The Teas I Choose to Sample And Why That’s My Decision

The Teas I Choose to Sample And Why That’s My Decision

At the recent Des Moines Tea Festival, someone came up to me with a comment I’ve been reflecting on ever since. They said another vendor was only sampling their “best teas,” and assumed that’s what every tea vendor does. The implication? That this should be the standard and that I must be doing the same.

Except… I’m not.

Cultivate Taste Tea is not like every other tea company. Nor should it be. I have very intentional reasons for the teas I choose to sample at festivals. Sometimes I share my highest grade teas those rare, delicate leaves that represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship and terroir. Other times, I sample beautiful teas that deserve more attention, but aren’t getting the recognition they should. Occasionally, I focus on teas that start deeper conversations about processing, region, or brewing methods.

But always, always, it’s my decision, rooted in over three decades of deep engagement in the tea world.

Assuming all vendors share the same goals, values, or brand positioning is not just simplistic, it’s dismissive. It flattens the diversity of the tea industry, which should be celebrated, not standardized. My brand specializes in rarer teas, oolongs with character and soul, exceptional Japanese and Korean teas, and high-grade selections that many have never experienced. I also source from other countries beyond the well-trodden path, but I don’t position myself as a black tea company. That’s intentional, too.

So, if another vendor wants to showcase only their top-shelf selections, that’s their business. But don’t impose that rationale on me or my brand. It’s not a one-size-fits-all industry.

Lately, I’ve noticed an unsettling trend in the tea community, an anti-community sentiment masquerading as unity. What it often means in practice is this: "We want to flatten you, dim your light, ignore your contributions, and reward mediocrity instead." It means praising those who do the bare minimum (financially, socially, and in terms of impact) while sidelining those who’ve built sustainable, ethical businesses with heart and grit.

I’ve been doing direct trade for nearly a decade. Yet, I’m sometimes treated like I just woke up and decided to try it this year. Meanwhile, others may have done something similar for longer and are rightly acknowledged, but the same recognition is withheld from me. Yet nobody tells them that direct from the origin sourcing has been going on before we were both alive. That one-sided treatment is not only exhausting, it’s abusive. And frankly, it’s deeply sexist.

The amount of sexism I experience in my home state has weighed heavily on me. It’s part of why I know I need to leave. When people refuse to see your worth, or reduce your work to something they can easily ignore or co-opt, it’s not just frustrating, it’s stifling.

I’m proud of Cultivate Taste Tea and the quiet, consistent, expert work it represents. I don't need to mimic another company’s strategy to prove value. I’ve done the work. I do the work. If the tea community truly values authenticity, craft, and diversity of thought, then it needs to embrace different paths to excellence, not try to force everyone into the same mold.

So the next time you visit my booth, know this: the teas I choose to sample were chosen with care. They tell a story, a story that’s mine to tell, and one I will continue to tell, with or without permission.