping, I began writing haiku about tea. I would write the haiku on teacups and give them to friends as gifts, and one day I decided to set up a teaspoons & petals shop on etsy and share them with fellow tea lovers. Since then, my original line of tea haiku (due to pop back in the esty shop soon), has bloomed into focused haiku collections: Philadelphia (need to add these back to the shop soon), alice in wonderland, and the ladies of jazz & blues.
I’m currently working on a teaspoons & petals heirloom handkerchief collection. I am screen printing my haiku onto vintage handkerchiefs that I have carefully collection over the past few years. Here is sneak peek.
Do you have any advice for ones who would like to start getting into tea writing and consulting world?
My advice would be to start steeping and sipping as many cups of tea as you can. Document your thoughts and journey, and capture every tea experience. Head into teashops and ask questions. Attend tea events and meet up with fellow tea lovers online or in person. Learn as much as you can and start sharing ideas with tea companies and magazines. But before you jump into anything professional, spend some time developing your tea voice and perspective.
Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity to interview you Alexis. We enjoyed learning more about you and your history with tea. We wish you all the best with your tea adventures and will continue to stay connected through your blog. Please keep in touch & happy steeping!
*If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed and featured on our blog, contact me.