The Year of Tea
The Year of Tea, which I created in 2015, was a daily short-burst podcast where I reviewed a different tea every day for an entire year. Each episode was five minutes or less — right around the time it takes to brew a fresh cup.
About
The Year of Tea was conceived as a year-long deep dive into the culture, history, and practice of tea from around the world. The podcast was designed to be a thoughtful and engaging journey for both seasoned connoisseurs and newcomers, exploring everything from cultivation techniques to brewing rituals and the global economics of the industry. The goal was to create a definitive audio series that celebrated the beauty and complexity of tea, establishing a new standard for narrative-driven content in the space.
The Work
My work on The Year of Tea was to serve as the creative engine behind the project. I developed the show's concept and narrative arc, which structured the entire year-long series. I designed the brand identity, from the logo to the visual style, took all the photos of the teas reviewed, and created a cohesive identity that matched the show's sophisticated tone. The production process involved everything from crafting compelling scripts to managing the recording and post-production, ensuring every episode met the highest standards of quality and storytelling.
Conclusion
The success of The Year of Tea was immediate and resounding. My creative vision and execution resulted in a podcast that resonated deeply with the community. It wasn't long before the show's authentic voice and professional polish caught the attention of the industry itself. This led to unsolicited interest from over a dozen tea companies in the United States and New Zealand, all eager to partner with a podcast that had quickly established itself as a definitive and influential voice in the world of tea. The project proved that a strong brand and high-quality content can swiftly become a magnet for commercial partnerships and industry recognition.