Relic Teas

I only read nonfiction. Always have. For 20 years, my wife’s been suggesting I try fiction.

I never caved… until I was recently in an airport, saw a book called Tomes and Tea, by , and noticed it had dragons and magic. Sold.

I devoured it — and then found out it was book 3 in a 4-book series.

I went to the library, got books 1 and 2. At the desk, the librarian looked it up and said — loudly —

“Yes, we have it in our romantic fantasy section.”

I laughed. I didn’t think I was a romantic fantasy kind of guy.

But here we are. Books 1–3, devoured. Book 4, eagerly waiting.

And every chapter, I had a cup of tea nearby. That part’s non-negotiable.

Apparently it’s National Donut Day.

So naturally, I made tea.

There’s something kind of perfect about pairing a hot cup of tea with something sweet. Like grounding chaos with calm.

Today it was a donut. Tomorrow it might be leftover cake. The tea stays constant.

I had Keemun with mine this morning. Felt like a treat without the crash.

What’s your go-to tea and treat combo?

Ever wonder why tea gives you a different kind of energy than coffee?

I just learned something wild — it’s all about amino acids.

Tea is full of them (about 6% of what’s in your cup). And one in particular — L-theanine — helps promote relaxation. Not like “take a nap” relaxed. More like calm, focused, zoned-in.

When it mixes with caffeine (like in tea), it creates this state of “mindful alertness.”

That’s why tea doesn’t give me the crash I used to get from coffee.

Even cooler: some teas are grown in the shade on purpose to keep more of those amino acids.

One of my favorites is April Mist — a green tea grown high in the clouds where mist naturally shades the leaves. It’s soft, savory, and a little sweet. That umami? All amino acids.

Tea is wild. The more I learn, the more I love it.

The first time I tried green tea, I thought:
“Oh. So this is what disappointment tastes like.”

It was bitter. Harsh. Flat. I figured I just wasn’t a tea person.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve learned that tea is kind of like alchemy — the temperature of the water, the timing, the leaves… it all matters. Especially for green tea.

I didn’t realize I was burning the leaves. Literally. Green tea doesn’t like boiling water.

Now I brew it cooler and shorter. And suddenly: sweet, light, soft, alive.

The same leaves. Totally different experience.

If you’ve ever had “gross” tea, maybe you didn’t hate tea. Maybe it just needed a little more care.

My mornings used to be all about coffee. Strong, fast, and honestly… stressful.

Then I tried Keemun. And everything changed.

It’s still bold — a black tea with body — but smoother. Rich. Roasty. No crash. Just this gentle clarity I’ve come to crave.

I’m no expert, but I drink this almost every morning now. I’d never heard of Keemun before I started exploring tea. Now I keep it stocked at home like it’s apples or bread.

Curious about it? Come steep with me.

I didn’t grow up drinking tea. I didn’t study it. I didn’t plan on starting a tea company.

I just got curious.

I wanted something that made me feel good in the mornings — something better than the coffee crash. So I tried tea. And then I kept trying. And then… I fell in love with it.

I’m not a tea expert. I don’t use the right terms. But I care a lot. I’m learning as I go. And if you’re curious about tea, I made this company — Relic Teas — for you.

Welcome to the journey.

We spent a relaxing weekend at , enjoying our Keemun tea while playing gin rummy. 🍃🃏 There’s nothing like a good game and a great cup of tea to unwind. What’s your favorite tea time activity?

We started a tea company! Curious? Check out www.RelicTeas.com - use promo code RELIC2024 for 10% off!
Charlene Ortuno

We started a tea company! Curious? Check out www.RelicTeas.com - use promo code RELIC2024 for 10% off!