My Tea Journey
From the vibrant tea houses of Hong Kong to Newcastle's first specialist tea shop, and now to your home—discover the journey behind Love Leaf Tea.
"The whole experience of drinking loose leaf tea is a relaxing 'Me Time' experience where customers can reflect on their lives or maybe just the events of the day."
- Melanie, Founder of Love Leaf Tea
It All Started in Hong Kong
I spent an exciting and fun-filled youth in Hong Kong with my mother, stepfather and siblings, experiencing the culture, fabulous weather, the adrenaline-boosting hustle and bustle and the pure thrill of the place. To top it off, having a brother in the Royal Navy out there allowed us to enjoy pool parties and an amazing social experience never to be forgotten.
During this time, I discovered Tea - not like the stuff at home but fabulous loose leaf with amazing taste. We drank, ate, and laughed in quirky little cafes, a time I wouldn't give up for anything.
A very sad time when we left Hong Kong, never to recover, but never to be forgotten. The culture and of course the tea stayed with me.
The Journey to Newcastle
I opened my first coffee shop in suburban Newcastle, tried to introduce teas but it was much before the UK was ready. I sold my little coffee shop when I had Alexander, then Tabitha - another amazing time in life, when I spent a few years just soaking up all the fabulous experiences of having children.
I felt perhaps it was time to try and introduce the tea experience to the UK again, so people could enjoy specialist teas, fruit and herbal infusions. Specialised teas had started to become more popular in the UK, having already established themselves in Europe.
I was now getting more interested in the herbal and fruit well-being infusions - I found it exciting as there were so many options.
My Tea Journey
From the vibrant tea houses of Hong Kong to Newcastle's first specialist tea shop, and now to your home—discover the journey behind Love Leaf Tea.
Youth
Growing Up in Hong Kong
An exciting and fun-filled youth experiencing the culture, fabulous weather, and pure thrill of Hong Kong. Discovering authentic loose leaf tea in quirky little cafes - a time I wouldn't give up for anything.
1990s
First Coffee Shop in Newcastle
Opened my first coffee shop in suburban Newcastle, trying to introduce teas but the UK wasn't quite ready yet. A learning experience that planted the seeds for the future.
2000s
Family Time
After selling my little coffee shop, I had Alexander, then Tabitha - spending precious years soaking up all the fabulous experiences of having children.
2006
Sencha - Newcastle's First Tea Shop
Against many warnings that Northerners weren't ready, we opened 'Sencha' - the first specialist tea shop in Newcastle with 40 different teas and eight flowering teas. People loved watching the tea flowers unfold!
2010s
Going Online
Decided to sell Sencha and concentrate on the website and trade side, launching loveleaftea.com to reach tea lovers across the UK.
Recent
Chai & Beyond
Opened 'Chai' offering 40 great teas, Matcha, Chai and Rooibos lattes. Now planning Love Leaf Tea pods to bring great tea to everyone, every day.
What Drives Me
The core values that guide everything we do, from sourcing the finest teas to creating moments of joy in your daily routine.
Authentic Experience
From Hong Kong's tea houses to Newcastle's first specialist shop - bringing genuine tea culture and the relaxing 'Me Time' experience to the UK.
Personal Journey
Every blend tells a story of discovery, family, and the belief that tea creates perfect moments of reflection in your busy life.
Global Sourcing
Sourcing tea suppliers from around the world since 2006, offering 40+ different teas, infusions, and specialty blends for every taste.
Love Leaf Tea Today
In 2006, I sourced tea suppliers around the world and began my Tea Journey. We opened "Sencha" - the first specialist tea shop in Newcastle, against many warnings that Northerners were not ready for such a cosmopolitan venue. We offered 40 different teas, infusions and eight different flowering teas.
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People loved it - they loved watching the tea flowers unfold and blossom in the glass teapots. We decided to sell Sencha and concentrate on the website and trade side of the business, that's when we launched loveleaftea.com.
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We opened 'Chai' - an amazing little tea shop offering 40 great teas, and now offering Matcha, Chai and Rooibos lattes. We would like to open more tea on the go where people can drink our great tea every day. Keep your eye out for our Love Leaf Tea pods popping up!