Hi, my name is Sean Cyre. I am an ardent tea lover, and I have been steeping and studying tea for eight years, working in the tea industry for seven of those. I am now a stay-at-home dad, taking care of my child and managing our household. When I’m not doing those things (or, if I’m being honest, while I’m doing those things), I am constantly trying different teas and tisanes (pronounced tih-sahn, otherwise known as an “herbal tea”) and experimenting with new ways of steeping them. That led me to creating this blog, where I plan on sharing my experiments and experience with tea. My hope is to inspire you to either explore tea for the first time or provide some ideas to change up your steeping routine.
For seven years, I worked for a high-end tea shop called The Cultured Cup in Dallas, Texas. Both of the owners, Phil Krampetz and Kyle Stewart, have been making and teaching about tea and coffee for over 30 years. Kyle is a Certified Tea Specialist and Mentor, which is basically the equivalent of a sommelier, but in the tea world. Kyle was and still is my teacher when it comes to tea. Anything I’ve learned is, in a very large part, due to Kyle’s wonderful ability and willingness to teach in a way that is accessible to all. On the other hand, a lot my business knowledge, such as working with vendors and contacts, comes from Phil. Together, they operate much like Walt and Roy Disney.
I left my work at their shop to be at home with my child while my wife works. However, that has not slowed my love of tea or the joy I find in experimenting with it. My time at The Shop was filled with many tastings filled with unique ways of preparing teas. Since I left, I’ve kept up with what’s happening in the tea world via blogs and talking to other tea lovers. I’ve been cold brewing, altering weights, blending leaves (sometimes by accident), and even trying different types of water, all just to see what difference it makes in the end product.
It was during a group text with some friends that the idea for this blog came to be. I mentioned some of the new ways I was making iced tea for my wife, which piqued their interest, and the group encouraged me to write about it. I blew it off at first because I generally don’t care for writing, but as time went on, I realized I was already documenting what I was doing in a less “formal” way, and I enjoy sharing my thoughts and discoveries. So, I got some advice on blog writing and began jotting down what I’ve been doing.
This blog will include the various ways I make tea, experiences I had working in a tea shop, and some thoughts about popular tea culture. At the end of each post, there will be a “recipe” for the tea mentioned above or a step-by-step guide to a certain steeping method. I am not paid for any of the reviews I do, but I will definitely name names, because the people I get the tea from are hard at work procuring the good stuff for you and me.
The best part about tea is the social aspect. There is something special about sitting down to drink tea with people. Why spend time talking about why “milky tea” is for beginners or “fancy tea ware” is for snobs? There are a vast number of teas and endless ways to make them. Whether a cup with milk and sugar, a glass of iced tea, a small cup of fermented tea, or a simple bowl of matcha, everyone has their own “cup of happiness.” My goal for this blog is to expose the wide world of tea in a way that anyone and everyone can enjoy.
Happy steeping.
“The best cup of tea is the tea you like to drink, the way you like to drink it.” – adapted from The Whiskey Tribe’s YouTube channel
Sean the Tea Guy 