On June 1, 2018, it will be exactly 10 years since I started Simply Tea. Simply Tea opened on Åboulevarden in Aarhus as a specialty tea house. A small oasis in the city where one could enjoy a cup of gourmet tea brewed with love. The tea came from China and Nepal, hand-picked and cultivated according to ancient traditions by small minority families.
Simply Tea by the River
Simply Tea by the River 2008
Simply Tea Aarhus
Specialty Tea
Two years earlier, I had discovered “specialty” tea by chance. I was in the UK to care for my sick father, who had been diagnosed with skin cancer. At that time, the disease had also affected his brain. His mental state deteriorated significantly. He was very confused, unable to finish his sentences, and had forgotten how to dress himself. He showed no interest in food. All he wanted was a good cup of tea. And that was exactly what he got. I scoured the internet to find the best teas on the market.
Every day, we started the morning with a new tea. Keemun, golden buds, Silver Needle—everything I could find on the British market—the more expensive, the better—my father deserved the absolute best.
It was during these tea sessions that I came to understand why tea is so important and why it is the most consumed beverage on the planet after water. After a cup of tea with my father, he suddenly became present and could engage in a general conversation. He could dress himself, and what was most interesting to him was doing crosswords in his beloved Telegraph newspaper. The doctors thought I was giving him medication for mucositis, a fungal infection in the mouth, which disappeared during the course. It took me two years to identify L-theanine as the chemical compound responsible for what I experienced with my father.
Although I have been drinking tea my whole life—Yorkshire tea with a splash of milk—I had no idea that a world of these complex, flavorful, and life-affirming teas existed. Today, these special teas have received the international designation of “Specialty Tea.”
L-theanine
What is so special about specialty tea, you may ask. These teas are made from the finest raw materials, grown under the best conditions, and processed by people who are passionate and have worked with tea for a lifetime. People who have learned how to release certain compounds. Hmm, compounds! I’m talking about L-theanine, the world’s best-kept secret. L-theanine is responsible for increasing alpha brain wave activity, which induces relaxation. By relaxing, you can effectively reduce stress and, consequently, a wide range of other ailments.
In my opinion, L-theanine is the most important element in a good cup of tea. It is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain, meaning it can cross the blood-brain barrier and directly affect the central nervous system by interacting with the brain itself. L-theanine can also influence our mental abilities and states, including our perception of the world and our mood. A synergy effect occurs when it is combined with caffeine. Both compounds are naturally found in tea.
Tea plants grown under special conditions can produce L-theanine. The plant is shaded from the sun, as sunlight converts amino acids into proteins; therefore, tea with a high content of L-theanine is harvested early in the season. Teas that contain the most L-theanine are grown on mountainsides at high elevations, where the sun is shaded by natural clouds, mist, fog, or shaded trees. L-theanine provides the “umami” savory flavor experienced in the best First Flush teas.
The Best Teas on the Planet
Since 2008, my goal has been to seek out the best teas on the planet. Different countries produce tea for various purposes; some produce it as medicine, where all conceivable influences and sustainability are assessed and prioritized, while others do so for economic and commercial reasons.
In 2014, I sold the tea house by the river in Aarhus to focus on studying tea grown under the best possible conditions, with sustainability and flavor as the primary factors. This has led to many travels and developed friendships and acquaintances with some of the world’s most prominent tea experts, as well as collaborations with research institutes and universities around the globe.
Tea Knowledge
With all the knowledge gathered over 10 years, it is now time to pass it on. There are many young people interested in specialty tea, so the next 10 years will be dedicated to teaching, Tea Note Talks, tea tastings, cupping, and more.
Simply Tea is just that—tea in its simplest form. Pure leaves without flavor enhancers, flowers, or other distracting elements. Tea where L-theanine is the most important component, both for health and certainly for the sake of flavor.