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Moody Teas

#industry history

Close-up of dark-skinned hands holding a steaming cup of tea against a neutral background, symbolizing Black wellness, care, and resilience. Text on image reads “Black Wellness Has Always Been Resistance.”
on by John Robert Nelson
Moody Brands Moody Teas

Black Wellness Has Always Been Resistance

Black History Month isn’t a marketing moment. It exists because Black history has been erased, minimized, and stripped of context for centuries. Tea is part of that history. From colonial trade monopolies to Black herbal traditions built out of necessity, tea and wellness didn’t emerge in neutral spaces. They were shaped by labor, exclusion, and survival. Understanding that lineage matters, especially in an industry that often sells calm without context. This month, Moody Teas is grounding our work in historical truth, lived experience, and care that goes beyond aesthetics.
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A hand holding a glass of tea on a saucer overlooking green hills, with editorial text reading “We wouldn’t have tea without immigrants,” a “Latest Blog” label, and the subheading “How immigrants shaped tea: a global story of immigrants, culture, and identity,” for a long-form blog post about tea history, immigration, and global tea culture.
on by Nora
Moody Brands Moody Teas

How Immigrants Shaped Tea: A Global Story of Immigrants, Culture, and Identity

We wouldn’t have tea without immigrants. The tea we drink today exists because people moved, across borders, across oceans, across generations. From the workers who built tea economies to the immigrants who carried tea rituals into new cities, cafés, and communities, tea has always been shaped by migration. For countless immigrant communities, tea is more than a beverage. It is a way to recreate home in unfamiliar places. A way to gather. A way to survive displacement with dignity intact. From chai to boba, tea culture exists because immigrants brought their traditions with them and let them evolve. Tea is not neutral. It is shared history in a cup.
Read More How Immigrants Shaped Tea: A Global Story of Immigrants, Culture, and Identity
Tea Term Tuesday graphic on tea grading, explaining grading history, systems & how grades impact tea quality & flavor.
on by Nora
Moody Brands Moody Teas

Tea Term Tuesday: Tea Grading

Hey there, tea lovers! Ever wondered what’s up with those mysterious tea grades like FTGFOP or BOP? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Tea grading is all about sorting leaves by size, shape, and quality. Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with flavor but can still tell you a lot about your brew. Back in the 19th century, British merchants came up with the Orange Pekoe (OP) grading system to keep things consistent as they shipped tea worldwide. Think of it as a quality control checklist for tea leaves. Today, grades like “Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe” (GFOP) or “Broken Orange Pekoe” (BOP) help tea enthusiasts decode what’s in their cup, whether it’s a smooth, whole-leaf luxury or a bold, quick-brewing powerhouse. So next time you see FTGFOP on a label, you’ll know it’s not just alphabet soup—it’s tea royalty. Cheers to steeping smarter!
Read More Tea Term Tuesday: Tea Grading
Close-up image of a Teavana storefront with bold, orange lettering and a tea leaf logo above shelves displaying colorful tins of tea. Text overlay reads: "Moody Tea News - Spilling the Tea: The Rise and Fall of Teavana. For the latest news → moodyteas.co/blog."
on by Nora
Moody Brands

Spilling the Tea: The Rise and Fall of Teavana, as Told by Moody Teas

Teavana once stood as a symbol of the booming specialty tea market, bringing loose-leaf blends and vibrant tea culture to malls across America. But behind the glitz of their iconic tins and exotic names lay a story of bold ambition, corporate missteps, and lessons for every tea enthusiast. In this edition of 'Spilling the Tea,' we delve into Teavana's meteoric rise and rapid fall—and how their story influenced us at Moody Teas to build something different, something lasting. From overpriced accessories to the infamous Passion Iced Tea switch-up, we’re spilling it all.
Read More Spilling the Tea: The Rise and Fall of Teavana, as Told by Moody Teas

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