Happy New Year!
Before anything else, I want to say thank you—from the bottom of my heart.
Last year was a big one for me, both for the shop and in my personal life. My mother passed away suddenly, and during that time I received so many messages, cards, flowers, and warm hugs from you.
I truly wanted to thank each of you personally, but to be honest, I didn’t have the capacity then.
As time has slowly passed, I’ve finally reached a place where I can put these feelings into words. Thank you so much.
I often found myself wondering if there is any other relationship quite like this—between a small tea shop owner and her customers. Your kindness has stayed with me, quietly and deeply.
There are still moments of sadness, but little by little, I’m finding my way back to everyday life. And with that, I felt ready to try something new.
That’s how this blog, "My Cup of Tea", came to be.
My mother loved writing. She kept a blog for fourteen years, joyfully recording the small moments of her days. As I slowly reread her words, I began to feel a quiet wish of my own to share, with you, the simple habit of enjoying good tea, and to take back a slower, more mindful rhythm in daily life.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to write for fourteen years. But I do know I can start, gently, and see where it leads.
So let me ask you—are you starting something new this year?
Recently, more people have been choosing tea as part of a new lifestyle. For health, for a change of pace, or simply as an alternative to coffee. The reasons are different for everyone.
When people hear “tea,” it can sometimes sound complicated—like there are rules you need to follow. But what we value at CHA CHA TEA is much simpler than that.
Your favourite cup,
A tea that matches your mood,
And a few quiet minutes to pause.
That’s enough.
Through "My Cup of Tea", I’ll be sharing:"* Small tea tips and everyday knowledge
* Easy ways to enjoy tea in daily life
* A cup of tea that suits the moment
Nothing complicated. Just something you can enjoy, casually.
There’s no right answer.
You don’t have to drink tea every day, and you don’t need to be an expert.
If you ever think,
“Today, this sounds good,”
then that’s your *My Cup of Tea".
This year too, I hope you’ll enjoy moments of tea together with CHA CHA TEA.
Thank you for being here.
5 comments
Happy New Year Kaoru! I always look forward to your emails and now I have your blog to enjoy. Earl Grey is definitely in my top 5 teas but as you know Summer is my fave! I copied a quote from one of your emails a few months ago. ‘Autumn Equinox, a moment of balance between day and night. A perfect reminder to slow down, find harmony and enjoy a mindful cup of tea.’ I love that! And I need that! Your little tea shop means a lot to mean and I am very grateful for it. May your memories of your Mother make you smile and sustain you.
Living in. Brockville, we are out of touch with you and your shop. But your Newsletter is very helpful and very much enjoyed. I’ve recently gotten into Earl grey tea and recently purchased some at the shop. Decaf of course for me! Very yummy! Thank you!
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mother. I love that she was a blogger. And love that you are doing it too.
All the best with this beautiful shop you have.
From Brockville
Donna,
Happy New Year Kaoru!
I’ll be looking forward to your new blog this year.
And your suggestions for a tea to suit the situations that arise in our lives
Shaun and I are trying something new this year. We are presently in Cancun, Mexico and are trying different types of tea and coffee. I am, of course, the tea lady while he loves his coffee. He will drink some of your teas and raves about them. Take one day at a time. Sometimes you will have a bad day and focus on the good times. I was very close to my Dad and he passed in 2018. I couldn’t look at his photo for a year so you are doing much better than me. I now know he would want me to be happy and enjoy life. All the best.
Firstly, condolences for the loss of your mother. The bond between a mother and daughter is very special. May your next cut of tea bring back fond memories.
Thank you for starting this new initiative. Very brave if you to share your insights.
Tea has always been a part of my life, especially my mother (Jean Keen, a faithful customer of yours ) always brewing some tea for company. Tea is soothing for me in so many ways ( currently drinking your Vanilla decaf tea). Tea brings calmness, serenity and composure during a “rough” day. It soothes the tastebuds, soul and emotions.
Tea has been around for centuries. Many authors have written books on the subject ( a recommendation is to read Lisa See’s historical fiction novel “ The tea bird of Hummingbird Lane”) Tea has also inspired poetry, cinema and theatrical productions.
Enjoy your next cup of tea either by yourself, with a friend or with a group of people.
Make sure you prepare it properly to enjoy every tasteful.
Looking forward to other insights.